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MAY 1: LIVING

April 25, 2022

By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleFocal 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…]

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Filed Under: Explore the Bible, Sunday School Lessons

MAY 1: KNOW WHAT’S COMING

April 25, 2022

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeFocal Passage: Matthew 24:15-22

Nobody likes to be deceived — that moment when you realize you have been lied to and taken advantage of. It’s embarrassing.  Therefore, we shouldn’t be surprised to discover in these last days Satan is truly deceiving the nations of the world. What will all of this lead to?

Days of deception. Matthew 24:15 speaks about the abomination of desecration as mentioned in Daniel 9:27. The Roman General Tiochus Epiphanes, around 160 B.C., marched into the temple, erected a statue of Zeus and sacrificed a pig on the altar. Talk about blasphemy and abomination! 

Many see this as a future reference to the final days before Jesus returns. Paul writes about this in II Thessalonians 2:1-12.  He is referred to as the “man of lawlessness.” [Read more…]

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APRIL 24: RETURNING

April 18, 2022

By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleFocal 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…]

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Filed Under: Explore the Bible, Sunday School Lessons

APRIL 24: STAND STRONG TO THE END

April 18, 2022

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeFocal Passage: Matthew 24:1-14 

Destruction (vv. 1-3). The first few verses refer to King Herod who had taken the existing temple and completely refurbished and remodeled it. He doubled its size and doubled the land on which it sat. This was his finest building project of which he had many. Its grandeur was a wonder to behold.

All of that changed in 66 A.D., just as Jesus prophesied. The Jews rebelled against the Roman Empire and four years later in 70 A.D.  Roman legions, under Titus Caesar Vespasianus, attacked and destroyed Jerusalem.

The temple desecration was the saddest part of the destruction. Just as Jesus prophesied, “There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down” (v. 2). [Read more…]

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APRIL 17: RISEN!

April 11, 2022

By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville

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

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleI 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…]

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APRIL 17: JESUS LIVES — AND YOU CAN TOO

April 11, 2022

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeFocal Passage: Matthew 28:1-10

Many things in life are expected — the sun will come up, taxes will go up, inflation will go up, kids will grow up, and some days we want to give up. 

But there are some things that are not expected. The Resurrection of Christ is the world’s greatest “unexpectation.” The Pharisees and Romans expected the disciples to attempt to steal Jesus’ body. They never expected what would happen that glorious Sunday morning.  

Here are three great unexpectations: [Read more…]

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APRIL 10: A LIFE OF VICTORY

April 4, 2022

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeFocal Passage: John 16:19-22, 27-33 

It has often been said, ‘The greater the struggle, the greater the victory.’ Ask any mother with her newborn infant, any athlete after a last second win, any struggling Christian who receives an answer to a desperate prayer and most will say, “It was very difficult, but it was well worth the sacrifice.” 

Before anesthesia, a mother could cry out in anguish during childbirth. For her it must seem like every minute is an hour. Then later, after the delivery, she beams with joy because of the new life she holds in her arms. The one who caused her so much pain, now gives her the greatest delight. With this in mind, let’s examine two truths.  [Read more…]

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APRIL 10: PROMISED

April 4, 2022

By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleFocal 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…]

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APRIL 3: DEMONSTRATED

March 28, 2022

By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleFocal 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…]

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APRIL 3: A LIFE OF PERSECUTION

March 28, 2022

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeFocal Passage: John 15:18-25; 16:1-4a 

C. S. Lewis said, “If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly do not recommend Christianity.” 

Being a dedicated follower of Christ is not for those who simply want the easy road. Jesus states in these verses that not only will the world dislike you, they will hate you simply because of who you identify with. 

There are several reasons.  [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Bible Studies for Life, Sunday School Lessons

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