By Rick Elsey
Pastor, West End Baptist Church, Columbia

Focal Passage: Judges 6:11-16, 22-24

In the movie Field of Dreams, James Earl Jones’ character sums up our culture when he says, “They’ll come to Iowa for reasons they can’t even fathom … They’ll arrive at your door as innocent as children, longing for the past. Of course, we won’t mind if you look around, you’ll say. It’s only $20 per person. They’ll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack.” People crave peace. We work hard to find peace of mind only to discover a fleeting peace. A worldly peace can never satisfy or compare to the ultimate peace that comes from God. [Read more…]

By Rick Elsey
Pastor, West End Baptist Church, Columbia

Focal Passage: Exodus 17:8-16

As a high school football official, I love spending Friday nights in stadiums across the state. Before the game begins I stand side by side with other officials as “The Star-Spangled Banner” is played. Sometimes it is a recording; sometimes the local band plays. No matter how it is played I always think of the same things. I am so grateful for the freedom we have and especially grateful to those who selflessly protect us by serving at home and abroad. In our lesson this week we are reminded that God is Jehovah-Nissi which means “The Lord is my banner.” In every situation we can count on God’s protection. [Read more…]

By Rick Elsey
Pastor, West End Baptist Church, Columbia

Focal Passage: Genesis 22:1-14

Do names matter? Ask the Hatfields and the McCoys. Throughout Scripture names play an important role. They reflect the character or nature of an individual or serve as a reminder to a promise. This is especially true when it comes to God. The names of God not only reveal His character but they encourage and challenge us as we grow in our relationship with Him. This week we focus on God as our Provider. Consider this question as we go through this lesson: do I have the faith to trust God to meet my needs?

(1)   A strong faith is a tested faith (Genesis 22:1-2). If we are honest, most of us do not enjoy facing tests in our lives. We are reminded in James 1:3 that faith produces perseverance and perseverance maturity. Still the road to mature faith can be difficult. In Genesis 22 we find Abraham facing one of the most difficult tests in all of his life. After years of waiting, God had blessed him with a son, an heir to the promise. God has now commanded him to offer Isaac as a burnt offering. [Read more…]

By Joshua Franks
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton

Focal Passage: Ephesians 5:8-14

Every four years we come to one of my favorite sporting spectacles. I love the Winter Olympics. I’m not really sure why, but for two weeks in February sports like figure skating and alpine skiing suddenly matter in my life. But the Olympics have become a ritual in my home. Every cycle we gather around the TV at the beginning of the games and watch the opening ceremony, a ceremony that culminates with the lighting of the Olympic Flame.

As we watched this year, my mind was drawn to Jesus’ words in Matthew chapter 5. He said that we are the light of the world and we are to let our light shine so that others would see and give glory to our Father. And as I watched I wondered how many of our churches were actually accomplishing that mission in their community or how many had let their light become compromised by the things of this world. [Read more…]

By Joshua Franks
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton

Focal Passage: 1 Peter 2:11-17

I was shopping in Walmart a few days ago and I struck up a conversation with an acquaintance. Our talk started cordially enough but I soon asked why I never saw him on Sundays. His demeanor changed quickly and he replied, “You’ll never see me in church. There’s too many hypocrites!” Having been in ministry long enough to have heard that excuse multiple times, I replied with my standard answer, “Don’t worry about that. One more won’t hurt anything.”

It’s a funny conversation but I believe if I were to take an informal poll “hypocrites” would be the number one excuse most people claim as to why they don’t attend church. No one wants to be around people who pretend to be something they’re not. But is there any merit to that claim? [Read more…]

By Joshua Franks
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton

Focal Passage: I Peter 2:4-10

On April 2, 2005, Pope John Paul II passed away. At the time, I knew very little about the Catholic church but I remember being fascinated by all of the pomp and circumstance surrounding the selection of the next Pope. I watched the news as thousands of people crowded into St. Peter’s square and waited for the white smoke to billow out of the chimney perched on the roof of the Sistine Chapel. It all seemed so strange and it forced me to ask some questions, namely, what exactly does a priest do? [Read more…]

By Joshua Franks
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton

Focal Passage: II Corinthians 3:4-12

If you’re going to be an infantryman in the Army, then you’re headed to Fort Benning, near Columbus, Ga. There are other places that offer basic combat training, but only Fort Benning transforms soldiers into infantrymen. There, the soldiers go through rigorous training that lasts 14 weeks. At the end, they have a final rite of passage.

They march at night as people line the road and cheer them on. Eventually, they make their way to Honor Hill and pass through a gate that bears the phrase “Fortune favors the bold.”  [Read more…]

By Joshua Franks
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton

Focal Passage: Galatians 4:1-7

In 2000, I had the opportunity to hear Billy Graham preach in Nashville. I don’t remember what the sermon was about. I don’t remember how many people were saved. What I do remember is how brief it seemed.

In my young life I had heard thousands of sermons but I had never heard one like that. He preached for almost an hour and I didn’t even notice.

Many of the sermons I had heard in the past seemed to stretch on into eternity as my mind wandered and I counted ceiling tiles in the sanctuary. But Billy Graham’s sermon was different. It was the same length but seemed to fly by. [Read more…]

By Joshua Franks
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton

Focal Passage: Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18

One of my favorite memories growing up was getting to watch Saturday morning cartoons. Very few things brought joy into my little heart like waking up and running to the living room to see what kind of hijinks Bugs Bunny and his friends were up to. Every now and then they would have a storyline that featured “The Drunk Stork.” His job was to deliver babies but he was usually drunk and delivered them to the wrong family.  [Read more…]