By Hoyt Wilson Pastor, Flatwoods Baptist Church, Holladay Focal Passage: I Peter 5:1-11 Christians are prone to say “God has promised that victory is ours,” without remembering that there are still battles to be fought.  The world, our flesh, and the devil daily present challenges to faith in God and one must be alert to perceive those challenges. The title of this lesson is “Alert Living.” Peter has already reminded

By Hoyt Wilson Pastor, Flatwoods Baptist Church, Holladay Focal Passage: I Peter 4:12-19 How can one expect life to be fair in a fallen world? The best team does not always win. The one who works the hardest does not always get the promotion. Those who live morally, ethically, and spiritually often are ridiculed because of the quality of their lives. The best person who ever lived died young, condemned

By Hoyt Wilson Pastor, Flatwoods Baptist Church, Holladay Focal Passage: I Peter 4:1-11 When confronted with danger, both people and animals must choose flight or fight. Peter recognized there was potential for significant persecution of believers scattered in the five provinces mentioned in I Peter 1:1.  He warned: “… since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves … ” (I Peter 4:1). No, He was not advocating that they prepare

By Hoyt Wilson Pastor, Flatwoods Baptist Church, Holladay Focal Passage: I Peter 3:13-22 Dawson Trotman, the founder of the evangelistic organization, The Navigators, said: “Soul winners are not soul winners because of what they know, but Who they know, and how much they want others to know Him.” 

By Hoyt Wilson Pastor, Flatwoods Baptist Church, Holladay Focal Passage: I Peter 3:1-12 We have names for the ways we are connected with other people. Father, mother, brother, sister, husband, wife, son, daughter, boss, and many other terms express our relationships. We live connected to others.  Each connection we have with others brings with it a responsibility to learn how to live in that relationship. I Peter 3:1-8 shares vital

By Hoyt Wilson Pastor, Flatwoods Baptist Church, Holladay Focal Passage: I Peter 2:11-20 All of us begin life as strangers. When forced from our mother’s womb, we enter an environment in which we are strangers. Hopefully, bonding with parents and becoming accustomed to the strange sights, sounds, and touch to which one is subjected will soon lead to one belonging. I Peter was written to Christians who needed to know

By Justin Randolph Pastor of Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville Focal Passage: Romans 3:9-12,19-20, 23 It is popular today to discuss whether or not it is relevant or important to name the problem.  Does not identifying the problem make solving it easier? I would argue without proper identification of a problem, a solution is nearly impossible to find. So, why do people today seem to find it so difficult to

By Hoyt Wilson Pastor, Flatwoods Baptist Church, Holladay Focal Passage: I Peter 1:3-9 A boy scrubbed clean and dressed in his Sunday best went outside to wait for the rest of the family before church. He could not, however resist the puddles from the night’s rain. He was wet and dirty when he went back into the house. Mom was unhappy and fussed. “I’m sorry, Mom,” he said. “All right,

By Hoyt Wilson Pastor, Flatwoods Baptist Church, Holladay Focal Passage:  I Peter 1:3-9 Some years ago a submarine sank off the coast of New England. Rescue operations began as soon as possible and divers located the vessel on the bottom of the ocean. As the divers approached the ship, they heard metallic clanging — someone was striking the inner wall of the sub with a metal object. The divers stopped

By Al R. Hodges Retired IMB Missionary Focal Passage:  I Samuel 30:6-8, 18-25 In my early years as a missionary in Africa, Alan, a missionary from Ireland, was a close friend. When I experienced times of loneliness or difficulty, Alan would smile and say through his Irish accent, “Brother, we are not on the winning side … we are on the side that has WON!” Although David had been invited