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…]