Focal Passage: John 8:2-11 Though we sing and preach about it all the time, we don’t know much about grace. Yes, we might say, God’s grace is the undeserved, unmerited favor of God. But when it comes down to it, most of us have been raised to believe that unless one works for something we haven’t earned it. Yes, we are to work for our wages. But when it comes
Focal Passage: John 12:20-33 One of the great privileges we had while serving in a previous church was a missional partnership in Haiti. We would send ministry teams at least once a year to serve in one of the most impoverished places in the world, both materially and spiritually. However, on one of our trips, we were connected with a group from another state and worked alongside them for a
Focal Passage: John 5:2-11, 19-21 Words like restoration, restitution and reparations are “hot topic words” these days. Often, they are used in ways that are harmful and unrealistic. At other times, they are mocked as impossible goals. These words have been politicized. Though Jesus seemed to be uninterested in using political means for spiritual ends, He was consummately interested in restoring the lives of broken people. Take for example the
Focal Passage: John 12:1-11 Not long after we married, my wife and I quickly discovered the value of looking at the weekly supermarket circular before heading to the store to buy groceries. It was astounding to see how much money we would save by simply planning meals around what was on sale. After doing this for a while, we became very familiar with how certain products were priced and could
Focal Passage: John 4:7-18; 25-26 Have you ever met a famous person? If so, you might remember how it made you think or feel at the time. In some small way, that encounter changed your life, an encounter that became a talking point for you in future conversations with friends. John 4 tells us the story of Jesus with the nameless, but needy “woman at the well.” Her encounter with
Focal Passage: John 11:32-46 Death is hard. It’s a reality that no one wants to face. We dread the day that we will have to say an earthly goodbye to our loved ones, and the thought of our own departure from this world can be equally disturbing. Even when we try to distract ourselves from this mortal reality, our news channels and social media feeds are constantly bombarding us with
Focal Passage: Colossians 3:1-14 Since Jan. 22, 2023, the Bible Studies for Life have been focused on the issue of discerning the voice of God. Issues such as biblical faithfulness, convictional living, in addition to trusting and honoring God have all been in focus. But what’s the ultimate purpose of this series? The final lesson in this series sums up the intent of the series — discerning the voice of
Focal Passage: John 10:7-14, 25-30 One of the major theological distinctives we hold as Southern Baptists is the eternal security of the believer. According to the Baptist Faith and Message 2000, “All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end…. they shall be kept by
Focal Passage: John 17:1-9 God’s voice always leads us to glorify Him and accomplish His purposes. We can glorify God by honoring God in how we speak and live. But what specifically needs to be a part of how we speak and live that would honor God? In what has been called Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer on the eve of His arrest, trial, crucifixion, and subsequent resurrection reaches the zenith
Focal Passage: John 9:24-38 A few months ago, while interviewing a candidate for a children’s ministry position, our search committee asked him the question, “What are some of the biggest challenges in children’s ministry today?” With almost no hesitation, he mentioned the difficulty of overcoming the seven most deadly words of a church: “We’ve never done it that way before.” Although he went on to mention other difficulties and obstacles,
Focal Passage: John 8:2-11 Though we sing and preach about it all the time, we don’t know much about grace. Yes, we might say, God’s
Focal Passage: John 12:20-33 One of the great privileges we had while serving in a previous church was a missional partnership in Haiti. We would
Focal Passage: John 5:2-11, 19-21 Words like restoration, restitution and reparations are “hot topic words” these days. Often, they are used in ways that are
Focal Passage: John 12:1-11 Not long after we married, my wife and I quickly discovered the value of looking at the weekly supermarket circular before
Focal Passage: John 4:7-18; 25-26 Have you ever met a famous person? If so, you might remember how it made you think or feel at
Focal Passage: John 11:32-46 Death is hard. It’s a reality that no one wants to face. We dread the day that we will have to
Focal Passage: Colossians 3:1-14 Since Jan. 22, 2023, the Bible Studies for Life have been focused on the issue of discerning the voice of God.
Focal Passage: John 10:7-14, 25-30 One of the major theological distinctives we hold as Southern Baptists is the eternal security of the believer. According to
Focal Passage: John 17:1-9 God’s voice always leads us to glorify Him and accomplish His purposes. We can glorify God by honoring God in how
Focal Passage: John 9:24-38 A few months ago, while interviewing a candidate for a children’s ministry position, our search committee asked him the question, “What
