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 living testimonies to the power and greatness of God. As you read and meditate on

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 of living godly lives. We must make willful decisions to live and do what is

By Mike Kemper Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Dyer Focal Passage: II Timothy 2:1-2; 3:10-17 Most of us can recall someone who has been a valued example for us in life, someone we recognized as “having it all together,” someone who has made right decisions, accomplished things that we ourselves would like to accomplish. Someone we desire to pattern our own life after. For many of us, Billy Graham was

By Mike Kemper Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Dyer Focal Passage: John 4:10-18, 28-30 The shortest distance between Jerusalem and Galilee was to travel through Samaria. However, in order not to be defiled, many Jews preferred detouring, going the long way to avoid the Samaritans. By the time Jesus came this way there was a strong hatred between Jews and Samaritans.  Evidently Jesus felt He must confront this hostility in

 By Mike Kemper Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Dyer Focal Passage: Luke 12:13-21; 21:1-4 Luke tells us about Jesus’ confrontations with the Pharisees while pointing out to His disciples the problems of hypocrisy and greed, and by illustrating the value of good stewardship of possessions and sacrificial giving. By looking at these two contrasting stories —  the rich fool who stores and the poor widow who gives — we discover

By Mike Kemper Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Dyer Focal Passage: 1 Samuel 25:2-3, 14-17, 23-28, 32-35 The lesson of Abigail and David demonstrate character qualities which are important to take to heart and to emulate. Nabal, the rich husband of Abigail, acts in a harsh and insensitive, foolish manner. Abigail is discerning and takes steps to avert further harm and sure death by taking the blame for her husband’s

By Mike Kemper Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Dyer Focal Passage: 1 Samuel 1:1-2, 9-11, 17-18, 26-28; 2:1-3 The sincere, heart motivated prayers of Hannah for a son are exemplary and truly made a great impact on the course of Israel’s future. Prayer is not a last resort, but prayer can and does make a difference. Prayer is like a “power house” for God’s people. Yes, God does hear the

By Mike Kemper Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Dyer Focal Passage: Joshua 2:1-14 Now that Joshua has assumed leadership for leading the Israelites on to the Promised Land, the city of Jericho was one of the first obstacles just across the Red Sea. Joshua sends two spies to “scout the land.” They went and came to the house of “a prostitute named Rahab.” They were not there for the wrong

By Clay Hallmark Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Lexington Focal Passage: Luke 14:25-35 What we see in these verses is a steward or a manager who was willing to “think outside the box.” Jesus did not commend this manager for stealing from his boss or for encouraging the dishonesty of others. Rather, Jesus commends him for his wise use of the opportunity he was given. Jesus’ point is that the

By Clay Hallmark Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church, Lexington Focal Passage: Luke 14:25-35 A young man wrote a love letter to his girlfriend that said this: “My darling, I love you more than life itself. Words fail to describe my love for you. For you I would climb the highest mountain, swim the deepest seas, and cross a blazing desert just to be in your presence for just one minute.