By Mark D. Proctor Pastor, Highland Park Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Luke 24:44-49 The summer after my kindergarten year my grandmother taught me to crochet. I practiced and practiced and finally made a little pillow that I proudly took to show and tell in the fall when I entered first grade (I didn’t know back then boys could get beat up for stuff like that)! I meekly stood up

By Mark D. Proctor Pastor, Highland Park Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Romans 8:31-39 When my children were small I took them to the animal shelter to pick out a puppy. They chose a small terrier named “Bambi.” Bambi needed shots and a bath so we promised to return later to take her home. By the time the children went back someone else had already adopted Bambi and they were

By Mark D. Proctor Pastor, Highland Park Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Hebrews 11:1-6 Curious, isn’t it, that the book of the Bible that encourages believers to have faith based on evidence of things not seen is itself evidence of an author not known? The writer of Hebrews uses tactile terms to give believers hope that true faith — concrete faith — pleases God and writes this passage to show

By Mark D. Proctor Pastor, Highland Park Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Romans 6:4-14 Sin might be rendered powerless. Dead to sin. Sin will not rule over you. Treat yourself to a study of Romans 6 by picking out phrases such as these that let you off the hook. What if sin couldn’t touch you? What if Satan the great puppeteer could pull the strings but the marionette didn’t dance?

By Mark Proctor Pastor, Highland Park Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Matthew 8:5-13 Hope. Everyone craves it. The little leaguer says, “I hope we win the game” but has no way of knowing the outcome. Hope to this little hitter is little more than a dream.  But a believer’s hope is broader and wider still. Isaiah prophesied 700 years before Christ that, “… the gentiles will trust in his name”

By Mark Proctor Pastor, Highland Park Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage:  Revelation 1:12-20 What does Jesus look like in your church?  Some might picture a benevolent lover of children, with a large lap and a tender heart.  Others might envision a healer, frequenting the hospitals, or a teacher, majestically ensconced in the pulpit.  The apostle John was “in the spirit on the Lord’s day” while on Patmos and got the

By Justin Randolph Pastor, Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville Focal Passage: Philippians 4:10-20 More is the word that perhaps best characterizes our society — more wealth, more luxury, more significance, more gizmos, and more love.  Sometimes we do not even know what we need more of, we just know we want more. It seems we are always in search of contentment, but never quite finding it.  

By Justin Randolph Pastor, Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville Focal Passage: Philippians 4:4-9 Do you worry excessively about things you cannot control? Is there a cure to worry? In the conclusion of his letter, the Apostle Paul turns to practical living. His desire is that they move toward holiness in their walk with the Lord. He knew worry would hinder them in this pursuit. He also knew their faith would

By Justin Randolph Pastor, Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville Focal Passage: Philippians 3:12-21 How beautiful, sweet, and innocent is a newborn baby. For many, we would keep them as babies perhaps for a little longer, and yet we take them to their first doctor’s visit hoping that their measurements and weight indicate growth. Later in life, as their physical maturity increases, the hard work begins of helping them develop their

By Justin Randolph Pastor, Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville Focal Passage: Philippians 2:1-11 There once was a slave in ancient Rome who heard his master was on the liquidation list. Upon learning this news, he quickly put on his master’s cloak and quietly awaited the arrival of the political assassins. When they finally arrived, they killed the slave because he was dressed like his master. In the same way, Jesus