By Kevin Ivy Pastor, First Baptist Church, Tullahoma Focal Pasage: Nehemiah 5:1-13 Though the people were persevering in the midst of persecution, they had become fatigued by their hard labor on the city wall (Nehemiah 5:1-5). They were wearied by the constant harassment and threats of their enemies. Due to their poverty and trials, there was little hope. They cried out because they were having to mortgage their fields, vineyards

By Kevin Ivy Pastor, First Baptist Church, Tullahoma Focal Passage: Nehemiah 4:1-3, 6-9, 14-18 As we continue following the narrative of Nehemiah we quickly discover that doing God’s work brings opposition. Generally, we can please God or we can please men, but we usually cannot please both God and men. As we seek to follow, serve and please God we will inevitably illicit a response from the world and from

By Kevin Ivy Pastor, First Baptist Church, Tullahoma Focal Passage: Nehemiah 2:1-8, 17-18 Nehemiah, who was deeply trusted by the king as his cupbearer, provided wine to the king as he had done time and time again before. Sadness was a dangerous emotion to express while in the king’s presence.The king expected his subjects to always be happy, even if they were not truly happy. The attitude of his subjects,

By Kevin Ivy Pastor, First Baptist Church, Tullahoma Focal Passage: Nehemiah 1:1-11 Nehemiah, as the cupbearer for the King of Persia, was confined to the capitol of the Persian kingdom.  One of his brothers, and some other men from Judah, came to report to Nehemiah on the state of the Jews and the city of Jerusalem.

By Kevin Ivy Pastor, First Baptist Church, Tullahoma Focal Passage: Malachi 3:7-12 During Malachi’s day, the people of God were under the dominion of the Persians. This was a time when God’s people were doubting His love for them, treating one another treacherously, and even questioning God’s justice. They were going through the motions of their religion, half-heartedly at best. In the midst of this spiritual drought, God sends Malachi

JULY 8: WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? By Kevin Ivy Pastor, First Baptist Church, Tullahoma Focal Passage: Revelation 21:1-8 We have answered several questions over the past several weeks.  Why are we here?  Why are we in this mess?  Why can’t we fix it?  Why did Jesus come?  What should we do now?  Today, we will answer another question:  What happens next?  

By Kevin Ivy Pastor, First Baptist Church, Tullahoma Focal Passage: Acts 2:37-47 As those who have been redeemed from our sin by the finished work of Christ upon the cross, we are compelled to ask, “what should we do now?”  An obvious example is the early church.  If we make the Acts 2 church our pattern, we will not live for ourselves, but rather will serve God by serving others. 

By Kevin Ivy Pastor, First Baptist Church, Tullahoma Focal Passage: Luke 1:68-79 The only hope for the world is that Jesus Christ has been born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, atoned for our sin, resurrected from the grave, ascended into heaven, and has promised to return.  As believers, we are often guilty of not giving this good news much thought.  It is good to consider why Jesus came.

By Kevin Ivy Pastor, First Baptist Church, Tullahoma Focal Passage: Deuteronomy 5:32-33; Galatians 3:10-12, 19a, 24-25 God established a standard for His chosen people to live by, and that standard was the Mosaic law. In that law, the expectation was made clear. The Jews were to do all the Lord their God commanded them. They were not to turn aside to the right or the left. They were to walk

By Kevin Ivy Pastor, First Baptist Church, Tullahoma Focal Passage: Genesis 3:1-7, 14-19 In the beginning God made man, in His image, holy, and happy. As we will discover, mankind did not remain holy and happy, but he sinned against God. When we wonder why we are in this mess, the answer that everything points us back to is simply, Adam and Eve disobeyed God’s clear command.