By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville

Focal Passage: II Thessalonians 2:13-3:5    

Prayer is an interesting, yet dynamic and essential Christian discipline. We pour our hearts out to God in prayer. He promises to hear us, to speak to us, and to answer our prayers according to His will. But too many times we feel as if we’re speaking in mid-air to no one who is listening. But is this true?

Prayer is that unique gift God has called us to that both tests and rewards our faith in Him. Without prayer we are powerless. When we work, we work. But when we pray God works. And when God works amazing things take place. This is why we are called to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). What do we pray about? 

Steadfastness (II Thessalonians 2:13-15). We pray for steadfastness, for faithfulness in our commitment to God. We pray for a steadfastness grounded in our salvation because “God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (v. 13). The effectual call of the gospel came to us for “the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (v. 14).  All of this makes us stable in the Lord. [Read more…]

By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville

Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 2:1-12    

It is a tragedy to lose any one of our five senses: sight, sound, taste, smell, feel. I once asked a person, “Which of the five senses would be most difficult to lose?” Answer: Sight. We all know beautiful people who cannot see for a variety of medical reasons. Physical blindness is a sad condition.

However, spiritual blindness is not only sad, but deadly. As the old saying goes, “There are none so blind as those who will not see.” The lost are described as blind (II Corinthians 4:4). Jesus called some of the religious leaders of his day “blind guides” (Matthews 23:16-22). 

The text before us calls us to live life observing and looking for the signs of the times, especially as they pertain to the imminent return of Jesus Christ. In other words, we’re to live out our lives in Christ with “eyes wide open.” [Read more…]

By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville

Focal Passage: II Thessalonians 1:3-12    

One of the most distinct, Baptist doctrines is called the “security of the believer.” Some tritely refer to this as “once saved always saved.” It is better to refer to this doctrine as the “perseverance or endurance of the saints.” 

This doctrine states that those who have genuinely placed their faith in Jesus Christ will be kept by God and will, by God’s grace and Spirit, endure to the end. 

This doctrine also teaches that true salvation is measured not just by when faith begins, but where the life of faith ends. The truly saved must and will endure. Those who do not endure to the end are not saved. How a person begins and ends the life of faith cannot be separated. 

Too many people pray to receive Christ, but never live out their faith or endure for Christ. Those who are truly saved cannot be lost; those who are truly saved endure and persevere in a life of faithful service.  [Read more…]

By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville

Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 5:12-24    

One of the main criticisms of Christianity is that of hypocrisy — too many Christians don’t live out what they say they believe. In essence, Christians don’t walk the talk. 

While these accusations may be unfair and a complete misunderstanding of the Christian faith, there’s enough truth in this characterization of Christians that we need to pay attention to the kernel of truth behind this accusation. We must live out what God has put in us.

Salvation is by grace alone, by faith alone, in Christ alone! Yet, we must daily work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12). We are to work out what God has worked into us by the Holy Spirit as we trust Jesus as Savior and Lord. Salvation must be demonstrated in living a God-honoring life. But what does this look like in reality? [Read more…]

By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville

Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 5:1-11    

I once read a study noting that we may spend as much as four months out of every year waiting — we wait at stop lights and intersections, in traffic, in the fast-food line, at our doctor’s office, for friends and family to arrive and so it goes. We wait so much of the time that we waste a great deal of our time. Waiting can be deadly and detrimental. Waiting can be wasteful.

But waiting can be productive as well. There are times that we must wait, but while we wait we can prepare for what we’re waiting for. This must be the case when it comes to waiting for the Day of the Lord.  [Read more…]