By Jay McCluskey
Pastor, North Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland

Focal Passage: Mark 4:35-41

A little tune from the musical drama “The King and I” offers this counsel for the times when you are afraid:

“Whenever I feel afraid I hold my head erect

“And whistle a happy tune so no one will suspect

“I’m afraid.” [Read more…]

By Jay McCluskey
Pastor, North Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland

Focal Passage: Luke 1:26-35

The Scripture today is the event some Christians call “The Annunciation.” This expression means the announcement. To be honest, receiving announcements does not usually generate enthusiasm. Yet Mary received from the Lord an amazing announcement that His role for her life was to be the mother of His son. [Read more…]

By Jay McCluskey
Pastor, North Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland

Focal Passage: Isaiah 53:2-12

Life is not fair. It is true. You do not always get a square deal. Things do not always work out evenly. “Justice for all” is a worthy ideal, but it is not reality. And no one likes to feel cheated, receiving less than we deserve.

Isaiah 53 is a prophetic description of a terrible injustice. Written hundreds of years before the crucifixion, this text poetically foretells of Jesus dying on the cross. There is no reference to nails, wooden beams, or shed blood. But there is a powerful description of Jesus’ sacrificial exchange of His innocence for our guilt. [Read more…]

By Randall Pressnell
Senior Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Mount Carmel

Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 4:3-8

In his book Wired for Intimacy, Christian psychologist William M. Struthers lists the following stages of how men get hooked on pornography:

• Denial — “Sure,” they may say, “I’ve looked at it in the past, but I don’t anymore.” Most men will confess their struggle with pornography only under the conditions of anonymity and confidentiality.

• Minimization — At this stage a man will argue that his pornography use is insignificant and has no real effect on his life. He might say, “Well, I do look at porn, but only occasionally. It’s not like I’m addicted to it or anything.”

• Normalization — At the next stage men say, “Everybody does it.” Explaining the use of pornography as a common form of entertainment is referred to as normalization. [Read more…]

By Randall Pressnell
Senior Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Mount Carmel

Focal Passage: Romans 1:18-27; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

During a family vacation, Sarah got a little ornery and pushed Hannah. “Did you push your sister?” I asked. “No,” she denied. Since this was becoming a growing pattern for Sarah, I decided to take a walk with her to get to the bottom of things. “Sarah,” I told her, “I’m really disappointed with your behavior. What do you need to do about it?” [Read more…]

By Randall Pressnell
Senior Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Mount Carmel

Focal Passage: Ephesians 5:1-10

Pastor Andy Stanley recently gathered with about 250 singles to answer questions on the topic of love, sex, and dating. The most pointed question of the night came from a middle-aged gentleman. “Why save sex for marriage?” [Read more…]

By Randall Pressnell
Senior Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Mount Carmel

Focal Passage: II Corinthians 4:16-18; 12:7-10

After living as a quadriplegic for 45 years, Joni Eareckson Tada reflected on the diving accident that changed her life. Immediately after the accident, Joni told God, “You’ll never be trusted with another of my prayers.” But after struggling with anguish and anger Joni said, “I prayed one short prayer that changed my life: ‘Oh God, if I can’t die, show me how to live.’ That was probably the most powerful prayer I had ever prayed.” [Source: Marvin Olasky, “Loving Life,” World (1-12-13)] [Read more…]

By Randall Pressnell
Senior Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Mount Carmel

Focal Passage: Deuteronomy 15:7-11

Herschel Hobbs told a story of one man asking another, “If you had a thousand hogs, would you give me half of them?” “Sure!” came the man’s reply. “Well, if you had a hundred hogs, would you give me half of them?” Again, “Sure!” was the answer. “Okay, if you had two hogs would you give me half of them?” “That isn’t fair!” came the reply. “You know that I have two hogs!” The man was generous with what he did not have, but was miserly with what he did have. [Read more…]

By Randall Pressnell
Senior Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Mount Carmel

Focal Passage: Exodus 23:1-3, 6-9

In his book When a Nation Forgets God, Erwin Lutzer retells one Christian’s story of living in Hitler’s Germany during the Holocaust. The man wrote:

“We heard stories of what was happening to the Jews, but we tried to distance ourselves from it. … A railroad track ran behind our small church, and each Sunday morning we could hear the whistle in the distance and then the wheels coming over the tracks. We … heard the cries coming from the train as it passed by. We realized that it was carrying Jews like cattle in the cars! We dreaded to hear the sound of those wheels because we knew that we would hear the cries of the Jews en route to a death camp. Their screams tormented us. [Read more…]

By Randall Pressnell
Senior Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Mount Carmel

Focal Passage: Psalm 91:1-4, 9-11, 14-16

Van Morris of Mount Washington, Ky., told of a visit to the zoo with his daughter and grandchildren during which they visited the orangutan exhibit. The only thing separating them from these creatures was 20-feet-tall panes of thick glass. Morris said that his 2-year-old grandson was at first amused by the orangutans. Then one of the hairy beasts suddenly began to beat on the glass. The grandson leapt into the arms of his mother, crying, “I scared!” [Read more…]