By Tim Frank Pastor, First Baptist Church, Carthage Focal Passage: Romans 14:1-4, 13-19 As we conclude this series on the six building blocks of Christian relationships, we address a pressing issue in the church, in society and in our lives today. This issue concerns how you relate to someone who has a different opinion, tradition or preference from you. While this lesson does not dismiss the importance of moral standards
By Travis Biller Pastor, Immanuel Baptist Church, Elizabethton Focal Passage: Romans 14:1-12 Freedom. It’s a word we all love. More than that, it is an experience we both enjoy and expect in our culture. Unfortunately, not everyone in the world is free. For some, freedom is a distant dream. They long for the day when they can be free.
By Tim Frank Pastor, First Baptist Church, Carthage Focal Passage: Philippians 2:1-5, 13-15 One of the basic building blocks of relationships is the ability to yield to others in humble submission to Jesus Christ. Whether it be in a marriage, a church, or a friendship, humility in considering the needs of others is paramount for a continuing, loving relationship. The starting place for love, encouragement, forgiveness and service is humbly
By Travis Biller Pastor, Immanuel Baptist Church, Elizabethton Focal Passage: Romans 13:1-14 Several years ago, my wife and I had a house built, but only the downstairs. I took the next year and a half to finish the upstairs. As I spent my nights and weekends working, there were times when my son, who was only 3, would come by my side and mimic what I was doing. I have a
By Tim Frank Pastor, First Baptist Church, Carthage Focal Passage: Galatians 5:13-15; 6:1-5, 10 As we continue this series on the six building blocks of relationships, we are seeing many businesses, churches and society in general begin to open up and gather together again. With this reopening and regathering comes a sense of freedom from the constraints of the Governor’s “Stay at Home” order and a freedom to reach out
By Travis Biller Pastor, Immanuel Baptist Church, Elizabethton Focal Passage: Romans 12:1-2, 9-18 Not long ago I watched a documentary on the transformation that takes place inside a cocoon. With less than scientific language, let me explain it: a caterpillar is enveloped by a cocoon. While in that state the caterpillar literally dissolves into a pile of goo, then miraculously is rebuilt into a lifeform utterly different from what it was.
By Tim Frank Pastor, First Baptist Church, Carthage Focal Passage: Matthew 18:21-28, 32-33 As we continue this series on building relationships, I remind you that the core building block of all relationships is love. Love as defined in I Corinthians 13:4 has two characteristics, kindness and long-suffering. Last week, we examined the importance of encouragement in relationships, the importance of being kind. Today, we look at being long-suffering through forgiveness.
By Travis Biller Pastor, Immanuel Baptist Church, Elizabethton Focal Passage: Romans 11:17-32 Adoption is something that is common. Families adopt children every day. What is unique is that these families have a bond of love as strong as families who have not adopted children. God’s love is like that. It is strong enough to love adopted children as much as natural children. In our text, Paul is addressing gentile believers in
By Tim Frank Pastor, First Baptist Church, Carthage Focal Passage: Acts 9:26-28; 11:21-26 Have you ever had a nickname? In my high school, one of the boys was nicknamed “Wrong Way” because he chose to run the wrong way with the ball in a football game. Sometimes a nickname lasts for years. For my friend, 40 years later, people cannot remember his given name but still refer to him as
By Travis Biller Pastor, Immanuel Baptist Church, Elizabethton Focal Passage: Roman 10:5-15 We were walking through Calcutta when we saw the temple for Kali. Curious, we walked to the gate and looked inside. A Hindu priest was holding a goat in one hand and holding up a knife in the other. To our surprise, he suddenly sacrificed the animal. He then dragged the goat through the temple to the Kali idol.
By Tim Frank Pastor, First Baptist Church, Carthage Focal Passage: Romans 14:1-4, 13-19 As we conclude this series on the six building blocks of Christian
By Travis Biller Pastor, Immanuel Baptist Church, Elizabethton Focal Passage: Romans 14:1-12 Freedom. It’s a word we all love. More than that, it is an experience
By Tim Frank Pastor, First Baptist Church, Carthage Focal Passage: Philippians 2:1-5, 13-15 One of the basic building blocks of relationships is the ability to
By Travis Biller Pastor, Immanuel Baptist Church, Elizabethton Focal Passage: Romans 13:1-14 Several years ago, my wife and I had a house built, but only the
By Tim Frank Pastor, First Baptist Church, Carthage Focal Passage: Galatians 5:13-15; 6:1-5, 10 As we continue this series on the six building blocks of
By Travis Biller Pastor, Immanuel Baptist Church, Elizabethton Focal Passage: Romans 12:1-2, 9-18 Not long ago I watched a documentary on the transformation that takes place
By Tim Frank Pastor, First Baptist Church, Carthage Focal Passage: Matthew 18:21-28, 32-33 As we continue this series on building relationships, I remind you that
By Travis Biller Pastor, Immanuel Baptist Church, Elizabethton Focal Passage: Romans 11:17-32 Adoption is something that is common. Families adopt children every day. What is unique
By Tim Frank Pastor, First Baptist Church, Carthage Focal Passage: Acts 9:26-28; 11:21-26 Have you ever had a nickname? In my high school, one of
By Travis Biller Pastor, Immanuel Baptist Church, Elizabethton Focal Passage: Roman 10:5-15 We were walking through Calcutta when we saw the temple for Kali. Curious, we
