By Mickey D. Brackin
Senior Pastor, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg

Focal Passage: II Timothy 3:12-17; 4:1-8

I grew up in Town Creek, Ala., a small town in northwest Alabama. My dad was a sharecropper and construction laborer. His formal education was completed in the sixth grade.  Although lacking in formal education he was a wealth of wisdom for my brothers and me. One important truth he taught us was to always “hoe out your row.” When you start hoeing a row you don’t stop until it’s finished. It doesn’t matter how hot the sun gets or how long the row looks — “hoe out your row!” Don’t stop until it is finished.

In today’s lesson, Paul is writing encouraging Timothy to “hoe out his row.” Young Timothy will face difficult times and many hardships as he serves the Lord and ministers to the church.  Paul is exhorting and encouraging him to faithfulness in life and ministry (II Timothy 3:12-13).  Paul instructs Timothy to continue in the truth, preaching and teaching it just as he himself had been taught from childhood (vv. 14-15). [Read more…]

Mickey D. Brackin
Senior Pastor, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg

Focal Passage: II Timothy 2:14-26

In today’s passage, II Timothy 2:14-26, Paul continues to address the problem of false teachers spreading false doctrine within the church at Ephesus. He begins in verse 14 with the words, “remind them of these things.”

In reference to “these things” Paul is no doubt calling attention to the preceding verses in II Timothy 2, but he is also addressing the entirety of his writings to Timothy concerning his handling of false teachers and false doctrine. [Read more…]

By Mickey D. Brackin
Senior Pastor, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg

Focal Passage: II Timothy 2:1-13

Paul begins chapter two with an imperative yet loving command for Timothy to be strong and to remain strong in the faith (II Timothy 2:1). Unlike those of chapter one that have “turned away” Timothy is instructed by the present passive imperative to “be strong,” and “keep on being strong,” strengthened by God’s grace to live faithfully and fulfill His calling. While many are turning away from the faith, Timothy is commanded to be strong and stay strong.

In verse two, Paul gives Timothy and the church a beautiful picture of discipleship. It is critical that Timothy understands his responsibility not only to preach, teach, and live the Word but also to invest into the lives of other faithful men who will in turn be faithful in teaching others.  [Read more…]

Mickey D. Brackin
Senior Pastor, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg

Focal Passage: II Timothy 1:3-14

It had been more than 30 years since that moment when the light “had shown around him from heaven” (Acts 9:3). His journey had taken him many places since that day. From the dusty road of Damascus to a Roman prison cell, Paul now waits for the inevitable, his own execution! All alone he sits in the darkness and dampness of a prison dungeon.

The story of his life is about to close, but before it ends, he takes his pen in hand to write one last and final letter. The words that flow from the aged apostle’s pen may seem strange and unusual to some. From this inspired pen are written words of encouragement, strength, instruction and challenge. [Read more…]

Mickey D. Brackin
Senior Pastor, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg

Focal Passage: I Timothy 6:6-19

Living in the state of Tennessee, we are quite familiar with the sound of the audible emergency weather warning system. The purpose of this system is to provide advanced warning of dangerous approaching storms. As we continue in our study of I Timothy, we find the Apostle Paul sounding the warning alarm. His alarm is not a weather alert but rather a false teacher, false doctrine alert. [Read more…]

Mickey D. Brackin
Senior Pastor, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg

Focal Passage: I Timothy 5:1-8. 17-21

Out of the realization of the importance of their own church family, Bill and Gloria Gaither wrote these words:

“I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God –

I’ve been washed in the fountain, Cleansed by His blood!

Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod.

For I’m part of the family, the family of God.” [Read more…]

Mickey D. Brackin
Senior Pastor, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg

Focal Passage: I Timothy 4:1-13

The greatest resource and best way to identify a counterfeit is to become totally familiar with the real and genuine. Whether it’s in the banking world of counterfeit bills or in the church with false teachers and doctrines, the best way to recognize the counterfeit is to be soundly familiar with the real and true.

In I Timothy 3 Paul had written concerning the character and conduct of church leaders. Now he once again turns his attention to the false doctrines and false teachers that are influencing the church at Ephesus. Timothy and the church leadership must be able to recognize these counterfeits and respond accordingly. It was imperative that the church not be led astray by such teachings and if left unchecked these doctrines would spread like a cancer among the church. [Read more…]

Mickey D. Brackin
Senior Pastor, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg

Focal Passage: I Timothy 3:1-13

Sitting in a classroom at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary over three decades ago I heard some words that were forever etched in my mind.

These words were stated by a professor who simply said, “Who you are thunders so loudly I can’t hear what you say!” In that one sentence, he was helping those future church leaders understand the importance of their own personal example in the context of church leadership. [Read more…]