By Kenny Bruce Pastor Emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Memphis Focal Passage: Genesis 22:1-14 The provision of a substitute for Isaac is a symbolic picture of the greatest sacrifice of all time: God’s providing His Son on the cross as our substitutionary sacrifice.  I. FAITH IN CRISIS (vv. 1-3) God tested Abraham’s faith by asking him to sacrifice his only son Isaac as a burnt offering on Mount Moriah. This

By Kenny Bruce Pastor emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Cordova Focal Passage: Psalm 100:1-5  Psalm 100 reveals to every Christian a protocol to follow when entering into God’s presence.  I. APPROACHING GOD (vv. 1-2) God invites the whole earth to shout triumphantly to Him. When we enter the presence of God, we are to raise our voices to Him. It would be akin to raising our voice to get someone’s

By Kenny Bruce Pastor emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Cordova Focal Passage: Genesis 16:1-5; 17:1-9  In Genesis 15 Abram was the man of faith. In chapter 16 he is the man of unbelief.  I. UNDESERVED PAIN (16:1-5) The Bible records the first biblical instance of domestic strife. The story involves Abram, Sarai, and Hagar who were real people, like we are, and succumbed to the temptation to solve their situation

By Kenny Bruce Pastor emeritus, Leawood East Baptist Church, Cordova Focal Passage: Genesis 15:1-6, 13-16   Abram is dealing with fear, doubt, confusion and uncertainty. God brings him confidence, security and peace with His promises.  I. GOD’S PROMISES PROVIDE A FOUNDATION IN THE FACE OF FEAR (Genesis 15:1-5) In the previous chapter, Lot was captured by four invading armies from distant lands, and Abram led 318 of his men to

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 flesh, could have said, “Lot, this land belongs to me because God has promised it

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 off the promise that God would make him into a great nation and fixed them

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 to join Him in a journey to a land God would show Him. Abraham did

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 (I John 5:1-5) Because Jesus overcame the world (John 16:33), we have overcome the world

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 to condemn us even though God set us free from condemnation when we were saved