By Brent Moore
Pastor to Adults, First Baptist Church, Clarksville

Focal Passage: Malachi 3:1-7, 16-18; 4:1-2

God always has a plan. That is a good thing because I have a hard time trying to figure the plan out. It seems like the unrighteous prosper, the shady characters in this world get away with things that are not right, the oppressed are even more oppressed. The truths in Malachi speak to this predicament. The ultimate purpose in hard times and heartache for the people of God is refinement. God is working towards a pure bride. He will then bring the covenant people to Himself to marry the Lamb in the Last Day.

Being a messenger of God to “clear the way” is never a fun or easy thing. The task will have a fair share of critics. The third chapter of Malachi opens with preparation for the messenger God is sending. Ultimately we know from the New Testament the messenger is John the Baptist. John the Baptist had a specific task with some direct words. He called the Pharisees and Sadducees a “brood of vipers (Matthew 3:7).” He spoke against the adultery of Herod and lost his head for it (Matthew 14:4). [Read more…]

By Brent Moore
Pastor to Adults, First Baptist Church, Clarksville

Focal Passage: Malachi 2:10-17

I am not part of a generation where one can count on another to keep their word. In fact, I do not think the previous generation was much better. I have heard stories about a former age relying on handshakes and a good look in the eye to get business done, but it seems like a long time ago. Today, we use our signature for phones, user agreements, and just about every store transaction. Even with contracts being signed every day, we do not seem like a more faithful people. Our problem is the same as the people of old, we have a heart problem.

Malachi opens this section in chapter two with rhetorical questions. “Don’t all of us have one Father? Didn’t one God create us?” The implication is the people are acting as if they do not. The individuals in Malachi are exhibiting unfaithful actions towards their fellow brothers and sisters. They are “acting treacherously” with one another. Malachi calls it, “profaning the covenant of our fathers.” [Read more…]

By Jay McCluskey
Pastor, North Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland

Focal Passage: Galatians 5:13-15, 6:1-5, 10

“Liberty is being free from the things we do not like, in order to be slaves to the things we do like.” — Ernest Bean

In Galatians, Paul calls on believers to celebrate their freedom from the legalistic path prescribed by the Old Testament laws. In this passage he describes a high and noble use of this freedom:

“For you were called to be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love” (Galatians 5:13 HCSB).

While we often proclaim freedom as our entitlement to pursue a path for our own gain, Paul writes of a more holy use of freedom for these Christians: service to one another. As the passage continues, Paul describes the characteristics of this service. [Read more…]

By Brent Moore
Pastor to Adults, First Baptist Church, Clarksville

Focal Passage: Haggai 1:1-11; 2:5-9

It is so hard to do what you are told when you want something else. Kids have a hard time obeying their parents when they really want the new toy. Husbands have a hard time fixing the leaky faucet when their truck needs to be washed. All of us tend to believe our own excuses for not doing what we know we need to do. The people listening to Haggai the prophet are no different. They want acceptable things before doing what God called them to do; build a new temple. [Read more…]

By Brent Moore
Pastor to Adults, First Baptist Church, Clarksville

Focal Passage: Habakkuk 3:1-6, 11-13, 16-19

Habakkuk comes to terms with God doing what He wants to do in the world. At one level Habakkuk’s problem is a human problem. We want to be God and we want to be in control. However, God is His own interpreter and orchestrator of His work. God has creator rights and that includes judgment of His creation. Habakkuk submits to the plan of God which leads to awe of the Lord and His deeds. [Read more…]

By Brent Moore
Pastor to Adults, First Baptist Church, Clarksville

Focal Passage: Habakkuk 1:1-6, 12-13; 2:1-4

Have you ever found yourself in a situation you thought was bad, and suddenly you hear it is going to get worse? Maybe it was a sickness turned deadly. Maybe you discovered the job is about to be “phased out.” Maybe your troubled kid turns up in jail. Whatever the predicament is, the outlook is bleak. Then you are like Habakkuk; a man who carried a burden of the suffering of his people.

Habakkuk had questions for God. Not merely questions but complaints. He wanted to know why things were falling apart around him. When Habakkuk considered his surroundings, violence and oppression were everywhere. Strife was ongoing and conflict was escalating. Israel was tearing itself apart from the inside. Wickedness was having a “field day” and it looked like true justice was gone. In the midst of this terrible situation God announces to Habakkuk that things are going to get worse. God is going to use the pagan Chaldeans to enact destruction on Israel. The Chaldeans are swift, merciless, and proud. But they will be allowed to wreak havoc on the people of God. [Read more…]

By Brent Moore
Pastor to Adults, First Baptist Church, Clarksville

Focal Passage: Zechariah 13:1-9

Have you ever found yourself in a place hazardous to your health? Maybe it is an unsafe neighborhood, an emotionally unhealthy job, or just someplace you feel you are in imminent physical danger. Then you in some small way can identify with the false prophets in Zechariah’s day. God was cleansing the house of David from sin and impurity and if you found yourself on the side of unrighteousness you were running for cover. False prophets were lying about their occupation, hiding evidence of their craft, and even their own parents would turn on them. These prophets were being judged for their deception; making way for God to enact His own refining work on the people of God. [Read more…]

By Brent Moore
Pastor to Adults, First Baptist Church, Clarksville

Focal Passage: Luke 24:19-35

Many people have experienced the anticipation of waiting for something. As a child I did not receive presents at just any time. I had to wait for either my birthday or Christmas for something I wanted. Being a young one this seemed like eternity. As an adult I have also experienced the longings for a certain job or spouse. Results did not seem to come quickly. [Read more…]

By Brent Moore
Pastor to Adults, First Baptist Church, Clarksville

Focal Passage: Luke 24:1-12

The resurrection of Jesus is essential to the Christian faith. The hope of all the followers of Christ hinges on this being true. Jesus spoke often about the events that must transpire in order for Him to complete His mission. The resurrection early that Sunday morning is Jesus coming through on His promise. [Read more…]

By Brent Moore
Pastor to Adults, First Baptist Church, Clarksville

Focal Passage: Zechariah 8:1-8; 9:9-12

J.R.R. Tolkien wrote a book turned into a movie called Return of the King. The premise of the book is a king must rise up from a certain blood line to defeat evil and bring peace to Middle Earth (fictional place in Tolkien’s works). In the book a king does take his rightful place on the throne, rallies the troops, and turns back the tide of evil. He does so riding a warhorse with soldiers behind him. These images are similar to the final days depicted in the book of Revelation. [Read more…]