By Ray Luck Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Athens Focal Passage: Matthew 4:1-10 Temptation is a word that often causes us to shiver because of the connotation attached to it. John McArthur in his New Testament Commentary on I Corinthians says this about the word “temptation” found in I Corinthians 10:13. The basic meaning in Greek is simply to test or prove, and has no negative connotation. Whether it becomes

By Michael Crandall Senior Pastor, Hillcrest Baptist Church, Dyersburg Focal Passage: Ephesians 3:14-21 What is strength? How can we measure strength? What does strength look like? These are all questions that a person could ask. And on the surface these are questions that have simple answers. From a purely secular point of view, strength could be defined as the state of being strong. And if we look at it from

By Ray Luck Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Athens Focal Passage: Matthew 2:1-12 There is a song that is nearly always sung at Christmas time titled “We Three Kings of Orient Are.” The song assumes three kings based on the Scriptural fact that three gifts were presented to the baby Jesus (gold — royalty; frankincense — priestly role, and myrrh — a burial ointment). A pastor friend of mine, Bill

By Ray Luck Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Athens Focal Passage: Matthew 1:18-25 If you watch television any at all you most likely have seen the commercial advertising ancestry.com. The company specializes in helping people trace their ancestors in order to discover their roots. The gospel according to Matthew leaves no doubt as to the earthly lineage of Jesus Christ. He begins in chapter 1, verse 1 with these words,

By Ray Luck Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Athens Focal Passage: Matthew 3:1-12 Years ago I was serving a church in another state as associate pastor. One Wednesday I was in charge of the service and before the service someone came in and said there was a man sitting on the steps in front of the Fellowship Hall. I went out greeted the man and discovered he was from another

By Derek Westmoreland Senior Pastor, Hopewell Baptist Church, Savannah Focal Passage:  Genesis 24:1-17 God had provided the son of promise (Isaac) that was to make Abraham the father of multitudes. However, when we arrive at chapter 24, Sarah, Abraham’s wife is now deceased and Isaac his son is 40 years old with no wife and no children. The expectation of Abraham. Abraham, now in his old age and with a

By Derek Westmoreland Senior Pastor, Hopewell Baptist Church, Savannah Focal Passage: Genesis 22:1-14 The test. Verse 1 reveals that God tested Abraham. Tests are good for they reveal your faith or lack of faith. In verse 2 He (God) said, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the

By Derek Westmoreland Senior Pastor, Hopewell Baptist Church, Savannah Focal Passage:  Genesis 21:1-8 God’s promise is fulfilled.  It had been two years since the Lord promised a son to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-4, 21:5). After 13 years the Lord reminded Abraham that He had not forgotten His promise. Then 24 years after originally revealing to Abraham that he would have numerous descendants, God revealed that Sarah would give birth. In verse

By Derek Westmoreland Senior Pastor, Hopewell Baptist Church, Savannah Focal Passage: Genesis 18:20-25; 19:12-16 Wickedness brings attention. Sodom and Gomorrah were known for their rampant sexual sin that flowed from a complete rebellion against the ways of the Lord (Genesis 13:13). The sins were public and the guilty were unrepentant. The iniquities of those in Sodom provoked the Lord to respond in verse 21. God responds as we should. He

By Derek Westmoreland Senior Pastor, Hopewell Baptist Church, Savannah Focal Passage: Genesis 17:1-8, 15-22 God made His covenant with Abram for the first time in chapter 12. In chapter 15, the Lord reminded Abram that He would keep His covenant and now we learn in chapter 17, that God again confirms His covenant with Abram. According to verse 1, Abram was 99 years old. That confirms that Abram is 14