By Scott Brown First Baptist Church, Waverly Focal Passage: Ephesians 5:1-14 This chapter starts with the transitional statement to which the previous chapters have been building. Paul says, “Therefore (because of everything you’ve already read), be imitators of God, as beloved children.” After this statement he begins to expound on what that will look like. When I think on that command to imitate God like beloved children, I think of
By Jerry Price Retired Pastor, Spring Hill Focal Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 The following illustration comes from Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, WordSearch Bible Software. “A modern army is fitted with a strategic mix of various weapons to maximize its effectiveness in fulfilling its purpose. Some soldiers receive a rifle and some are given pistols or ride in a tank armed with a cannon and machine guns. Others operate missiles, jet
By Scott Brown Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly Focal Passage: Ephesians 4:17-32 Several years ago, I did a study through the gospels, taking special notice of every time someone encountered Jesus and their response to Him. Some people left Jesus rejoicing, some enraged, still others left perplexed. There were multiple responses to encounters with Jesus but no one left an encounter with Jesus unchanged.
By Jerry Price Retired Pastor, Spring Hill Focal Passage: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 Pastor and author Gordon MacDonald once wrote, “I used to struggle with [overconfident intelligentsia] while living in Boston. I would leave the town of Lexington, where my family and I lived, and I would drive past the towers of Harvard University. Another mile down the road, on the left, sits the campus of MIT, and to the right,
By Scott Brown Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly Focal Passage: Ephesians 4:11-16 God’s desire for His Body (the church) is for it to grow — not only by quantity but by quality. The Great Commission doesn’t end with just making more believers but with making more mature believers by “teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you.” Something my faith family knows all too well about me is
By Jerry Price Retired Pastor, Spring Hill Focal Passage: Psalm 19:7-14 One of my favorite hobbies is woodworking. I have a few power tools which either came with a printed owner’s manual or one I downloaded from the Internet. Each manual begins with a statement similar to this: “Please read, understand and follow all instructions included in this book.” Then follows three to five pages of detailed safety instructions that
By Scott Brown Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly Focal Passage: Ephesians 4:1-10 Amos 3:3 asks, “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” Paul desires that the Ephesians walk worthy of their calling, together. So many of the New Testament commands are relational, showing how we are to have healthy relationships with each other because of our right relationship with Jesus. Thank God, the Christian life isn’t meant to be
By Jerry Price Retired Pastor, Spring Hill Focal Passage: Romans 11:33-12:2; Eph. 1:4-6 I really like two college football teams. I’ll not name them. I’ll leave you free to guess. I mention that because every game begins with a coin toss. One of the team captains gets to pick which side he thinks will land face up. The head referee then tosses the coin in the air. If the coin
By Scott Brown Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly Focal Passage: Ephesians 3:14-21 Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is constantly weaving together teachings to them and prayers for them. This incredible prayer is a beautiful picture of Paul’s heart for the faith family in Ephesus and a worshipful description of the infinite wonder of the majesty of God. He prays that they might comprehend the length, width, breadth and depth of
By Jerry Price Retired Pastor, Spring Hill Focal Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-12 God chose Abraham and his descendants to be His special, separate people. It was to be a unique relationship which excluded all others — made clear in commandment number two in Exodus 20:3 (see also Deuteronomy 5:7; 6:14; II Kings 17:35). There were several reasons for that. One is that God knew the negative influences the peoples of
By Scott Brown First Baptist Church, Waverly Focal Passage: Ephesians 5:1-14 This chapter starts with the transitional statement to which the previous chapters have been
By Jerry Price Retired Pastor, Spring Hill Focal Passage: 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 The following illustration comes from Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, WordSearch Bible Software. “A
By Scott Brown Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly Focal Passage: Ephesians 4:17-32 Several years ago, I did a study through the gospels, taking special notice
By Jerry Price Retired Pastor, Spring Hill Focal Passage: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 Pastor and author Gordon MacDonald once wrote, “I used to struggle with [overconfident
By Scott Brown Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly Focal Passage: Ephesians 4:11-16 God’s desire for His Body (the church) is for it to grow —
By Jerry Price Retired Pastor, Spring Hill Focal Passage: Psalm 19:7-14 One of my favorite hobbies is woodworking. I have a few power tools which
By Scott Brown Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly Focal Passage: Ephesians 4:1-10 Amos 3:3 asks, “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?” Paul desires
By Jerry Price Retired Pastor, Spring Hill Focal Passage: Romans 11:33-12:2; Eph. 1:4-6 I really like two college football teams. I’ll not name them. I’ll
By Scott Brown Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly Focal Passage: Ephesians 3:14-21 Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is constantly weaving together teachings to them and
By Jerry Price Retired Pastor, Spring Hill Focal Passage: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-12 God chose Abraham and his descendants to be His special, separate people. It
