By Chuck Williams Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan Focal Passage: John 15:18-25; 16:1-4a C. S. Lewis said, “If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly do not recommend Christianity.” Being a dedicated follower of Christ is not for those who simply want the easy road. Jesus states in these verses that not only will the world dislike you, they will hate you simply because
By Kevin Shrum Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 3:4-13 The enemy of our soul — Satan — uses many tools to attack the believer, i.e., lies, temptations and, maybe above all, discouragement. In fact, though Satan has limited knowledge, he does know that to discourage God’s people is to deter God’s work. Satan first isolates us from other believers, attacks the gospel itself, causing doubt
By Chuck Williams Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan Focal Passage: John 15:9-17 Some things for me are hard to believe. It’s hard for me to believe that I grew up in a home where the telephone was attached to the wall. Hard for me to believe that when I changed channels on the television I had to get up from the couch and walk over to it. Hard to
By Kevin Shrum Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 2:13-20 The boldness and courage of the Ukrainian people are currently being challenged. Only time will tell where this challenge leads. One Ukrainian mother was reported to have said that the Ukrainian people would fight for their freedom and for democracy “to their last blood.” The question arises: are we as courageous and as bold in sharing
By Chuck Williams Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan Focal Passage: John 13:36-14:6 One of the most popular performances at a circus is the flying trapeze. As the daredevils swing and turn through the air into the arms of the ‘catcher’ the crowd wonders, “Will they slip and fall to the ground?” Why is the ‘flyer’ willing to do such a dangerous act? Answer: The flyer trusts the catcher to
By Kevin Shrum Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 2:1-12 What if you found a treasure that would make you both rich and that would change the world? But it wouldn’t make you rich unless you set free that gift to change the world. This is the gospel (II Corinthians 4:7). The gospel lavishes on us the riches of God’s grace in Jesus Christ, but
By Chuck Williams Interim pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan Focal Passage: John 13:21-27, 31-35 The worst betrayal (vv. 21-27).Loyalty in times of crisis is one of the greatest gifts a person can give someone. Disloyalty in times of crisis makes a wound that hurts like no other, causes grief beyond comprehension, and can linger a lifetime. The Emperor of Rome, Julius Caesar knew about such treachery. Some of his closest
By Kevin Shrum Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 1:1-10 Have you ever filled out a job application? More than likely you needed a list of references. You would select those who know you best, trusted people, friends, or co-workers. These references would vouch for your character and work ethic. As the Apostle Paul begins writing 1 Thessalonians, he introduces two of his co-workers, Silvanus
By Chuck Williams Interim pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan Focal Passage: John 13:3-10, 14-16 Elon Musk, the world’s most famous inventor and entrepreneur, sarcastically remarked, “I don’t want to brag, but I am the best at humility.” This tongue-in-cheek remark garnered him lots of laughs but also produced a window into the human soul. For many of us, it is our hope that our ‘humble service’ will be spot-lighted.
By Kevin Shrum Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville Focal Passage: Daniel 9:4-19 We do not like being honest. Even the most honest person in the world has a difficult time in being honest about their own sinfulness. We are honest with God when we confess our sins and His Lordship over all things (Romans 10:9-13). Put simply, to confess is to agree with God. When we confess our sins, we
By Chuck Williams Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan Focal Passage: John 15:18-25; 16:1-4a C. S. Lewis said, “If you want a religion to make
By Kevin Shrum Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 3:4-13 The enemy of our soul — Satan — uses many tools
By Chuck Williams Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan Focal Passage: John 15:9-17 Some things for me are hard to believe. It’s hard for me
By Kevin Shrum Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 2:13-20 The boldness and courage of the Ukrainian people are currently being
By Chuck Williams Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan Focal Passage: John 13:36-14:6 One of the most popular performances at a circus is the flying
By Kevin Shrum Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 2:1-12 What if you found a treasure that would make you
By Chuck Williams Interim pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan Focal Passage: John 13:21-27, 31-35 The worst betrayal (vv. 21-27).Loyalty in times of crisis is one
By Kevin Shrum Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 1:1-10 Have you ever filled out a job application? More than
By Chuck Williams Interim pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan Focal Passage: John 13:3-10, 14-16 Elon Musk, the world’s most famous inventor and entrepreneur, sarcastically remarked,
By Kevin Shrum Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville Focal Passage: Daniel 9:4-19 We do not like being honest. Even the most honest person in the
