Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835
August 20, 2019
By Mike Kemper Retired Baptist Pastor & Director of Missions Focal Passage: II Chronicles 17:1-13 Living life that sets a good example for others, especially for your own children and family is a worthy effort. King Asa, though he had his failures, had sought to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. […]
August 12, 2019
By Mickey D. Brackin Senior Pastor, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg Focal Passage: Titus 2:1-15 In today’s focal passage (Titus 2:1-15), Paul presents a level of godly expectations, not only for church leaders but for all believers. According to Charles Ray, “The goal of his instructions was for believers to be above reproach (v. 5), to […]
August 12, 2019
By Mike Kemper Focal Passage: II Chronicles 16:1-13 In review, we have learned that King Asa was the third king of Judah, the first “good” king. He had determined to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord, torn down idols, renovated the temple and commanded the people to seek the Lord. As […]
August 6, 2019
Mickey D. Brackin Senior Pastor, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg Focal Passage: Titus 1:1-5, 10-16 Are you familiar with the term “smokejumper?” A smokejumper is a highly trained firefighter who specializes in fighting wildfires. Often, they must parachute into rugged and remote areas to provide a frontline defense against raging wildfires. Upon examination of a […]
August 6, 2019
By Mike Kemper Focal Passage: II Chronicles 15:10-19 As King Asa began his rule he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. However, before his time, worship and an obedient relationship with God had been token if at all. King Asa repeatedly insists that the people “seek the Lord.” Though Asa had […]
July 29, 2019
By Mickey D. Brackin Senior Pastor, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg Focal Passage: II Timothy 3:12-17; 4:1-8 I grew up in Town Creek, Ala., a small town in northwest Alabama. My dad was a sharecropper and construction laborer. His formal education was completed in the sixth grade. Although lacking in formal education he was a […]
July 29, 2019
By Mike Kemper Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Dyer Focal Passage: II Chronicles 15:1-9 Honoring and obeying God always brings blessings and benefits. Good King Asa had initially done what was right by bringing spiritual reforms. Blessings came. But, consistency in doing right things for the entire nation of Israel had always been “off and […]
July 22, 2019
Mickey D. Brackin Senior Pastor, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg Focal Passage: II Timothy 2:14-26 In today’s passage, II Timothy 2:14-26, Paul continues to address the problem of false teachers spreading false doctrine within the church at Ephesus. He begins in verse 14 with the words, “remind them of these things.” In reference to “these […]
July 22, 2019
By Mike Kemper Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Dyer Focal Passage: II Chronicles 14:9-15 How thankful we are for the many encouraging examples of the power and greatness of the Almighty God we know and serve! Such encouraging verses give vivid examples, and our own experiences with God continue to resound over and over as […]
July 15, 2019
By Mickey D. Brackin Senior Pastor, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg Focal Passage: II Timothy 2:1-13 Paul begins chapter two with an imperative yet loving command for Timothy to be strong and to remain strong in the faith (II Timothy 2:1). Unlike those of chapter one that have “turned away” Timothy is instructed by the […]
July 15, 2019
By Mike Kemper Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Dyer Focal Passage: II Chronicles 14:1-8 How can followers of Christ live godly lives in an ungodly world? This lesson makes the point that as followers of Christ we must make God the focus of our lives. The ungodly world around us continually blurs and distorts efforts […]
July 9, 2019
Mickey D. Brackin Senior Pastor, Mars Hill Baptist Church, Lawrenceburg Focal Passage: II Timothy 1:3-14 It had been more than 30 years since that moment when the light “had shown around him from heaven” (Acts 9:3). His journey had taken him many places since that day. From the dusty road of Damascus to a Roman […]