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APRIL 25: REMEMBERED

April 19, 2021

By Scott Brown
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly

Focal Passage: Luke 22:7-20 

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleThis is a special moment of calm before the storm that is to come in the life of Jesus and the disciples. Jesus, the true Passover Lamb, shares the Passover meal with the disciples. 

This Passover meal is what we now call The Last Supper. Each time that believers gather and celebrate communion, they are pointing back to this meal and the picture it paints of our salvation and our common union in Christ. 

When we gather for communion it draws our hearts to do three things: look back, look in and look ahead. Celebrating the Lord’s Supper causes us to look back at the meaning of this Passover meal. 

We are told the bread is His body, broken for us. The wine is His blood, spilled out for us. Everything about the elements and the action of this ordinance brings us back to the gospel. We look back and meditate on the wonder of our sins being passed over because of the blood of Jesus.  [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Explore the Bible, Sunday School Lessons Tagged With: Bible: Luke

APRIL 25: OUR COMMISSION

April 19, 2021

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: Matthew 28:18-20; II Corinthians 5:16-21 

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeWe could make a case that our subject for today ought to be the most natural thing we do as followers of Christ. 

And yet, we can make a case that there is nothing else that creates more fear and intimidation as this activity. Accelerated heart rates. Nervous sweats. Fear of fumbling over our words. Worry that an unanswerable question may be asked of us. And the list goes on. And so must we.

This second study will focus on how to share Christ. Sometimes, I think we talk more about evangelism than we practice evangelism. 

Don’t get me wrong, however, we need to study deep into the meaning of evangelism. That study, though, should create a thirst in us to practice what we have learned. 

As you hear on Alistair Begg’s radio program, “Where the learning is for living,” may we venture into a partnership to become more faithful evangelists. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Bible Studies for Life, Sunday School Lessons Tagged With: Bible: 2 Corinthians, Bible: Matthew

APRIL 18: CORNERSTONE

April 12, 2021

By Scott Brown
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly

Focal Passage: Luke 20:9-19 

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleJesus used parables to both frustrate and to inform. This story does both. The frustration of the religious leaders has now reached a fever pitch and they are almost incessantly confronting Him, trying to find any reason to condemn Him. 

In the midst of this, Jesus tells the story of a vineyard owner who leased out His vineyard to others. This man started the vineyard. It was his blood, sweat, and tears that went in to planting the vineyard. 

He went away and leased the vineyard to others who would continue his work. Eventually he sends servants to collect the fruit he is owed from the labor. The wicked men refuse to pay.  [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Explore the Bible, Sunday School Lessons Tagged With: Bible: Luke

APRIL 18: THE RETURN OF JESUS

April 12, 2021

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: Matthew 24:3-8,29-32,42-44 

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeHow certain are you that the sky is blue? How certain are you that two plus two equals four? How certain are you that the sun will rise tomorrow? How certain are you that you will be working the same job five years from now? 

In our lives we deal with things and situations where we have varying degrees of certainty. Some things are readily verifiable, while others stand on shaky ground. Our Christian essential this week should be met with the highest confidence. Brothers and sisters, Jesus is coming again!

This comes to us as a direct promise from the Lord Jesus. It comes to us as sure testimony from other writers of Scripture. Some of the very last words that we find in the book of Revelation are, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Once again, these are the words of Christ. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Bible Studies for Life, Sunday School Lessons Tagged With: Bible: Matthew

APRIL 11: SINNERS?

April 5, 2021

By Scott Brown
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly

Focal Passage: Luke 19:1-10 

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleThe story of Zacchaeus is a powerful reminder that no one is too far gone for the grace of God. His name means, “righteous one.” This is very interesting when you think about the man we meet in this chapter.

Perhaps his parents had different plans, more righteous hopes for him than the life he had chosen. He is a chief tax collector, one who not only betrays his people by collecting exorbitant taxes for the Roman government but (aided by the threats of Rome) extorts a great deal extra from them and also supervises others who do the same.

This is not a righteous man but one who steals from his own people and profits off their pain. Luke tells us he was a short man. He is noticeably shorter than others.  [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Explore the Bible, Sunday School Lessons Tagged With: Bible: Luke

APRIL 11: THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

April 5, 2021

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: John 15:26-27; 16:7-15 

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeDo you like having an advantage when engaged in competition? Let me take an example from the madness that is basketball in March. We can be sure each coaching staff has dissected every cut of film concerning their opponent in order to gain an advantage for their players on the court. Each team wants to win.

In the Christian life, we seek an advantage. We seek victory. Our adversary, the devil, prowls about looking for targets to devour. We do not seek to live according to the flesh, but we seek to live according to the Spirit of God. And there is our decided advantage. The Holy Spirit. He is a person and not an impersonal force, like you would find in the Star Wars movies. God is calling us to yield to and walk by His promised and provided Spirit. 

John 15:26-27: At the end of chapter 14, Jesus says it is time to arise and go from where they are. In the opening of chapter 18, the Word informs us that after He spoke these words they traveled over the ravine of the Kidron and entered a garden.  [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Bible Studies for Life, Sunday School Lessons Tagged With: Bible: John

APRIL 4: RESURRECTED

March 31, 2021

By Scott Brown
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly

Focal Passage: Luke 24:1-12 

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleReading this text, it is quite the emotional rollercoaster. In these few verses we see multiple strong feelings. The women are grief stricken, having seen the Lord crucified and the hope they had crushed. 

As they came to mourn and to honor Him, they find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Their grief is now mingled with confusion. Did someone take the body? Who would do such a horrible thing? Their confusion turns to terror when they see two men in dazzling clothes who announce that He is risen. He is risen! Can you believe it? 

They must have been awestricken in that moment. As they bow down in terror before these men, they hear this incredible announcement. The King is risen! A great emotional paradigm shift turned them from grief and hopelessness to overjoy and excitement in an instant. He is alive!  [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Explore the Bible, Sunday School Lessons Tagged With: Bible: Luke

APRIL 4: THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

March 31, 2021

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: John 20:3-9,19-23,27-29 

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeHappy Resurrection Day! Doesn’t it feel good to say those words of truth and reality? That the stone was rolled away, not so Jesus could escape, but that we should be let in to see the empty tomb. A crucified Jesus. An empty tomb. A risen Savior. Hallelujah!

Let us reason together over these events. The fear, pain, and confusion of crucifixion Friday still hovers above the followers of Jesus. Hopes have been dashed against the rocks. 

Potential deliverance from Rome slips into quiet nothingness. Then the uneasiness and silence of Saturday takes hold. A day of rest and peace is haunted by cries and screams and images locked into many consciences. Sunday is on its way, but no one seems to be truly prepared for what they will discover on this auspicious day.

John 20:3-9: Our entry point here follows Mary Magdalene fleeing from the empty tomb. She runs to Peter and John to inform them of this troubling development.  [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Bible Studies for Life, Sunday School Lessons Tagged With: Bible: John

MARCH 28: WORSHIPED

March 22, 2021

By Scott Brown
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly

Focal Passage: Luke 19:29-40 

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleThis is an amazing passage displaying such peace in God’s sovereignty ahead of such a painful week for our Lord. It displays such peace in the events of His entry. Jesus tells them exactly where to go and what they will see as a colt is tied up awaiting them. 

This is an unbroken colt which has never been ridden yet it will gently and peaceably march the Savior into Jerusalem without an ounce of rebellion. The disciples go and they find everything exactly as Jesus told them. 

Seeing what would seem like two men stealing the donkey, the owner likely asks what they are doing. They reply no more and no less exactly as they were told, “The Lord needs it.” The owner does not fight or shout but sends them on their way with the colt. 

Jesus comes into Jerusalem on the back of this donkey, entering as a royal processional, as the larger group of disciples praise Him and cry out from the Messianic Psalm 118, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.” They, unprompted, begin laying down palm leaves in front of Him as he rides into their praise.  [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Explore the Bible, Sunday School Lessons Tagged With: Bible: Luke

MARCH 28: THE DEATH OF JESUS

March 22, 2021

By Michael Julian
Pastor, Macedonia Baptist Church, Kenton

Focal Passage: John 19:8-11,16b-18,28-30 

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeOur calendars tell us that next week is Easter Sunday. We have explored the grand subject of the nature of God. Here we are again exploring a grand subject, the death and resurrection of Jesus. This knowledge is seminal and critical to our faith. 

While we assert that forgiveness is now possible because of Jesus dying a substitutionary death, we must also peer further into the Holy of Holies. The possibility of forgiveness presupposes an oft forgotten or neglected antecedent. Forgiveness is necessary. We have offended a holy, righteous, sovereign God. 

Therefore, one who is perfect in righteousness entered the fray of humanity and lived in perfect obedience to the Father for my sake and yours. This entrance into a robe of frail, bleedable, bruisable, and breakable flesh culminated in His seemingly shameful death upon a cruel cross on a hill called Calvary.

John 19:8-11: Following the context, we know that Jesus has already been arrested, been before the priests, been scourged by the soldiers and dressed in a purple robe, and now is before Pilate again.  [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Bible Studies for Life, Sunday School Lessons Tagged With: Bible: John

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Recent Posts

  • TENNESCENE: APR. 21
  • SOUTHERN BAPTIST EDITORS GATHER VIRTUALLY FOR ANNUAL MEETING
  • TBC CP GIFTS NEAR BUDGET GOAL FOR YEAR
  • FOR BIVOCATIONAL PASTORS, IT’S A BALANCING ACT
  • APRIL 25: REMEMBERED
  • APRIL 25: OUR COMMISSION

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abortion baptisms Baptist Collegiate Ministries Bible: Acts Bible: Luke Bible: Matthew Bible: Psalms Carson-Newman University childhood Christmas church revitalization Cooperative Program coronavirus COVID-19 Disaster Relief education ERLC evangelism family Five Objectives Golden Offering homosexuality IMB international LifeWay Lonnie Wilkey Lottie Moon missions money NAMB pastors prayer racial reconciliation Radio B&R Randy C. Davis SBC SBC annual meeting sports Summit TenneScene Union University volunteers WMU Woman's Missionary Union youth

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