By Randy Harmon Pastor, Rock Springs Baptist Church, Greenbrier Focal Passage: Joshua 1:1-9 Oswald Sanders said, “Simply stated, leadership is the ability to move and influence people.” You may question your role as a leader, but followers of Christ, are called to be used by Him to move and influence people. The Lord calls us salt and light. The Apostle Paul, Peter, and John remind us of our important role

By Jay McCluskey Pastor, North Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland Focal Passage: Romans 14:1-4, 13-19 My father tells a sermon illustration about a man who did not know the meaning of the word “ancestor.” When someone told this man that he had “ancestors” he thought it was some disease or parasite. Consequently, he would swear that he DID NOT have “ancestors” (though certainly he did). The topic of Romans 14 is another word

By Jay McCluskey Pastor, North Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland Focal Passage: Philippians 2:1-5, 13-15 The essentials to maintaining a healthy physical body are familiar. Doctors, physical trainers, and nutritionists agree with the basic components: Eat a balanced diet covering all the needed vitamins and minerals, exercise, drink plenty of fluids, and get a good night’s sleep. But what is essential to maintain good health as the body of Christ? Paul tells us

By Brent Moore Pastor, First Baptist Church, Clarksville Focal Passage: Malachi 1:1-11 Have you ever been in a relationship with someone who knows exactly what you are thinking? The intimacy is so close they ask questions even when they already know the answers. This friend uses questions to extract the truth of your peril so that you may see the point. When your soul is laid bare, these “wounds of

By Jay McCluskey Pastor, North Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland Focal Passage: Matthew 18:21-28, 32-33 Today’s Bible Study applies to everybody. It does not matter if you are 4 years old or 104. Everyone knows the experience of being hurt by someone else. Often it is just your feelings that are wounded. But we also can experience damage financially and physically at the hands of another person. As a young preacher I was

By Jay McCluskey Pastor, North Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland Focal Passage: Acts 9:26-28, 11:21-26 Like a lot of folks, the name by which I am called is not my real name. From birth, my parents referred to me by the nickname “Jay.” Few people would recognize me by my legal name. Today’s Bible lesson is about a man whose formal name was “Joseph.” But he is much better known by his nickname

By Jay McCluskey Pastor, North Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland Focal Passage: John 15:9-14 In 1984 the musical band “Foreigner” declared “I want to know what love is! I want you to show me!” Those two statements can be thought of as a prayer. We certainly long to know what love is. Who better to show us than the Lord Himself? In this passage, Jesus helps His disciples know how to recognize love.

By Jay McCluskey Pastor, North Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland Focal Passage: Ephesians 1:7-10, 18-23 Have you ever stopped to notice that our National Anthem begins with a question? We usually do not sing it with the vocal inflection of a question. Still, the opening line asks the listener, “Oh, say can you see?” Some of Paul’s opening words in the letter of Ephesians express his prayer that these believers “see” some things:

By Jay McCluskey Pastor, North Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland Focal Passage: Acts 1:3-11 We spend a lot of time waiting. We wait in line at the post office or “check out” lane of the grocery store. We wait to see the doctor or dentist. We wait “on hold” to speak on the telephone to someone in customer service. We wait to get on a ride at an amusement park. We wait in

By Jay McCluskey Pastor, North Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland Focal Passage: Matthew 28:1-10 On June 2, 2008 Michael O’Neill of Middlesbrough, England, decided to take a last minute trip to Australia to visit a friend. He did not tell anyone of his plans. When his neighbors, who had not seen him in several days, grew worried, they called the police. The police broke down the door of his apartment only to find