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…]

By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville

Focal Passage: Matthew 28:1-10, 16-20    

I want to make a recommendation: If Jesus has not been bodily raised from the dead, let’s close all the churches. Because if Jesus has not been raised from the dead there is no hope, no forgiveness of sins, no eternal life, no future, no Church.

 I Corinthians 15:12-19 notes that if Jesus has not been raised from the dead: (1) Jesus is still dead, (2) our preaching is foolish, (3) our faith is empty, (4) we are still in our sins, (5) those who have already died are lost, (6) there is no hope in this life or the life to come and (7) we are to be pitied as fools for having believed the gospel.  [Read more…]

By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville

Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 4:13-18 

Samuel Beckett’s 1948 bestselling book entitled, Waiting for Godet, tells the story of two men, Vladimir and Estragon, talking about life as they wait for a mysterious character to arrive named Godet, yet Godet never arrives. 

Many believed at the time that this was Beckett’s subliminal way of talking about the God who teases us with the promise of His appearing, but never shows up, an almost agnostic or atheistic statement of faith. I Thessalonians 4:13-18 reminds us of a promise Jesus has made to us — He is returning. But unlike Godet, Jesus will make good on His promise.  [Read more…]

By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville

Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 4:1-12 

We are way past the point in our culture when Christians can get away with simply “saying” we’re Christians. There may have been a time in America where a person could label themselves a Christian because everyone identified as a Christian, true or not. Those days are gone, and good riddance. 

Cultural Christianity has nearly killed the church in North America. It’s time to get serious. Now, our actions must match our words. If we say, “Jesus is Lord,” we must make every effort to live as if “Jesus is Lord.” We must be hearers and doers of the Word (James 1:22).  [Read more…]

By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville

Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 3:4-13    

The enemy of our soul — Satan — uses many tools to attack the believer, i.e., lies, temptations and, maybe above all, discouragement. In fact, though Satan has limited knowledge, he does know that to discourage God’s people is to deter God’s work. Satan first isolates us from other believers, attacks the gospel itself, causing doubt and fear that leads to discouragement. And once discouraged, God’s people become spiritually paralyzed. How can we overcome Satan’s “ministry of discouragement?”

DISTRESSED (I  Thessalonians 3:4-5). Paul longed to see his fellow believers in Thessalonica (I Thessalonians 2:17-20). But for many reasons his visit was delayed. Paul rightly assigned blame for this delay on Satan. This put Paul in great distress. He knew that his fellow believers would face suffering for their commitment to Jesus Christ and His gospel. He also knew that Satan might tempt them to abandon the gospel (I Thessalonians 3:5). Isolated from each other, both Paul and the Thessalonians were in great spiritual danger and distress. [Read more…]

By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville

Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 2:13-20    

The boldness and courage of the Ukrainian people are currently being challenged. Only time will tell where this challenge leads. One Ukrainian mother was reported to have said that the Ukrainian people would fight for their freedom and for democracy “to their last blood.”

The question arises: are we as courageous and as bold in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ? We do not fight for souls with bullets and guns, but with prayer, grace, love, courage and boldness. [Read more…]

By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville

Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 2:1-12    

What if you found a treasure that would make you both rich and that would change the world? But it wouldn’t make you rich unless you set free that gift to change the world. This is the gospel (II Corinthians 4:7). The gospel lavishes on us the riches of God’s grace in Jesus Christ, but it must also be shared in order to have its greatest impact on us and the world. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-12 reminds us of the keys to sharing the gospel. [Read more…]

By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville

Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 1:1-10    

Have you ever filled out a job application? More than likely you needed a list of references. You would select those who know you best, trusted people, friends, or co-workers. These references would vouch for your character and work ethic. As the Apostle Paul begins writing 1 Thessalonians, he introduces two of his co-workers, Silvanus and Timothy, vouching for their spiritual credentials, emphasizing those spiritual characteristics that vouch for spiritual maturity and genuine faith.

Partnership, I Thessalonians 1:1. Paul introduces Silvanus and Timothy as gospel partners. They were not only partners with the believers at Thessalonica, but partners with “God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ” (verse 1). Further, the currency of this partnership was “grace” and “peace.” In essence, Paul wanted to make sure that we understand that gospel partnership is an essential characteristic that recommends us to God, the Church, and the world. Though different in giftings and aptitudes, Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy were not adversaries, but gospel partners.  [Read more…]

By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville

Focal Passage: Daniel 9:4-19

We do not like being honest. Even the most honest person in the world has a difficult time in being honest about their own sinfulness. We are honest with God when we confess our sins and His Lordship over all things (Romans 10:9-13). Put simply, to confess is to agree with God. When we confess our sins, we are agreeing with Him as to who we are apart from Christ. To confess that Jesus is Lord is to agree with God that He alone is Master and Lord of all things.

After seeing several remarkable visions concerning the future, Daniel is given a vision of God’s mercy and grace. Jeremiah (25:11-12) and Daniel (9:1-2) are envisioning the end of the Jews’ 70 year-long exile. Daniel repents of his sin and that of his people, confessing the Lordship of God over all things.    [Read more…]