Focal Passage: Genesis 41:28-36, 46-49 By Van Richmond Pastor, New Life Church, Nashville Hard times come in many forms. Some of what we might call hard times are actually nuisances rather than extreme challenges. A dear lady had a husband who was an airline pilot, and he often had difficulty locating items around the house. One day he asked his wife where the salt was. Annoyed, she responded, “How on
By Chuck Williams Pastor, First Baptist Church, Covington Focal Passage: Hebrews 8:1-13 Nothing lasts forever. When is the last time you shopped at Woolworths, bought gasoline at a Sinclair station, or tried explaining an 8-track player to someone under 30? Contracts, covenants, and sure things come and go. In today’s world is there a place that is permanent or a person who can truly transform? The writer of Hebrews answers
By Van Richmond Pastor, New Life Church, Nashville Focal Passage: Genesis 39:3-12 The Temptations were a hit Motown vocal group in the 1960s and 1970s. “The Temptations” could also describe the difficult battles every believer faces daily. Sunday School teacher Clara Noll had just finished a lesson on Christian behavior. “Now, Billy,” she asked, “Tell me what we must do before we can expect to be forgiven for our sins.”
By Chuck Williams Pastor, First Baptist Church, Covington Focal Passage: Hebrews 7:23-28 One time a preacher in the middle of his sermon asked the rhetorical question, “Do you know of anyone who has lived a perfect life?” Surprisingly an older man raised his hand. The pastor asked, “Well, who is this perfect person?” The man calmly replied, “Pastor, that would be my wife’s first husband.” This man’s weary perception was
By Van Richmond Pastor, New Life Church, Nashville Focal Passage: Genesis 37:19-27; 39:1-2 You have walked across the razor-sharp pieces of broken trust, just trying to understand why you were betrayed. The act of betrayal creates a tormenting pain that tears at every emotional fiber of your being while simultaneously wrapping you in a dulling numbness. Disbelief, shock, and denial become constant companions because of someone’s treachery or violation of
By Van Richmond Pastor, New Life Church, Nashville Focal Passage: Ephesians 6:18-22 E.T., the abandoned alien in the 1982 movie, “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” learned enough English to express his deepest desire: “Phone home.” Today E.T. would probably say something like, “Skype Saturn.” Incredible technological advances allow us to use high-definition sight and sound to easily connect with someone in Memphis, Madagascar, or on the moon. Thankfully Christians have prayer as
By Chuck Williams Pastor, First Baptist Church, Covington Focal Passage: Hebrews 6:1-8 A family who moved to a new neighborhood got a late start one morning. As a result, their 6-year-old girl missed her school bus. Though it would make him late, the father agreed to take her to school if she could give him directions. After going in circles for 20 minutes they finally arrived at school, which turned
By Chuck Williams Pastor, First Baptist Church, Covington Focal Passage: Hebrews 4:14-5:6 This passage is one of the great monuments in this letter. In chapters 1 and 2 the writer discusses the superiority of Christ as King of the angels. In chapter 3 He is shown to be superior to Moses. In this the last part of chapter 4 and the beginning of chapter 5, the writer goes to great
By Van Richmond Pastor, New Life Church, Nashville Focal Passage: Ephesians 5:15-21 Most people probably would not own a computer today if it was a stand-alone device. Whether used for e-mail, shopping for virtually anything imaginable, or keeping track of family and friends through Facebook or Instagram, the computer’s value to users is exponentially multiplied because of one thing: servers. An earth-spanning network of data-processing gee whiz boxes called servers
By Chuck Williams Pastor, First Baptist Church, Covington Focal Passage: Hebrews 3:7-15 It’s the small decisions which can lead to great consequences. Recently as I was traveling on Interstate 40 I noticed a small turtle on the road to my right. It was easy for me to avoid him, but I knew the more progress he made the quicker his end. My thought, “Pretty soon you are gonna regret making
Focal Passage: Genesis 41:28-36, 46-49 By Van Richmond Pastor, New Life Church, Nashville Hard times come in many forms. Some of what we might call
By Chuck Williams Pastor, First Baptist Church, Covington Focal Passage: Hebrews 8:1-13 Nothing lasts forever. When is the last time you shopped at Woolworths, bought
By Van Richmond Pastor, New Life Church, Nashville Focal Passage: Genesis 39:3-12 The Temptations were a hit Motown vocal group in the 1960s and 1970s.
By Chuck Williams Pastor, First Baptist Church, Covington Focal Passage: Hebrews 7:23-28 One time a preacher in the middle of his sermon asked the rhetorical
By Van Richmond Pastor, New Life Church, Nashville Focal Passage: Genesis 37:19-27; 39:1-2 You have walked across the razor-sharp pieces of broken trust, just trying
By Van Richmond Pastor, New Life Church, Nashville Focal Passage: Ephesians 6:18-22 E.T., the abandoned alien in the 1982 movie, “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,” learned enough
By Chuck Williams Pastor, First Baptist Church, Covington Focal Passage: Hebrews 6:1-8 A family who moved to a new neighborhood got a late start one
By Chuck Williams Pastor, First Baptist Church, Covington Focal Passage: Hebrews 4:14-5:6 This passage is one of the great monuments in this letter. In chapters
By Van Richmond Pastor, New Life Church, Nashville Focal Passage: Ephesians 5:15-21 Most people probably would not own a computer today if it was a
By Chuck Williams Pastor, First Baptist Church, Covington Focal Passage: Hebrews 3:7-15 It’s the small decisions which can lead to great consequences. Recently as I
