By Joshua Franks Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton Focal Passage: Mark 5:22-24, 35-43 We live in a world full of heartbreak and tragedy. Every time we turn on the news it seems as if another calamity has befallen the world. School shootings have become normal. Mass murders have become routine. Terrorist attacks have become commonplace.
By Mike Dawson Interim Pastor, Santa Fe Baptist Church, Santa Fe Focal Passage: Acts 15:36-41; 16:1-5 One of the most important ‘words’ in the Bible never actually appears in the Bible! The word is relationships. The Bible is all about relationships; yet the word itself has come into our vocabulary since Scripture was written. Terms like ‘one another,’ and ‘households,’ and ‘friends,’ and ‘neighbors’ are found again and again in
By Joshua Franks Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton Focal Passage: Luke 2:4-20 As a pastor, whenever I hear the word “tradition” it immediately makes me cringe a little bit. I hear voices in my head loudly proclaiming “We’ve never done it that way before!” Tradition can be the corpse of wisdom.
By Mike Dawson Interim Pastor, Santa Fe Baptist Church, Santa Fe Focal Passage: Luke 2:25-38 During the turbulent 1960’s a silver-haired lady named Iva observed the hippie movement. As young people in faded jeans invaded her church, she didn’t complain; instead she prayed for them — and those noisy teens began making commitments to Christ. Then Iva had a stroke and died suddenly.
By Mike Dawson Interim Pastor, Santa Fe Baptist Church, Santa Fe Focal Passage: Acts 15:6-11, 24-31 We might add two words to the title of this week’s lesson: “Available to All: Amazing Grace.” This lesson shows how the gospel was spreading more and more beyond the Jews to the ends of the earth. Paul and Barnabas had been sent out as missionaries from the church in Antioch (Acts 13). Being
By Joshua Franks Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton Focal Passage: Mark 4:35-41 Eight years ago my wife was pregnant with our first son. In the days leading up to his birth our house seemed like a swirling mass of chaos. Nurseries had to be painted. Cribs had to be assembled. The house had to be babyproofed. Then, the day arrived. We rushed to the hospital. Anxious relatives assembled. My wife
By Mike Dawson Interim Pastor, Santa Fe Baptist Church, Santa Fe Focal Passage: Acts 14:8-20 We call Matthew 28:19-20 “The Great Commission,” as well we should. There Jesus told the church to “go into all the world and make disciples of every nation.” I believe we could call Acts 1:8 “The Great Commissioning,” because there Jesus gave the specific strategy and locations for carrying out His commission: “You shall be
By Joshua Franks Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton Focal Passage: Mark 4:1-9 I’ve always wanted to be a gardener. I have a romantic notion in my mind about the fresh air, the feeling of accomplishment, and enjoying vegetables with my family as we sit around the dinner table. Maybe it’s a silly idea. It doesn’t really matter because God didn’t gift me with a green thumb. In fact, I’m pretty sure
By Mike Dawson Interim Pastor, Santa Fe Baptist Church, Santa Fe Focal Passage: Acts 13:26-39 Coaches often say that games are won or lost in the opening minutes of the second half. Our new unit focuses on the ‘second half’ of the book of Acts, and this first lesson sets the pace for the rest of the book. Jesus had told His followers to be His witnesses “in Jerusalem, and
By Joshua Franks Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton Focal Passage: Mark 1:14-20 I’m the proud father of two awesome little boys who are, of course, always into mischief. Most of the time I feel like a drill sergeant barking commands. These commands are usually met with a myriad of excuses as to why they can’t comply. “Clean up your room before dinner,” I’ll decree. Immediately the protest begins. The promise
By Joshua Franks Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton Focal Passage: Mark 5:22-24, 35-43 We live in a world full of heartbreak and tragedy. Every time we
By Mike Dawson Interim Pastor, Santa Fe Baptist Church, Santa Fe Focal Passage: Acts 15:36-41; 16:1-5 One of the most important ‘words’ in the Bible
By Joshua Franks Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton Focal Passage: Luke 2:4-20 As a pastor, whenever I hear the word “tradition” it immediately makes me
By Mike Dawson Interim Pastor, Santa Fe Baptist Church, Santa Fe Focal Passage: Luke 2:25-38 During the turbulent 1960’s a silver-haired lady named Iva observed
By Mike Dawson Interim Pastor, Santa Fe Baptist Church, Santa Fe Focal Passage: Acts 15:6-11, 24-31 We might add two words to the title of
By Joshua Franks Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton Focal Passage: Mark 4:35-41 Eight years ago my wife was pregnant with our first son. In the
By Mike Dawson Interim Pastor, Santa Fe Baptist Church, Santa Fe Focal Passage: Acts 14:8-20 We call Matthew 28:19-20 “The Great Commission,” as well we
By Joshua Franks Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton Focal Passage: Mark 4:1-9 I’ve always wanted to be a gardener. I have a romantic notion in my
By Mike Dawson Interim Pastor, Santa Fe Baptist Church, Santa Fe Focal Passage: Acts 13:26-39 Coaches often say that games are won or lost in
By Joshua Franks Pastor, First Baptist Church, Bruceton Focal Passage: Mark 1:14-20 I’m the proud father of two awesome little boys who are, of course,
