Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
By Scott Brown
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly
Focal Passage: Genesis 28:10-22
Having successfully stolen the birthright for himself, Jacob now leaves his family. He is sent by his father to go find a wife but sent by his mother to run far away from Esau’s wrath.
At this time when he would feel utterly alone, despairing, and confused God reveals Himself to Him in an incredible way that would change something in Jacob. [Read more…]
By Greg Steele
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Jasper
Focal Passage: Matthew 1:18-25
In my younger days, I was part of several plays/musicals. It was always the main roles that people desired. It wasn’t too often that you found a small role that had a great impact. However, that is not the case in the story of Joseph.
There is not a lot about Joseph contained in Scripture. He is only mentioned in regard to the events surrounding Jesus’ birth. But what we discover is that Joseph was a man worth imitating. [Read more…]
By Scott Brown
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly
Focal Passage: Genesis 27:18-29
Jacob’s very name denotes that he was a deceiver, a liar, and a “heel grabber.”
The text today demonstrates him living up to that name. The deception begins, not with Jacob, but with Rebekah. Jacob and Esau’s own mother overheard Isaac’s desire to bless Esau as his firstborn and favorite son and she began to devise a plan to steal that for Jacob. [Read more…]
By Michael Koontz
Pastor, Pine Ridge Baptist Church, Harriman
Focal Passage: Isaiah 7:10-14; 9:6-7; 11:1-5
One of my favorite Christmas hymns is “What Child Is This?” The tune is called “Greensleeves” and was written in England about the 16th century. But it was not until 1865 while America was in the Civil War that an English poet named William Chatterton Dix, wrote a poem called, “Manger’s Throne.”
This is where we get the words for this famous hymn. Part of the poem, which we do not use, speaks of the truth of the cross. Let me encourage you to go look it up. [Read more…]
By Scott Brown
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly
Focal Passage: James 5:7-9, 13-20
It’s a particular peeve of mine when I see people going eschatologically crazy over every odd colored moon or some unique date.
There’s always inevitably somebody screaming that they’ve figured it out somehow and they know that Jesus is coming back on this specific day. They’ve always been wrong, no one knows the day or hour of His return. [Read more…]
By Michael Koontz
Pastor, Pine Ridge Baptist Church, Harriman
Focal Passage: Psalm 138:1–8
As we study Psalm 138, King David is teaching us about praise. We are to praise the one true God. David said he did this with his whole heart. That place in us where our true self is seated. Our emotions, devotion, love, intellect, all that we are is to be focused towards Him and giving thanks and praise to Him alone. [Read more…]
By Scott Brown
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly
Focal Passage: James 4:6-17
Submission is central to Christianity. Jesus submitted Himself to the Father by going to the cross. We come to Christ by submitting ourselves to His judgment, mercy, and lordship. We now submit ourselves daily to the authority of the Word and the control of the Spirit.
Believers also submit to one another and, together, to governing authorities.
The Christian life is a life of daily, deliberate submission to God. A Christian’s maturity might best be measured by how well they can submit when God ruins their plans or things don’t go as they plan or desire. [Read more…]
By Michael Koontz
Pastor, Pine Ridge Baptist Church, Harriman
Focal Passage: Matthew 6:12–13; Psalm 51:1–7; Psalm 51:10–12
This week we focus in on confession and forgiveness. I must constantly admit my sins and ask for forgiveness. The word ‘debts’ (Matthew 6:12) is a New Testament Greek term for sin. We have all fallen short of God’s righteousness.
Our sin is what causes separation between us and God. My sin problem was eternally solved at the age of 13 when I accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord.
As a Christian these past 31 years, I have continued to sin and must go back to the Father and ask for forgiveness. I’m forever saved, but if I sin today, that is causing an issue between me and God. [Read more…]
By Scott Brown
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly
Focal Passage: James 3:1-12
On more than one occasion I’ve been ashamed of, and had to apologize for, my words spoken in haste or hurt. This is among the most persistent and problematic struggles I face in my daily walk.
A few years ago I became painfully aware of how I had lost control of my tongue. Traffic is the worst and I was already running late for a meeting when it seemed everyone else on the road was plotting to keep me from getting there. Of course, I started to voice my opinion angrily and boldly (it’s amazing how brave I can become in my car with the windows up). While I was giving full vent to my anger at the standstill traffic I heard the small voice of my daughter from the backseat loudly join in yelling, “get out of the way you jerks!” [Read more…]
By Michael Koontz
Pastor, Pine Ridge Baptist Church, Harriman
Focal Passage: Matthew 6:11; John 17:11–23
Praying for others is one of the greatest privileges we have as a Christian.
Recently we spoke about the spiritual discipline of prayer at our church. At the end of the service we gave out prayer Bible bookmarks that had several spots to list prayer requests. This was done to help us remember how important it is that we pray for others.
Let’s look at why we pray for others and what we can pray about for others. [Read more…]
