By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Focal Passage: Matthew 24:15-22

Nobody likes to be deceived — that moment when you realize you have been lied to and taken advantage of. It’s embarrassing.  Therefore, we shouldn’t be surprised to discover in these last days Satan is truly deceiving the nations of the world. What will all of this lead to?

Days of deception. Matthew 24:15 speaks about the abomination of desecration as mentioned in Daniel 9:27. The Roman General Tiochus Epiphanes, around 160 B.C., marched into the temple, erected a statue of Zeus and sacrificed a pig on the altar. Talk about blasphemy and abomination! 

Many see this as a future reference to the final days before Jesus returns. Paul writes about this in II Thessalonians 2:1-12.  He is referred to as the “man of lawlessness.” [Read more…]

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Focal Passage: Matthew 24:1-14 

Destruction (vv. 1-3). The first few verses refer to King Herod who had taken the existing temple and completely refurbished and remodeled it. He doubled its size and doubled the land on which it sat. This was his finest building project of which he had many. Its grandeur was a wonder to behold.

All of that changed in 66 A.D., just as Jesus prophesied. The Jews rebelled against the Roman Empire and four years later in 70 A.D.  Roman legions, under Titus Caesar Vespasianus, attacked and destroyed Jerusalem.

The temple desecration was the saddest part of the destruction. Just as Jesus prophesied, “There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down” (v. 2). [Read more…]

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Focal Passage: Matthew 28:1-10

Many things in life are expected — the sun will come up, taxes will go up, inflation will go up, kids will grow up, and some days we want to give up. 

But there are some things that are not expected. The Resurrection of Christ is the world’s greatest “unexpectation.” The Pharisees and Romans expected the disciples to attempt to steal Jesus’ body. They never expected what would happen that glorious Sunday morning.  

Here are three great unexpectations: [Read more…]

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Focal Passage: John 16:19-22, 27-33 

It has often been said, ‘The greater the struggle, the greater the victory.’ Ask any mother with her newborn infant, any athlete after a last second win, any struggling Christian who receives an answer to a desperate prayer and most will say, “It was very difficult, but it was well worth the sacrifice.” 

Before anesthesia, a mother could cry out in anguish during childbirth. For her it must seem like every minute is an hour. Then later, after the delivery, she beams with joy because of the new life she holds in her arms. The one who caused her so much pain, now gives her the greatest delight. With this in mind, let’s examine two truths.  [Read more…]

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Focal Passage: John 15:18-25; 16:1-4a 

C. S. Lewis said, “If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly do not recommend Christianity.” 

Being a dedicated follower of Christ is not for those who simply want the easy road. Jesus states in these verses that not only will the world dislike you, they will hate you simply because of who you identify with. 

There are several reasons.  [Read more…]

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Focal Passage: John 15:9-17

Some things for me are hard to believe. It’s hard for me to believe that I grew up in a home where the telephone was attached to the wall. Hard for me to believe that when I changed channels on the television I had to get up from the couch and walk over to it. Hard to believe that I rarely got to see Bonanza because it played from 6:30-7:30 on Sunday night. It’s hard for me to believe I actually survived!!

Please indulge my sarcasm, but on a serious note, what is really  hard to believe is that Jesus chose me, became my friend, loved me and laid down His life for me. How is that magnificent love manifested? We discover how in John 15:9-17.

Obedient love — This love was to be the number one mark of a believer. It was not to be whimsical, mystical, or purely emotional.  Obedience to His commands would be the natural flow of a believer. It is the thermometer showing  how hot or cold our passion for Jesus ran. [Read more…]

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Focal Passage: John 13:36-14:6

One of the most popular performances at a circus is the flying trapeze. As the daredevils swing and turn through the air into the arms of the ‘catcher’ the crowd wonders, “Will they slip and fall to the ground?” Why is the ‘flyer’ willing to do such a dangerous act? Answer: The flyer trusts the catcher to hold him in his grip.

In these verses, in essence, Jesus is saying to His perplexed disciples, “I know what I am telling you is difficult to comprehend, but trust Me, I have a grip on this.”

Even our best promises can falter and fail. Jesus had said, “You can’t go where I am going.” Peter, full of emotional fervor, boasted, “I will lay down my life for your sake.” But the Lord knew Peter better than Peter knew Peter. Peter had always been there with Him and for Him, but He also knew Peter was making a promise he couldn’t keep. [Read more…]

By Chuck Williams
Interim pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Focal Passage: John 13:21-27, 31-35 

The worst betrayal (vv. 21-27).Loyalty in times of crisis is one of the greatest gifts a person can give someone. Disloyalty in times of crisis makes a wound that hurts like no other, causes grief beyond comprehension, and can linger a lifetime.

The Emperor of Rome, Julius Caesar knew about such treachery. Some of his closest colleagues had secretly become sinister conspirators. One of those was a very close confidant named Marcus Junus Brutus whom he loved as a son. 

The Senatorial conspirators with knives drawn, suddenly attacked Caesar. Historians say initially he fought them off but when Brutus emerged from the group with knife in hand, he slumped in his chair and asked this very famous question “Et tu Brute?”, which translated means — “And you too, Brutus?” This Latin phrase is now seen as the epitome of betrayal. [Read more…]

By Chuck Williams
Interim pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Focal Passage: John 13:3-10, 14-16

Elon Musk, the world’s most famous inventor and entrepreneur, sarcastically remarked, “I don’t want to brag, but I am the best at humility.”  This tongue-in-cheek remark garnered him lots of laughs but also produced a window into the human soul.  

For many of us, it is our hope that our ‘humble service’ will be spot-lighted. Being a servant of Christ is not about recognition, platforming, networking or titles. He profoundly stated that He didn’t come to be served and waited on; He came to serve sacrificially (Matthew 20:28).

Let’s see what “spiritual” looks like in these verses. [Read more…]

By Kenny Bruce
Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis

Focal Passage: Genesis 50:15-21 

When we see our lives from God’s perspective, His providence shines through the events that seem tangled or meaningless.

1. Providence revealed (vv. 18-19). After Jacob died, Joseph’s brothers were afraid Joseph was holding a grudge against them and would punish them for the suffering they had caused him when they sold him as a slave years earlier (v. 15). That fear led them to tell Joseph that their father had commanded that he forgive their wrongdoing. Whether or not Jacob said that, they knew that the final wishes of their dying father would have a tremendous impact on Joseph.

Joseph shed tears because he knew firsthand of his father’s desires that his family stay united, and it crushed him that his brothers still feared him. He wanted to relate to them on their level in a familial relationship. It certainly grieved him that his brothers did not trust in his forgiveness. [Read more…]