Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
October 25, 2021
By Mike Dawson Pastor Emeritus, First Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Colossians 2:4-15 During my university years in Greenville, S.C., I went to the city jail almost every week to share Christ with the prisoners. I’ve also had many times of ministry in jails and prisons as a pastor. The prisoners often talked with […]
October 25, 2021
By Kenny Bruce Pastor emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Cordova Focal Passage: Genesis 13:5-11, 14-18 The herds and flocks of Abram and Lot had increased to the point that the land on which they were grazing could no longer support them. Quarreling began between their herdsmen. I. RELIEVED BY GOD (Ch. 13:5-9) Abram, in the […]
October 18, 2021
By Mike Dawson Pastor Emeritus, First Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Colossians 1:24-2:3 If I were choosing titles for these lessons from the book of Colossians, today’s lesson might be called “The Gospel’s Secret.” Our focal Scripture is about the Gospel’s GOAL, for sure; but it also reveals the SECRET to living the Christian life. Growing up as a boy, […]
October 18, 2021
By Kenny Bruce Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis Focal Passage: Genesis 12:10-13, 17-13:4 Abram is in the land of promise, following God, and there is a famine. Should he remain, or flee to Egypt where there is food? I. FAITH TRIED (12:10-13) Abram was afraid that he would starve. He took his eyes […]
October 11, 2021
By Mike Dawson Pastor Emeritus, First Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Colossians 1: 9-23 We’ve recently been on “The Alps of the New Testament” as we studied Paul’s mountain-peak letter to the Philippians. From a Roman prison, Paul presented some of the most glorious word pictures of our Lord Jesus Christ ever written. Now […]
October 11, 2021
By Kenny Bruce Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis Focal Passage: Genesis 12:1-8 Confidence in God means that we focus on God’s plans and promises, not on our plans and circumstances. We see Abraham’s confidence in God expressed through faith and worship. I. GOD CALLS US TO FOLLOW HIM (Ch. 12:1-3) God invited Abraham […]
October 4, 2021
By Mike Dawson Pastor Emeritus, First Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Philippians 4:10-20 A pastor friend told me he had preached a very long series of sermons from the book of Hebrews. One Sunday he announced “the final message” in that series, and the congregation stood and applauded! But he told them he was now […]
October 4, 2021
By Kenny Bruce Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis Focal Passage: I John 5:1-5, 11-13, 18-21 I John was written to provide believers an assurance of their salvation. That is why the word “know” is used over 35 times in this letter. Believers have a “know-so,” not a “hope-so” salvation. I. WE ARE CONQUERORS […]
September 27, 2021
By Mike Dawson Pastor Emeritus, First Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Philippians 4:1-9 Joy in prayer. Joy of adversity. Joy through humility. Joy in knowing Jesus. Those are our first four lessons from the Bible’s “Joy Book,” Philippians. When the Apostle Paul wrote this joy-filled letter to his friends in Philippi, he was imprisoned […]
September 27, 2021
By Kenny Bruce Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis Focal Passage: I John 4:7-13, 19-21 God’s love is without limits. Not only should His love be shown to fellow Christians, but it should extend to all people around the world. I. THE PRIORITY OF GOD’S LOVE (vv. 7-10) God is love (v. 8). He […]
September 20, 2021
By Mike Dawson Pastor Emeritus, First Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Philippians 3:8-21 Yogi Berra, famed baseball player, was known for his unique quips and quotes. One was “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.” We chuckle over such lines, but in today’s text (Philippians 3:8-21), the writer/prisoner/apostle Paul speaks of […]
September 20, 2021
By Kenny Bruce Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis Focal Passage: I John 3:19-4:4 Our world is inundated with false teachers. We must walk in victory and remain vigilant in order to detect the difference between true and false teaching. I. VICTORY OVER CONDEMNATION (vv. 19-22) Because of our old nature, our hearts continue […]