Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
By Russ Wilkins
Dir. of Missions, Shiloh Baptist Assoc., Adamsville
Focal Passage: Luke 4:16-30
Remember how much you loved fast food as a kid and now as an adult the thought of eating it makes you sick. Or how “flybacks” looked great in the 70s but now you can’t imagine having that hairstyle ever again.
Do you remember how convenient it was to have a phone in your kitchen with a cord on it that would reach halfway around the house? Would you ever go back to that now? [Read more…]
By Eric Taylor
Pastor, Cedar Hill Baptist Church, Cedar Hill
Focal Passage: 1 Timothy 4:1-10
While our text for this week contains Paul’s pastoral admonitions and instructions for young pastor Timothy, they should not be viewed as irrelevant to those of us not in vocational, gospel ministry.
The Apostle Paul delivers some sound spiritual advice for all who are living in the “latter times” (1 Timothy 4:1). And while we know that the “latter times,” is a reference to the period between Christ’s ascension (Acts 1:9-11) and His promised return, it sure seems like the Day of His return is drawing near! [Read more…]
By Russ Wilkins
Dir. of Missions, Shiloh Baptist Assoc., Adamsville
Focal Passage: Luke 6:27-38
This Scripture is too hard to live out so come back next week for a new set of Scriptures to talk about.
Are you still here? Okay, let’s talk about it then. Today’s Scriptures are so challenging and to make matters worse, Jesus is the one who spoke them. They are “red letter” Scriptures. When I think of my faith, I sometimes like the easy faith.
You know, the believe and receive type of faith but Jesus is clear about the “take up your cross daily,” “follow Me” and “no one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom” type of faith too. [Read more…]
By Eric Taylor
Pastor, Cedar Hill Baptist Church, Cedar Hill
Focal Passage: Jeremiah 1:4-10
Our text for this week is often used in the context of making a case for the importance of every single human life, because if God “formed,” Jeremiah in his mother’s “womb,” then certainly, all lives are created and formed by God. In addition, every life formed in the womb is known by God.
So, while we can find principles and truths here that inform us about the sanctity of human life, these words in Jeremiah 1:5 are found in the context of the calling of Jeremiah, of whom God says, “I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Therefore, the reasons God points out the importance of Jeremiah’s life, is because God had created him for a purpose. Matter of fact, God has a purpose for the life of each of his servants. The question is, are we willing to surrender to God’s purpose and calling on our lives? [Read more…]
By Russ Wilkins
Dir. of Missions, Shiloh Baptist Assoc., Adamsville
Focal Passage: Luke 3:7-18
Occasionally I’ll try to build or repair something around the house. Inevitably, it will always be harder and take longer than I imagined. Why? Because I am not skilled in this area so I am not as prepared as I should be. I believe this is often true spiritually. We rush into God’s presence to “ask a favor”, we call on Him only when we are desperate, or we pray to mark it off of our to do list for the day. [Read more…]
By Eric Taylor
Pastor, Cedar Hill Baptist Church, Cedar Hill
Focal Passage: Psalm 31:1-8
While most scholars attribute this Psalm to David during his trials with Saul, or the treason of Absalom, there are other scholars who do not agree on its authorship. Yet, it seems that there is strong evidence for the authorship of David. We can affirm the importance of this Psalm because it was quoted by Jonah, Jeremiah, and Jesus.
So, whatever one’s view on the authorship of this Psalm, it is clear that the author (David) is looking back over his life and remembering both the troubles of life and the grace of God. So, whether this Psalm was written by King David, King Hezekiah, the prophet Jeremiah, or some unknown Israelite, the author went through some trials that could bring any soul to a low place in life. [Read more…]
By Russ Wilkins
Dir. of Missions, Shiloh Baptist Assoc., Adamsville
Focal Passage: Luke 2:41-52
On Passover, the Jewish people would recite Psalm 113-118. In one of those we read “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Jesus, Joseph and Mary would have recited this during the Passover time in today’s reading.
Jesus knew He would be rejected by the very men that were teaching Him and yet He was still mature enough to listen to them as we read in today’s Scripture. [Read more…]
By Eric Taylor
Pastor, Cedar Hill Baptist Church, Cedar Hill
Focal Passage: Psalm 23:1-6
The 23rd Psalm is probably the most well-known passage in the Bible. Psalm 23 is the “Amazing Grace” of the Word of God. Charles Spurgeon called it, “The pearl of the psalms.” Alexander Maclaren said that this Psalm, “Has dried many tears and supplied the mold into which many hearts have poured their peaceful faith.” James Montgomery Boice wrote, “If ever a Psalm could stand almost on a single line, it is this one —‘The Lord is my shepherd.’ ”
In other words, this Psalm is a cure for all that worries us and makes us anxious. Matter of fact, there are five reasons why the Good Shepherd enables us to overcome worry. [Read more…]
By Russ Wilkins
Dir. of Missions, Shiloh Baptist Assoc., Adamsville
Focal Passage: Luke 2:25-38
In 2020 there have been some things that we thought were necessities and we thought were so important but then we realized that they were just things we wanted or enjoyed or looked forward to.
Maybe for you it was March Madness. Every year you get excited, fill out your brackets and compete with your friends to see whose bracket did best. It is something you look forward to every year. In 2020, March Madness was canceled. How disappointed were you? [Read more…]
By Eric Taylor
Pastor, Cedar Hill Baptist Church, Cedar Hill
Focal Passage: Psalm 35:1-3, 13-18
There is no denying we live in a day and age filled with anger. You might even say some people are filled with rage. Which is even more reason for God’s people to resist the temptation toward anger, malice, rage, and wrath. In our lesson, we see that while David was facing the wrath and anger of his enemies (likely Saul), he chose to take the high road and not respond to his enemies in kind.
Matter of fact, there are four things we see in this verse that we can learn when facing or dealing with trials and troubles brought on by the enemies of God and His people. [Read more…]
