Baptist & Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

Sept. 6: God’s Promise of Faithfulness

By Terry Kirby
Senior Pastor, Alpha Baptist Church, Morristown

Focal Passage: Psalm 89:1-2, 5-8, 15-18

The Bible says in II Timothy 3:16 that “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” What does that mean? It means that every word of The Word of God is from God. God wants us to hide every word of it in our hearts. Most of God’s Word is God speaking to His called ones. He gave His people instructions, warnings, and prophesies among many other timeless words. Although written thousands of years ago, this truth continues to speak to us today. Among all of the books of the Bible Psalms is special and unique. Some people say that Psalms is a hymn book. In this study, we will take it a step further; it is God’s instructions on how His people are to praise Him. [Read more…]

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Aug. 30: The Final Act

ss-exploreTroy Styer
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Grand Junction

Focal Passage: Revelation 21:1-7

John moves from a vision of doom and gloom in chapter 20 to a vision of glory in chapter 21. I don’t take great pleasure in attending weddings. I usually only attend if I am forced to or there is the promise of good food. One wedding that I have already made sure I will be attending is the marriage supper with the Lamb. John describes this union in chapter 21. [Read more…]

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Aug. 30: Hospitality: How Ordinary People Can Life on Mission

ss-lifeBy Randy Harmon
Pastor, Rock Springs Baptist Church, Greenbrier

Focal Passage: Luke 14:12-24

In Luke 14, Jesus participates in a conversation that had begun over 700 years earlier (Isaiah 25:6-9). While the religious elite are refusing to accept Jesus’ preaching of the Kingdom, spiritual outsiders are responding with faith and acceptance. To the Jews, this story would be inconceivable. [Read more…]

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Aug. 16: Redeeming Judgment

ss-exploreTroy Styer
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Grand Junction

Focal Passage: Revelation 9:1-12

John opens up chapter nine by sharing with us what is found when the fifth trumpet is blown. He shows an army of locusts, the actions of the locusts, the appearance of the locusts, and the angel of the locusts. Yet, these are no ordinary locusts but rather demons on a mission. As John describes these various things, one thing stands out. It is that God is in control. He determines when it happens, why it happens, how it happens, and how long it happens. There is great comfort in knowing everything that happens in this world, both now and in the future, are controlled by God the Father. [Read more…]

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Aug. 16: Return to Unity

ss-lifeBy Randy Harmon
Pastor, Rock Springs Baptist Church, Greenbrier

Focal Passage: Acts 4:31-37

I have often heard people associated with churches make statements like, “We need to get back to the church of Acts.”

That is an interesting concept, but it is chronologically impossible. We cannot travel backward in time. I do understand what is meant by this statement and appreciate the intent behind it. Though we cannot go back there, our churches may experience the same spirit and unity of purpose that made that first church so effective for the kingdom of God. There are several principles mentioned in this Scripture that can help lead us to (or back to) that same unity. [Read more…]

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Aug. 9: The Worthy Lamb

ss-exploreBy Troy Styers
 Pastor in Grand Junction

Focal Passage: Revelation 5:1-14

“Then” tells us that this is a continuation of the throne room scene in chapter 4. Therefore, we already know the identity of the Person on the throne: God the Father. We are about to be introduced to another Person: Jesus Christ. God the Father has a scroll in His right hand which shows His power and authority. John points out that it is written on both sides which indicates its completeness. The scroll has 7 seals denoting the perfect and complete plan of God’s judgment. In verse 2, it is interesting that an angel would ask a question when the answer was already known. This was done to emphasize the fact that only Jesus was worthy to open the scroll as will be revealed in verse 5. The declaration in verse 2 and the discovery of no one being worthy in verse 3 causes John to cry. [Read more…]

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Aug. 9: Return to God’s Word

ss-lifeBy Randy Harmon
Pastor, Rock Springs Baptist Church, Greenbrier

Focal Passage: Nehemiah 8:1-8

The Psalmist says in Psalm 119:11, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.” The writer of Hebrews says of the Word of God, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

There has been discussion among our Southern Baptist family about revival lately. One of the important elements of genuine spiritual revival involves a return to God’s Word and a response to its divine truth. Not just talk, opinion, or even passion for God’s Word, but the labor intensive spiritual discipline of knowing, reading, studying, memorizing, and applying God’s Word. [Read more…]

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Aug. 2: Glimpse of the Throne

ss-exploreTroy Styer
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Grand Junction

Focal Passage: Revelation 4:1-11

John knew his readers were suffering during difficult times, and he showed them a glimpse of pure worship in Revelation 4. This worship reminded them that God was in control as the rest of the visions unfolded in the book of Revelation.

“After this” introduces us to a new vision that John is about to experience and reveal to his readers. John has mentioned the trumpet previously, so we know the voice is Jesus. Once again John reiterates the certainty that this will take place by the phrase “what must take place.” Verse 2 tells us that John was in the Spirit meaning he was gifted to see spiritually what would not be visible physically. What John witnessed is worship of God in its purest form. [Read more…]

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Aug. 2: Return to Prayer

ss-lifeBy Randy Harmon
Pastor, Rock Springs Baptist Church, Greenbrier

Focal Passage: Nehemiah 1:3-10

Someone has said, “You can do a lot of things after you pray, but you shouldn’t do anything before you pray.” There are no short cuts to prayer and there is no replacement for the relationship that is built with God as we commune with Him in prayer.

Nehemiah was a man of prayer who understood the power of prayer. While in exile, serving a Persian king, Nehemiah learned of the desolate condition of the Jews and of the wall in Jerusalem.

He had sensed God leading him to go to Jerusalem to lead a reconstruction project. One major obstacle to this task was that Nehemiah was the servant of king Artaxerxes. In Nehemiah 1:5-11, Nehemiah prays for an open door with the king. [Read more…]

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July 26: Let Them Hear

ss-exploreTroy Styer
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Grand Junction

Focal Passage: Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26-29; 3:5, 12, 21

There once was a man had trouble communicating with his wife. He thought she was having trouble hearing so he devised a test. He sat on the other side of the room and asked “Can you hear me?” and there was no response. He moved a little closer twice and asked but still no response. Finally, he got right up next to her and asked her, “Can you hear me?” and to his surprise she responded, “For the fourth time – yes, I can hear you!” (McHenry’s Quips, Quotes Other Notes, Hendrickson Publishing, 313) If we are not careful we can be like this man and think our (spiritual) hearing is good when it is not. We might be missing out on some positive consequences in our lives because we have failed to hear and heed the commands of Christ. John wanted his readers to avoid that potential danger. [Read more…]

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