By Randall Pressnell Senior Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Mount Carmel Focal Passage: Ephesians 5:1-10 Pastor Andy Stanley recently gathered with about 250 singles to answer questions on the topic of love, sex, and dating. The most pointed question of the night came from a middle-aged gentleman. “Why save sex for marriage?”

By Randall Pressnell Senior Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Mount Carmel Focal Passage: II Corinthians 4:16-18; 12:7-10 After living as a quadriplegic for 45 years, Joni Eareckson Tada reflected on the diving accident that changed her life. Immediately after the accident, Joni told God, “You’ll never be trusted with another of my prayers.” But after struggling with anguish and anger Joni said, “I prayed one short prayer that changed my

By Randall Pressnell Senior Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Mount Carmel Focal Passage: Deuteronomy 15:7-11 Herschel Hobbs told a story of one man asking another, “If you had a thousand hogs, would you give me half of them?” “Sure!” came the man’s reply. “Well, if you had a hundred hogs, would you give me half of them?” Again, “Sure!” was the answer. “Okay, if you had two hogs would you

By Randall Pressnell Senior Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Mount Carmel Focal Passage: Exodus 23:1-3, 6-9 In his book When a Nation Forgets God, Erwin Lutzer retells one Christian’s story of living in Hitler’s Germany during the Holocaust. The man wrote: “We heard stories of what was happening to the Jews, but we tried to distance ourselves from it. … A railroad track ran behind our small church, and each

By Randall Pressnell Senior Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Mount Carmel Focal Passage: Psalm 91:1-4, 9-11, 14-16 Van Morris of Mount Washington, Ky., told of a visit to the zoo with his daughter and grandchildren during which they visited the orangutan exhibit. The only thing separating them from these creatures was 20-feet-tall panes of thick glass. Morris said that his 2-year-old grandson was at first amused by the orangutans. Then

By Randall Pressnell Senior Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Mount Carmel Focal Passage: Psalm 42:1-3, 6-8; 43:3-5 H.J. Duffy told a funny story in the Christian Reader. “While traveling in Wyoming, we stopped at a garage for minor car repairs. As we waited, my wife spotted a drinking fountain. When she pushed the button, water shot over her shoulder splashing against the wall. She tried again, pushing the button gently

By Randall Pressnell Senior Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Mount Carmel Focal Passage: Psalm 32:1-7 In August 2014, Esquire magazine ran an article about the fallout from the cheating scandal that ended the “career and the endorsements for the world’s most successful cyclist.” According to the article the individual has commendably been busy trying to make amends to those he hurt but still “hasn’t experienced the liberating power of forgiveness.”

By Randall Pressnell Senior Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Mount Carmel Focal Passage: Psalm 27:1-6 Charles Haddon Spurgeon said that any man can sing in the daytime but that only the man of faith can sing in the night. David was certainly a man who was accustomed to singing in darkness! He experienced time and again in his life the attacks of those who wanted to destroy him and send

By Randall Pressnell Senior Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Mount Carmel Focal Passage: Psalm 23:1-6 The late Herschel H. Hobbs shared the story of a ship caught in the grips of a storm at sea. The terrified passengers thought there was no hope for survival. Then one of the passengers decided to go up on the bridge. When he saw the captain — he regained his peace and calm. The

By David Taft Minister, First Baptist Church, Hermitage Editor’s Note: The last lesson in this series is written by David Taft, minister, First Baptist Church, Hermitage. Focal Passage: II Corinthians 1:2-7 Society acknowledges illness and pain as “real” and needing attention. Doctors identify illness and pain in legitimate terms. Yet one illness still bears the stigma, fear, and ignorance by many in the public, and within the family alike —