The Rev. Dr. William L. Self

Denomination: Cooperative Baptist Fellowship (CBF)
Organization: Wieuca Road Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA (1964-1990) and Johns Creek Baptist Church, Alpharetta, GA (1991-2012)

Dr. William L. "Bill" Self, prominent Baptist leader and longtime Atlanta-area pastor, died Jan. 9, 2016, from complications of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease - one day shy of his 84th birthday.

Bill was pastor emeritus of Johns Creek Baptist Church - formerly First Baptist Church of Chamblee - where he served as senior pastor from 1991 to 2012. Previously he pastored the Wieuca Road Baptist Church from 1964 to 1990. More recently, Bill taught at Mercer University's McAfee School of Theology winter and spring of 2015, and served as chairman of Day 1 radio ministries, formerly the Protestant Hour. He also was a frequent speaker on that program. He was a 2014 recipient of the Candler Centennial Medal, given by the Candler School of Theology of Emory University, for extraordinary service to the school, church and society for the last century. Bill was a 1971 graduate of that school, earning the doctor of theology degree.

An unapologetic optimist, Bill was a visionary leader. His strong pulpit style, intellect, humor and evangelistic zeal impacted tens of thousands of people - not just in metropolitan Atlanta, but throughout the nation and around the world. Preaching was Bill's passion. His sermons - renowned for their clarity and boldness - impacted all generations, race and gender. He often said with a grin, "I have something to offend everyone." He also admitted to being "an evangelist disguised as a pastor." Although a Southern Baptist for much of his ministry, he was uncomfortable with the fundamentalist direction of the convention and helped create and support the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, an organization of moderate Baptists in 1991.

Bill was born Jan. 10, 1932, to Edgar and Della Self in Winston Salem, N.C. Following the unexpected death of his father, Bill and his mother moved to Delray Beach, FL. When he was 13, Bill acknowledged God's call into full-time Christian ministry and began speaking in area churches. He attended Seacrest High School, where he was on the football team and played trombone in the band. Upon graduation he enrolled in Stetson University. As a college student, Bill worked as part-time pastor of a small church in Palatka, Fla., and also was elected state president of the Baptist Student Union. He and a team of students held summer revival services throughout Florida.

Bill and Carolyn met at Stetson and were married his senior year. He graduated from Stetson in 1954 with a Bachelor of Arts degree, then returned to North Carolina, earning a bachelor of divinity degree from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1957. He remained in North Carolina and became the first full-time pastor of Edgemont Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, serving from 1957 to 1960. During his second year there, Edgemont was named "Church of the Year" by the North Carolina Baptist Convention. He was also elected vice president of that organization. In 1960 Bill went back to Florida to pastor West Bradenton Baptist Church for four years. The church grew rapidly. He cultivated a relationship with the local business community and was elected president of the Bradenton Chamber of Commerce.

The Wieuca Road Baptist Church in Atlanta called Bill as pastor in 1964. Under his guidance, that church experienced tremendous growth, becoming one of the most innovative and influential churches in America. To help expand the ministry of the Wieuca Road church, Bill became a weekly guest on WSB-TV's "Today in Georgia" morning talk show, a privilege which lasted 16 years. He also joined both the Buckhead Coalition and the Buckhead Business Association, becoming president of the latter in 1990.

Bill was one of the first Baptist pastors to endorse and promote ordination of women as both deacons and ministers. He also embraced early on acceptance of single adults - never married, widowed and divorced - into all aspects of church life. The rapid growth of the Wieuca Road church attracted much attention, elevating Bill's prominence among Baptists locally and nationally. He was elected president of the Georgia Baptist Convention, president of the Georgia Baptist Pastors' Conference, and chair of the Georgia Baptist Executive Committee. On the national level, he served as president of the Foreign Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and second vice president of the SBC. In 1977 he preached the annual sermon - the showcase event - at the Southern Baptist Convention in Kansas City, MO.

Bill was a much-sought-after speaker for business and professional meetings, as well as college and seminary convocations and special assemblies. He was guest speaker several times at the Annual National Conference of Preaching and International Congress of Preaching in London, sponsored by "Preaching" magazine, and was the 1978 speaker for the Governor's Prayer Breakfast. The Billy Graham Crusades School of Evangelism recruited Bill to speak at numerous venues throughout the world. He also preached in various churches and missions both in the United States and abroad.

At a time when many people look toward retirement, Bill decided to start over. In 1991, just before his 60th birthday, he became pastor of the First Baptist Church of Chamblee - a struggling congregation trying to survive. He led the relocation of that church to Johns Creek, changing the name to Johns Creek Baptist Church. The church experienced phenomenal growth in organization, finances, and membership. Within his 21 years there, he guided the planning and construction of four buildings and the total reorganization of the teaching program.

Bill wrote four books, including his most recent, "Surviving the Stained Glass Jungle," about his years as a pastor. He also co-authored five more books with Carolyn and frequently wrote numerous articles for various publications.

Some of his other honors and accomplishments include: Appointed special ambassador by President Gerald Ford to the inauguration of William Tolbert as president of Liberia. As part of his special assignment, he discussed Idi Amin's relationship with the United States. Invited to the Republic of Korea by Prime Minister Kim Jung Pil to negotiate religious liberty issues Invited by the government of Republic of China to visit Taiwan, during which he met with the president, secretary of state and other leaders. Chair, Board of Visitors, McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University.Board member, Baptist House of Studies, Duke Divinity School. Trustee, Mercer University. William L. Self Preaching Lectureship established at McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University. Received the Louie D. Newton Award for Service to Mercer University. Received the W. Lee Arrandale Award for Vocational Excellence 2000-2001 by the Rotary International District 6910, sponsored by The Rotary Club of Johns Creek.Received the Distinguished Alumnus Award, 2007, by Candler School of Theology, Emory University. Chair, Board of Visitors, McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University; Annual lectures on preaching at Erskine Theological Seminary (Associated Reformed Presbyterian), 1972, and Golden Gate Theological Seminary, 1978. Lecturer on preaching at Salvation Army Training School 1993, 1994, 1995. Featured speaker for "Day 1" Armed Forces Radio program, 2010. Served on Board of Trustees of the Alliance for Christian Media, and on Advisory Committee of Day 1, Received honorary degrees from Stetson University; Mercer University; Han Yang University in Seoul, Korea; and Campbell University.

Day1 Weekly Programs by The Rev. Dr. William L. Self

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The Struggle to Believe

Tuesday December 23, 2014
Dr. Bill Self shares the story of Simeon and Anna, two faithful servants of God who saw the Christ child and rejoiced in gratitude to God. Their joy reveals the doubts and struggles they must have wrestled with for years--just as we do today. This is a good time to move from skepticism to faith, to celebrate our doubt as a prelude to a deep, abiding, and mature faith.

While It Was Still Dark

Tuesday March 26, 2013
As we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord, Dr. Bill Self takes us back to the empty tomb and explores the scene through the eyes of Mary Magdalene.

King for a Day

Tuesday March 19, 2013
As we celebrate Palm Sunday, Dr. Bill Self calls us not to join the throngs proclaiming Jesus King for a Day, but rather to make Jesus Lord of our lives.

The Church IS Worth the Effort!

Tuesday November 08, 2011
Despite all its dysfunction and scars, all its confusion and humanity, the church is worth the effort, because it is doing the work of the kingdom of God in the world.

What Do You Want with Me, Jesus?

Tuesday November 17, 2009
Dr. Bill Self digs into the dramatic story of the healing of the demoniac from Mark 5, and introduces us to Jesus the Tormentor, the Liberator, and the Disturber.

Cobwebs on the Confessional

Sunday January 27, 2008
The Rev. Dr. Bill Self explains that sin is alienation from God and call us to repentance where we turn our lives in a new direction according to God's will.

Doubt--The Prelude to Faith

Sunday April 15, 2007
The Rev. Dr. Bill Self explores the differnece between doubt that robs us of our faith and doubt that lead to deeper, transformational faith.

Is There Any Hope?

Sunday April 08, 2007
The Rev. Dr. Bill Self reminds us that hope comes from faith in the resurrected God who is present in every moment of our lives.

Getting the Sand Out of the Gears

Sunday July 09, 2006
The Rev. Dr. William L. Self, senior pastor of Johns Creek Baptist Church, Alpharetta, Georgia, takes a look at the debilitating role of fear in our lives.

What God Has Put Asunder, Let No Man Join Together

Sunday July 02, 2006
The Rev. Dr. Bill Self, pastor of Johns Creek Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, emphasizes the historical and biblical imperative for the separation of church and state.

Have I Got News For You!

Sunday December 18, 2005
The Rev. Dr. Bill Self is pastor of Johns Creek Baptist Church in Alpharetta, GA, and a member of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

On Being Pursued by the Black Dog

Sunday April 17, 2005
The Rev. Dr. Bill Self is pastor of Johns Creek Baptist Church in Alpharetta, GA, and a member of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear

Sunday April 10, 2005
The Rev. Dr. Bill Self is pastor of Johns Creek Baptist Church in Alpharetta, GA, and a member of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

The Waiting Place

Sunday November 28, 2004
The Rev. Bill Self is the pastor of John's Creek Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Swimming to the Deep End of the Pool

Sunday September 26, 2004
The Rev. Bill Self is the pastor of John's Creek Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Magic Eyes

Sunday August 15, 2004
The Rev. Dr. Bill Self, pastor of John's Creek Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, helps us look at the world through forgiving eyes.

Speechless

Sunday July 04, 2004
The Rev. Dr. William Self, senior pastor of John's Creek Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Georgia, tackles the difficult issue of what to say to others in difficult times--"funeral home theology."

Radio by The Rev. Dr. William L. Self

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It is Finished!

Sunday December 02, 2012
In his final service as pastor of Johns Creek Baptist Church, Bill summarizes his life of ministry, offers counsel to the church, and paraphrases Gary Cooper’s line from, “The Pride of the Yankees,” when he says, “I’m the luckiest man that ever lived.”

The View from Mount Nebo

Sunday November 25, 2012
In his next-to-the last sermon as pastor of Johns Creek Baptist Church, Bill Self urged the congregation to “finish the game.” He said, “Whoever you are, whatever your age is, whatever you’re facing, whatever you’ve been through, life does not end there. Finish the game and understand that it has four quarters in it, or seven stages, whatever. And don’t let anybody tell you that it ended when you became 30 or 40 or 50 or 60 or 70 or 80, don’t let anybody tell you that it’s over. It’s over when they put you in the ground. But then that’s the beginning because God raises you up and you’re with Him forever. Finish the game!”

Every Remembrance of You

Sunday November 18, 2012
The Sunday before Thanksgiving, Bill Self said, “We all have a past... And I’ll guarantee you that if we go into your past and my past, we’re going to find some things back there we don’t like. I don’t mean we’re all deep dark criminals or anything, but there are bad judgments, bad decisions, bad days, everybody has it back there... But I don’t care what you think about what you’ve done, you’re not big enough, I’m not big enough. All of us together are not big enough, to create a sin big enough that God can’t forgive.”

On to Maturity

Sunday November 11, 2012
Bill Self explains four steps to grow from a “Peter Pan” Christian to one who is mature in their faith. “The Christian faith is not a crystal or a china porcelain teacup that will chip and break. The Christian faith is an oak tree that has deep roots. And people smarter than you and me have tried to destroy it and they haven’t been able to do it.”

This is What the Lord Has Commanded

Sunday November 04, 2012
In this stewardship sermon, Bill Self said God expects His people to live sacrificially. “We want the Spirit of God to dwell with us, as God has promised it would. We need to open ourselves up to Him. We need to say, ‘I’m a part of that. I want to lift a load of this world.’ I’ll guarantee you that there’s a direct correlation between the sacrifice of God’s people and the presence of God and their service and the effectiveness of their ministry.”

A Sermon on the Amount

Sunday October 28, 2012
Bill Self says that participation is critical to living a significant, meaningful life. “If you want to be somebody spiritually, if you want your life to mean something, participate! If you want your church life to mean something, participate!” He said, “Don’t be a spectator. Take part. You get out of life what you put into it. The more you put into it, the more you get out of it.”

Where is God When It Hurts?

Sunday October 21, 2012
Bill Self addresses the often-asked question, “Where is God when it hurts?” And while there are no easy answers, Bill said, “Jesus didn’t say we’re going to get through this world without being scarred, but He said, ‘I’m with you every step of the way, in everything that you’re in, I’m there. And I’ll bring you through to the end.’ You can’t get away from God’s love!”

And Finally ... Some Things to Think About

Sunday October 07, 2012
What are the three most important things we need to know about God? Bill Self delves into that question in this sermon entitled, “Some Things to Think About.”

We Can Soar With Our Language

Sunday September 02, 2012
Words are powerful. They can inspire people and bring them to their feet, or they can bitterly hurt and demoralize. Bill Self says, “The tongue controls the body and what we are shows in our language.” God views our words seriously and in this sermon Bill explains how we should use them to help, rather than hurt.

A Report from the Front Lines of Marriage

Sunday August 26, 2012
What are the keys to a long, meaningful marriage? Bill Self looks at Scripture and also shares tips from Johns Creek Baptist Church’s Golden Club, an organization of couples married 50 years or more.

Above a Useless Life

Sunday August 19, 2012
Bill Self challenges the Johns Creek Baptist Church to be the church God intended. “The purpose of church is not to make us feel good. The purpose of church is not to satisfy us with oratory, teaching or music. That’s not why we’re here ... We are here for the world, and that’s why God blessed us... Our purpose is to affirm God’s agenda.”

The Sin of Aiming Low

Sunday August 12, 2012
Bill Self says each of us have defining moments that help set the trajectories of our lives. But the temptation is often to aim low and play it safe. “The question God is going to ask the deacons and committees and Sunday school teachers, the question He’s going to ask you, ushers and church members is, ‘Did you aim high, or did you aim low?’”

We Can Soar

Sunday August 05, 2012
Bill Self says everyone has special times when life is good — soaring times. But life also includes ordinary days — for people and churches — and sometimes it’s hard to move. God promises strength for His people in those times. Bill says, “You can soar. You can run. And you can walk. Because God’s in it with you, all the way. All three are a part of God’s plan. But the key is, you’ve got to take the step. You must take the step. You must do it.”

Keeping America the Beautiful

Sunday July 01, 2012
Drawing from Ephesians 1 and 2, along with historic documents and American songs, Bill Self celebrated Independence Day with a challenge to the church to “Keep America Beautiful.” He said, “We have a stewardship of a gift that few people in the Christian faith have, and that is a nation that gives us the freedom to propagate the faith ... We are an exceptional people. We have the freedom to think and to be, to make it or not make it. The freedom to write and to speak ... We have an obligation as the church, not to remove ourselves from the civic life, but when we go into the civic life to be the people of Christ. ... We need a new kind of Christian. We need a new kind of commitment... A new church, the body of Christ, committed to one another and to Him ... doing the work God created us to do. That’s how we keep America beautiful.”

Why I Am a Baptist

Sunday June 10, 2012
Bill Self explains who Baptists are and why he has been one all his life. “Jesus Christ has called us to feed the hungry, so here we feed. Jesus Christ has called us to help a church somewhere...We’ve come together to tell the world what Jesus Christ can do. We’re missionary people and we’re testimony people. That’s what makes a church alive. Not this inward feel-good stuff, but the outward makes a church alive.”

The Top Five Reasons for Not Joining the Church

Sunday June 03, 2012
Bill Self relates the top five reasons people give for not joining the church. But despite the explanations, he says “there’s a craving in each one of us, whether we admit it or not, to be a part of a group. We don’t want to be separate. We want to be connected with other people... We join all kinds of groups that are sympathetic to what we are to feed ourselves.” The church is different, Bill says, because “the church is made up of Jesus’ people.”

Martha, You Could Have Ordered Takeout

Sunday May 13, 2012
In this Mother’s Day sermon, Bill recounts Jesus’ visit to the home of Mary and Martha, pointing out that we, like Martha, often have our priorities wrong. “We spend our time doing the minor things and miss the main event … And whether you’re a Mary or a Martha, you need to understand that every day is a challenge where we must choose between the important from the unimportant. That which lasts from that which is popular.”

The Parable of 10 Apples

Sunday October 16, 2011
Dr. Self says that “somehow people have severed the cord between the pocketbook and the heart that operates in the Christian faith … There’s a whole industry that tries to separate the two.” But he explains how God sees it differently and offers 10 practical applications..

You Cannot NOT Communicate

Sunday September 18, 2011
One of Bill Self’s favorite phrases was, “You cannot NOT communicate ... Even if you’re silent you’re communicating something.” Scripture assigns great power to words and Bill said we will all be held accountable by how we use them — to help or to hinder, to build up or tear down.

You Don't Need to Advertise a Fire

Sunday August 21, 2011
Explaining the title of the sermon, “You Don’t Need to Advertise a Fire,” Bill Self said, “If something exciting is going on, people will come and watch.” Applying that principle to the church he said, “If you want people to hear the gospel, then something has to happen in the heart of the church and people will come and watch that church burn.”

How to Feel Clean Again!

Sunday July 31, 2011
Drawing from David’s cry to God in the 51st Psalm, Bill Self said, “being renewed is the issue in all of our lives. . . We all need to feel clean again. We need to feel focused again. We need the touch of God’s Spirit again.”

God's Providential Protection

Sunday June 19, 2011
In this Father’s Day sermon, Bill Self continues a study of the 23rd Psalm. “The Psalmist is saying, ‘You are God’s special person. I not only give food and shelter and take care of you, but I give you the gift of being special.’ That is powerful. Many people go through life and they never feel special.” And as he did for more than 40 years, Bill concludes with the retelling of a portion of Harper Lee’s book, “To Kill A Mockingbird.”

“Sex" Is Not A Four-Letter Word

Sunday February 14, 2010
In this Valentine's Day sermon from 2010, Bill Self reminds us that “sex was God’s idea.” But Bill also said there are conditions — it is to be used only by God’s standards — which are completely contrary to today’s culture. “Never tear down a fence before you know why it was put there in the first place,” he said. “We have pulled the fences down and wreaked havoc upon our culture.”

Before I Thee Wed ...

Sunday February 07, 2010
Bill said there are four areas that determine the health and quality of a marriage. But foremost is the understanding of marriage itself. "Marriage is a religious experience. If you see marriage as just a secular accommodation, you don’t understand it. It’s a matter of faith ... When two people come to be married, they are not two half-people coming to make one whole person. They are two whole people growing together. And together the two are stronger than the sum total of the two."

How Do You Believe the Bible?

Sunday January 31, 2010
Do we believe the Bible as God's Word to be studied, revered and honored, or do we see it as an instruction manual on how to live? Bill Self asked, "Do you believe the Bible with your heart? Do you believe the Bible with your head? Or do you believe the Bible with your hands and feet? Do you believe the Bible enough to do something about it? Do you believe it enough to give a cold cup of water in Jesus' name? Do you believe it enough to get involved in a short-term mission enterprise? Do you believe it enough to make sure your family is at the place where they can learn about it? Do you believe it enough to stop being a religious consumer and start becoming someone who shares their faith?"

The Power of God's Vision for Your Life

Sunday November 15, 2009
Bill Self said Jesus modeled how to live each day from the perspective of gratitude to God. And the results were miraculous. We are to do the same. “When you live with gratitude problems become a challenge. Difficulties bring hidden resources. And a crisis becomes a moment for you to begin living ... Give thanks unto the Lord. His mercy endures forever.”

The Power of Faith in Your Life

Sunday November 08, 2009
Bill Self explores the meaning and implications of faith in this sermon and how it impacts the lives of Christians and the church. “Faith is a courageous adventure. You can talk about faith all day long, but unless you do something with it, unless you risk your life upon it, unless you’re able to step out on the faith that you’re talking about, it’s not worth anything”

You Can't Have It All

Sunday October 25, 2009
Our culture tells us we can have it all with no limits, but Bill Self says the Bible tells a different story. "Life is full of choices. God put us in this world and He set boundaries. And He said if you choose to live within these boundaries life is going to be good. If you live in the boundaries God blesses your life. You have to make choices. The tragedies I see are the people who try to live outside the boundaries. If you ignore the boundaries, your life is out of control."

The Habits of Highly Effective Christians

Sunday October 11, 2009
In a post-Christian culture, Bill Self said there are several essential things necessary for revitalized faith -- both for churches and individuals. “If you want a revitalized spiritual life, you need a radical hospitality, a passionate worship, an intentional faith development, risk-taking mission concerns, and an extravagant generosity. It doesn’t come without them.”

Why Should I Make a Profession of Faith, Join the Church and be Baptized?

Sunday October 04, 2009
Bill Self explains the significance of baptism from a Baptist perspective and its importance, both to the church and to the individual. “Baptism is a sacred and beautiful thing ... it is not something we just tack on to a church. But it’s in the heart of what we do. Baptism is the entrance into the family of God, it’s more than initiation, it’s deeper than that, it’s a mysterious thing...”

What Christians Believe and Why: Part 2

Sunday September 27, 2009
Bill Self explains what the Bible says about God’s purpose for the church and what Baptists believe, in particular. “Secular forces would tell us that we’re a service club or that we’re a drama troop or that we’re a community fellowship group. And the church has been damaged by these people who have imported ideas and we’ve picked them up. These ideas are not bad they’re just not in the heart of who we are.”

Expect the Best in Others - A Good Day with Dr. Bill Self

Wednesday August 05, 2009
The Rev. Dr. Bill Self, a trusted motivational leader, reminds us of the goodness of others in this message of faith and hope. Polish someone else's halo for once.

Life Is What You Make It

Sunday July 26, 2009
Living in a fallen world is not easy, but Bill Self said when life gets hard, we need to remember how much God loves us. “When God made you, He said, ‘you’re good.’ God loves you enough that He sent Hia Son to die for you, to cleanse you, to make you clean ... What right have we to denigrate any human being? What right have we to denigrate our neighbor? What right have we to denigrate ourselves? If we’re the ones that God created and died for, if we’re the ones that God did all of that for, why in the world do we spend time taking away from God’s creation?”

A Good Word for Fathers

Sunday June 21, 2009
In this Father’s Day sermon, Bill Self notes that culture works against families, but he cites Psalm 1 and said that godly fathers will be able to withstand the storms of life. He concludes the sermon with his annual retelling of a portion of Harper Lee’s “To Kill A Mockingbird.”

Do You Have A Life Or A Lifestyle?

Sunday June 14, 2009
When Jesus said, “I have come that you may have life and have it more abundantly,” Bill Self said, “He didn’t mean, ‘I have come that you may have a lifestyle and have it more abundantly.’ He’s talking about the fact that, in the midst of the messiness of life, when life’s not working out like it should ... He’s talking about the fact that in the midst of all of that, He’s in the midst of it with you.”

Hold Fast to Dreams - A Good Day with Dr. Bill Self

Friday June 05, 2009
The Rev. Dr. William L. Self brings you positive and powerful messages of faith and hope as a trusted motivational leader. This time discussing the importance of sticking to your dreams, no matter what the challenges, because one day they will come true.

Conquering Difficulties - A Good Day with Rev. Dr. Bill Self

Tuesday June 02, 2009
Rev. Dr. Bill Self discusses the difficulties of all human life and the importance of persevering through the hardships that make life beautiful. A Good Day with Dr. Bill Self.

Grow Into Maturity - A Good Day with Rev. Dr. Bill Self

Tuesday June 02, 2009
The Rev. Dr. Bill Self discusses the meaning of maturity and growing up in an inspirational message from Day1 and Growfaith.

Journey Through The Valley

Sunday May 24, 2009
Drawing from the comforting words of the 23rd Psalm, Bill Self said, “I trust that you know Jesus Christ, who will lead you through that journey through the valley. I want you to know that your chaotic life will be given confidence and order because Jesus Christ is leading you. There is no other name under heaven whereby men must be saved.”

Stop Putting It Off - A Good Day with the Rev. Dr. Bill Self

Monday May 18, 2009
Need some motivation? The Rev. Dr. Bill Self gives an inspirational message of motivation to get it done today, because tomorrow may be too late. A Good Day with the Rev. Dr. Bill Self.

Heaven Touched Us

Sunday May 17, 2009
Bill Self said God gives us as much power as we will accept from Him. “You can be more than you are, you can have more of God than you have. Your life does not have to limp along, it can have power that you have never imagined. But it begins first of all, with you and not God, because God gives you as much of Himself as you want. And if there’s no power there, it’s because you have said, ‘I’ve got all I want. I don’t want any more.’”

We're Not In Kansas Anymore, Toto

Sunday May 10, 2009
In this Mother’s Day sermon, Bill Self talks about the dramatic cultural shifts that have greatly impacted the family -- and even the definition of “family” and “marriage” is controversial. And drawing from the classic movie, “The Wizard of Oz,” he quotes Dorothy who said, “We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto.” Drawing from Ephesians 3, Bill offers some help in how to raise a Christian family in a pagan culture, underscoring the importance and necessity of being grounded in the local Church.

If I Were 18 Again

Sunday May 03, 2009
In this sermon aimed at graduating high school seniors, Bill Self asks, “When do you quit listening? Everybody has a point where we quit listening to things we don’t want to hear.” But when they get to college, he urges the students not to quit listening to new ideas, but “seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these other things will be added unto you.”

Journey to the Center of the Faith

Sunday April 26, 2009
Bill Self said God gives us as much power as we will accept from Him. “You can be more than you are, you can have more of God than you have. Your life does not have to limp along, it can have power that you have never imagined. But it begins first of all, with you and not God, because God gives you as much of Himself as you want. And if there’s no power there, it’s because you have said, ‘I’ve got all I want. I don’t want any more.’”

Living on the Good Side of Easter

Sunday April 12, 2009
Bill Self urged the Christian community to move to the Good side of Easter. “Move your address ... For on this side of Easter we find some wonderful things. On this side we have the evidence and the promise of God that death has died ... God has the last word. The last word is not with the forces of evil that permeate our culture. Death is dead. God is in control. And we shall meet one another by and by.”

The View From the Back of the Donkey

Sunday April 05, 2009
When Jesus chose to enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey, rather than on a stallion -- as victorious military leaders often did -- Bill Self said He was delivering a significant message to all of us. “Life is messy and brutal and uncaring and Jesus goes through all of that with us. He doesn’t just fax it in. He sees us and is in there with us. By his entrance on a donkey’s back, He is saying to us, ‘I see you. I hear you, I love you and I am with you.’”

Watch Who You Follow - A Good Day with Dr. Bill Self

Thursday April 02, 2009
The Rev. Dr. William L. Self brings you positive and powerful messages of faith and hope as a trusted motivational leader. This time discussing the importance of being cautious about the path you follow, and those who lead you down them.

The Jacob Syndrome

Sunday March 29, 2009
Bill Self: “We all desperately need it. We all desperately want it. It is like oxygen to the lungs. It is like protein to the body. It is the nurture and blood of the spiritual life. We all want it, but sometimes we don’t know how to get it. It’s called the blessing... A way of touching human beings in such a way that they felt approved by God, loved by God.”

There Are Three Things I Want You to Do

Sunday March 22, 2009
For many years Bill Self would tell those people who had just made public decisions to join the church, his classic three-point instruction. “I want you to be here when we’re here. I want you to get involved in a small group, and I want you to help us carry the load.” He used that outline as the basis for this sermon, which continues explaining the early origins of the church, and how God intends it to carry out His purposes today.

Enjoy the Rain - A Good Day with Dr. Bill Self

Friday March 20, 2009
The Rev. Dr. William L. Self brings you positive and powerful messages of faith and hope as a trusted motivational leader. The hardship of a rain storm can test us, but we must learn to love that challenge as a sign of the very life we have been given.

Take a Risk - A Good Day with Dr. Bill Self

Friday March 20, 2009
The Rev. Dr. William L. Self brings you positive and powerful messages as a trusted motivational leader. These public service announcements were produced by Day1 Radio listeners and bring hopeful messages of inspiration to our programming.

Dream Big - A Good Day with Dr. Bill Self

Friday March 20, 2009
The Rev. Dr. William L. Self brings you positive and powerful messages you will cherish and can help guide you in tough times. Have big dreams and big things will follow.

Follow Life's Rules - A Good Day with Dr. Bill Self

Friday March 20, 2009
Dr. Bill Self brings you positive powerful messages of hope and faith. Produced by Day1.

The Church is Worth the Effort

Sunday March 15, 2009
Throughout his entire ministry, Bill Self was a staunch defender of the church. In this sermon, Bill explains God’s plan for the church as the body of Christ and why it is essential for every Christian. “God uses the church as a way to bring strength to us and give us roots... God uses the church to help us be what He wants us to be. And we can’t do it alone.”

We Do Not Well ...

Sunday March 01, 2009
During a time of national financial difficulty, Bill Self challenged the Johns Creek Baptist Church to step up and do more. “I want this to be the finest hour in the life of our church, and it can be. We do not well if we know and do not tell. We do not well if we have and do not give. Jesus said, ‘Give and it will be given to you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over they will pour into your lap, for by your stand of measure it will be measured to you.’ It’s up to us.”

Hosea: Love in a New Dimension

Sunday February 22, 2009
When the storms of life come, Bill Self says don't give up hope. Those are the times God is closest. Drawing from the Book of Hosea, Bill says, "God loves you. He loves you more than just sentimentally. He loves you enough to give you strength to make your valley of trouble a day of hope. And as He said to us through Hosea, He will take us back to the time when we were closest to God. He will feed us and care for us."

Fatal Family Compromises

Sunday February 15, 2009
Bill Self said there are four compromises each of us face when we try to live as Kingdom people — the same compromises Pharaoh offered Moses. “These are the compromises you are offered every time you try to come out of bondage. Every time you try to get free to come into the arms of Jesus Christ.”

Ten Commandments for the Christian Home

Sunday February 08, 2009
Throughout his ministry, Bill Self devoted the month of February to sermons on marriage and the family. “The family is fighting for it’s life, and I want to say something up front ... marriage was created by God and is a sacramental thing. Jesus began His ministry at a wedding. That was no accident... So I want to go through the Ten Commandments for the Christian Home and I hope this will give us some parameter, some way of understanding about Christian marriage and married life.”

Forgiveness: Now More Than Ever

Sunday February 01, 2009
Bill Self said forgiveness is scarce in our culture. “We bury the hatchet, but we keep a road map telling us exactly where we put it. We put resentments in cold storage but we are ready to let them thaw out any day. We take grudges to the lake and drown them but we give them swimming lessons on the way. We tear up cancel notes, but we hang on to the wastepaper basket... We’re not in the condemnation business. We’re not in the measuring and judgment business. We’re in the forgiving business. That’s why God has created us. That’s what God has done to us and He said incidentally, ‘As you forgive, you are forgiven.’ It’s a ricochet effect.”

Success: What Is It Really?

Sunday January 18, 2009
What is true success? God’s definition is quite different from what the culture teaches. Here are three steps to true, biblical success.

Depression: Its Cause and Cure

Sunday January 11, 2009
Sometimes we feel like the prophet Elijah, so depressed we want to run away and quit. But God provides for us, even when we feel alone and abandoned.

Taking Control of Your Life

Sunday January 04, 2009
You can act your way into a new way of feeling easier than you can feel your way into a new way of acting. Know what you want. Dream. Believe. And then get ready for what God is doing with you and you know what’ll happen? You’ll be in charge of your life and you’ll give it to God.

I'm In A Hurry, But God Isn't

Sunday December 07, 2008
Bill Self said sometimes when he’s preparing a sermon, “I just walk and pray and and sometimes I preach it out loud. And sometimes my study can become quite noisy. One day it was especially noisy and my wife stuck her head in and said, ‘Bill, is everything all right?’ And I said, ‘Well, the problem is that I’m in a hurry and God isn’t and I’m trying to convince God that if He had all the facts that I have that He would act and do what I’m telling Him to do. But God just won’t move.’ ... I was like many American Christians who sit back and say, ‘I’m going to judge God by how quickly He jumps to my bidding, how quickly He does things for me.’”

Roadblocks to Renewal

Sunday August 31, 2008
Bill Self says many Christians are like the people in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth, who did not believe in him, so he could do few miracles. “The power of God, the immediate power of God in our lives, is much more available than the average Christian knows, or is willing to dare tap ... This is the central tragedy of any church, that God in Jesus Christ is willing to do much more in and through us than we are willing to do or to let him do.”

Don't Sell That Cow

Sunday May 04, 2008
Bill Self said many Christians are trying to do God’s work under their own power and failing time after time. “I see so many of us now trying to shrug through life, you’re doing church work under your own power. You’re doing that Sunday school class or that committee or that witnessing or whatever you’re doing, you’re trudging along in your own power and you wonder why it doesn’t work... This is a call to know the complete and total resource that God has given to us in the power of His Holy Spirit... It’s a call for us to know that God in His Holy Spirit dwells in His church.”

The Call to Courage

Sunday April 27, 2008
When we are trying to come to grips with life, or our situation makes us want to give up, Bill Self says our only hope is in Jesus Christ, God in the flesh. “You cannot find hope or answers anywhere else that will stand in the stormy winds of life... Are you beginning to feel like you’re by yourself? Look up. Are you in deep and profound need and wonder how you’re going to make it? Look up. Do you feel like you’ve just been worn down by life? Look up.”

No Cross, No Crown

Sunday March 16, 2008
Bill Self said in this sermon, “If you think you have a Christian faith without a cross, you don’t have a faith. We want a faith that makes us feel good. We want a faith that gives us four ways to get along with everybody, three ways to save our marriage, two ways to make sure that we don’t get in trouble. And all of that little, shallow “Reader ’s Digest” kind of religion will not do a thing for you. That kind of religion is not going to get to the heart of the human problem...”

Is Our Gospel Too Small?

Sunday March 02, 2008
Bill Self said, “Politicians can come and go, philosophies can come and go, elections can come and go, but the church of the Lord Jesus Christ and the gospel of God is forever. We need to unhook ourselves from these petty causes ... Changing this world is the only vision big enough for the cross of Jesus Christ and it’s the only vision big enough for a church that takes its calling seriously.”

The Power of Neglect

Sunday January 13, 2008
Bill Self said we can have difficulty in life because of two thieves: the thief of drifting and the thief of neglect. Some people start out as strong Christians, solid in their church, but then life becomes complicated and they gradually drift away. Others, Bill said, neglect their spiritual life altogether and never accept Jesus as savior. “Drift makes you a spiritual cripple. Neglect gives you a seat in hell.”

Back to Basics

Sunday January 06, 2008
Bill Self says many Christians are like the people in Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth, who did not believe in him, so he could do few miracles. “The power of God, the immediate power of God in our lives, is much more available than the average Christian knows, or is willing to dare tap ... This is the central tragedy of any church, that God in Jesus Christ is willing to do much more in and through us than we are willing to do or to let him do.”

The Angels Who Announced Him

Sunday December 02, 2007
Bill Self said our culture has a distorted understanding of angels — who they are and that they do. The Bible records numerous time when angels appear as messengers of God. Such was the case at the birth of Jesus. Bill said their message was “God has invaded history. He has broken the veil. He has broken into our cave. He’s come into the darkness that we grope around in and He said, ‘Here’s the way. The light is here.’”

Where Have All the Heroes Gone?

Sunday October 14, 2007
Bill Self said the Bible is full of the great heroes, like David, Samson and Solomon, but there are also the obscure people whose dedication and commitment got the job done. These are the quiet heroes. Big or small, rich or poor, urban or country, churches are not filled with religious celebrities. Churches are filled, run, and carried by the obscure.

The Work of God's People

Sunday February 25, 2007
Bill Self said the church is here “for the worship of God, for the teaching of his people ... and we must understand that it’s not a place for me to be made happy. It’s not a place for any of us to be scratched or cajoled. It’s not a place for me to be affirmed in a minor way ... We meet once a week to be informed, to be infused, to be excited so that we can go out into the mission fields all around us that God’s given us. And if we don’t see it that way then we are taking our credentials, given to us by God, and throwing them away.”

The Worship of God

Sunday February 18, 2007
Understanding worship is sometimes difficult for Christians. In this sermon, Bill Self said the proper location is essential for meaningful worship. “Many times people will tell me, ‘I can worship God wherever I am. I don’t need to be at a place to worship.’ That’s just not true. There is no support for that. A place to worship and a place where you worship is essentially crucial to worship... We need to understand that worship is when we come before the living God with the people of God to this place to do what God has ordained.”

It's Character That Counts

Sunday January 28, 2007
Bill Self said Jesus offers us a lifetime guarantee. “He will take care of our needs and God will take care of our needs, but we will never get them without fulfilling one condition. That one condition is ‘Righteousness’ ... Righteousness comes first. Righteousness comes before anything is added on to us. That’s a spiritual law. It’s a law, like gravity.”

Here's the Church and Here's the Steeple

Sunday November 05, 2006
Throughout his long ministry, Bill Self was a staunch defender of the church. “I love the church, warts and all. It is the body of Jesus Christ. It is the family of God. It is the new Israel and I don’t like it when people criticize the church ... See, the church is part of who I am and when people denigrate, when people say things about the church that aren’t right, it bothers me ... What does the church do? It is the place where you reach up. It is the place where you reach in. It is the place where you reach out.”

I Am Somebody

Sunday October 08, 2006
Bill Self said the Bible teaches that mankind is God’s greatest creation. “We are not just wearers of watches and drivers of cars and buyers of houses, but we are the creation of God.” And one day God is going to say to each of us, “I made you. I know all about you ... What did you do with what I gave you?”

You Cannot Not Decide

Sunday September 10, 2006
Bill Self said it is impossible to live without making decisions — especially when it comes to Jesus Christ. “When you decide not to do something, you say, ‘I’m not going to make a decision on that.’ Well, by your inaction you are actually making a decision. You cannot NOT decide.”

The Secret of Significance

Sunday September 03, 2006
Bill Self said the Bible teaches that God has put a gift into each of us, and expects us to use them. “Some day God is going to say something like, ‘I gave you the gift of teaching, what did you do with it?’ or, ‘I gave you a marvelous voice, what did you do with it?’ or ‘I gave you the ability to care for and love people. What did you do with it?’”

He Is Able

Sunday June 25, 2006
Bill Self said many Christians get discouraged because we have said something that the Bible doesn’t say. “We have said, ‘I am able.’ And we find ourselves being ground up out there by the world. We think we are able. We get our energy up. We go into battle and we get destroyed. The Bible never says, ‘I am able.’ The Bible says, ‘He is able.’ And that’s where we’ve made a mistake. We somehow think that we go in to do the work of God on our own strength. Actually, we do the work of God in his name and in his strength.”

I Wonder If Jesus Was Really the Son of God

Sunday December 11, 2005
Have you ever wondered if Jesus really was the Son of God? Bill Self said that is the ultimate question all of us have to answer. "Have you ever wondered, down in your soul, about the truth of the gospel? Well, either Jesus Christ was the Son of God, or He was a lunatic and you have to make up your mind."

To Each Is Given a Day And Work to Do

Sunday September 04, 2005
Bill Self said the Bible teaches that each person receives a gift from God, and therefore, each of us will be judged by how we use those gifts. “You are only asked to take the gift God has given you and use that gift well ... We are not equal in the gifts we have been given, but we are called upon to use the gift we have been given.”

Me Almighty

Sunday June 05, 2005
In preparing Johns Creek Baptist Church to build a new sanctuary, Bill Self said, "We can't expect the blessings of God as He walks with us if we give him scraps of our time, and we cannot build a temple for worthy worship with scraps from our table." He said we have to take ourselves off the throne of our life and put God there instead.

How to be a Drum Major

Sunday May 29, 2005
Bill Self said he thinks every person is equipped for greatness. "I think every one of us, down in our hearts, wants to lead the band. Every one of us is born a drum major." But then he reminds us that Jesus said he who would be great must learn to be a servant. "Jesus said, ' If you want to be great ... let me tell you what to do. Go with the needs. Don't push yourself. Go to the lowest. Be a servant. Take that energy, put it in the right place, and serve like I say.'"

Just Imagine ...

Sunday March 06, 2005
Bill Self challenged the Johns Creek Baptist Church to "dream God's dream. I guarantee you're going to have somebody say, 'Your church has a dream, but it is too big.' But the people who can't imagine or see the future never really accomplish anything." And he urged the church not to miss God's dream for His church. "God has called us, at this time. Let's not miss God's dream."

What Kind of World Would It Be if There Were No Church?

Sunday December 14, 2003
Bill Self says the world would be unfit for living without the church and he points out some of its many significant contributions. Despite its human imperfections, he said, "when the church operates as God intended for it to operate, it is the most powerful group of people on the face of the earth. I believe that if God is going to do anything in this world, He's going to do it through His church. I think that the church of the Lord Jesus Christ is the best thing God has going for Him in this world."

When All You've Ever Wanted Is Not Enough

Sunday November 23, 2003
In this sermon Bill Self said there is a real hunger in the American culture. "It is deeper than most of us imagine. Our souls are deeply, deeply hungering for meaning — a sense that we have figured out how to live so that our lives matter. It is an unnamable hunger and it's stronger than the hunger for power. It's a hunger for meaning in our lives." The Bible addresses that hunger and Bill points to three solutions found in the books of Ecclesiastes and the Psalms.

Will It Matter That You Lived?

Sunday October 26, 2003
Bill Self asked, "Do you ever feel as though you are nothing but a meeter of quotas, a producer of programs, a consumer of goods?" He said the culture sees people as disposable quantities, to be used once and discarded. But the Bible looks at humanity differently and Bill outlines four essential biblical principles for living a meaningful life.

For Such a Time as This

Tuesday June 14, 1977
Bill delivered the 1977 annual sermon at the Southern Baptist Convention in Kansas City, MO, which was the keynote sermon. He challenged the convention to expand its vision, think more creatively and minister more courageously, saying, “Who knows whether we have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

There’s No Such Thing As A Poor Christmas

Sunday December 22, 1974
What is success? Well Bill Self says it isn’t making a lot of money. "If your goal in life is just to accumulate masses of money, you’re not much different than the squirrels who are trying to accumulate acorns. Accumulating a lot of money isn’t success." Bill compares what culture says is "success" with what Jesus wants for each of us.

Learning to Pray from the Master

Sunday August 19, 1973
In an overview of prayer, Bill Self said, "If you're going to wallow around in the shallows of vending-machine prayer, you're not going to get the great harvest God has for you. The disciples said, 'Lord, teach us to pray.' But before you start, you'd better be ready to go all the way."

Whatever Happened to Sin?

Sunday June 10, 1973
Bill Self says, “It’s not fashionable any longer to think in terms of man as being a moral creature. It’s not fashionable any longer to use sin as a moral category, because the minute you talk about sin, you have to talk about whether it is part of our lives. It presumes a moral law and it presumes a relationship with God. ... (but) man is a creature who is alienated from God. His basic alienation from God is that which gives him his own pain, and God has mercifully supplied a way for us to have a bridge back to God.”

Come Home, Atlanta!

Sunday May 20, 1973
Taking his text from the story of the Prodigal Son, Bill Self said Atlanta, “like the Prodigal, have left our father’s home. I think we need to take a good, hard look at where we are and what we’ve done, and I think that in our journey to be uptown, and our journey to be like New York, and our journey to take our place in the middle of what may be the nation and the world, we have left our father’s home.” He urged, “Come home, Atlanta. Get up out of the farmer’s pig stye and come home!”

Where the Rubber Hits the Road — Fear

Sunday May 06, 1973
Bill Self said, “There comes a time in everybody’s life when you have to decide that you cannot live all of your life dominated by fear of what’s going to happen. So many of the human problems we all see are problems that are created by people who are going into next week, and next month, and next year, and borrowing all the trouble they can and they’re spending all of their time worrying about those things. What happens if? What will come about if? If this occurs what will it mean?”

Standing on the Promises

Sunday April 08, 1973
Bill Self said the Bible has 114 categories of promises of God to his disciples. “Those of us who preach make a big deal of the demands Christ puts upon us, but we say very little about what He’s going to do for us and what He’s promised us....and the way to get out of those dark nights of the soul is to bring up in your mind that which God has already put there, and that’s His promise...We just haven’t appropriated the power and wealth of God for our lives.”

Listen to the Wind

Sunday September 07, 1969
Jesus told Nicodemus that the Spirit of God is like the wind, blowing where it pleases. And Bill Self said, "The trouble with so many Christians is they're ready to have a little bit of God in their lives if He will come and help them in some hard places, but they don't want a full surrender because God may begin to do something with them. And what most of us, in our slick, fine, comfortable, middle-class homes want is a little bit of God to give us respectability, but not so much of God that people think we're religious fanatics."

An Adventure in Faith

Sunday June 29, 1969
Bill Self says if you are a Christian, you have no immunity from the storms of life. But God doesn't abandon you — He's there with you. And as long as your eyes are on God and His kingdom, and not the trouble around you, victory is with the Christian.