By Mark Proctor Pastor, Highland Park Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passages: Judges 4:4-10, 12-16 Even a cursory examination of Israel’s history in the book of Judges will reveal a glaring theme: Israel had been given the land, every inch of it, and “no man shall be able to stand …” (Joshua 1:5 ESV). This was God’s plan. And as is too often the case, mankind had a better plan. The
By Justin Randolph Pastor, Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville Focal Passage: Philippians 1:12-21 Wouldn’t it be great if all the lessons of life we needed to learn could be learned without difficulty? I have often pondered in watching my children grow and learn, as well as in reflecting on my own journey, why we so often have to do things the hard way and why we are not naturally bent
By Mark Proctor Pastor, Highland Park Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Proverbs 24:10-12; Mark 10:46-49 The day comes for us all, the day we have to take a stand. Scrawny little Ted Newton had to take a stand against school bus bullies in the 1992 classic movie Beethoven. When enough finally became enough, Ted stepped off the bus, turned to face his rivals, and raised his little miniature fists only
By Justin Randolph Pastor, Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville Focal Passage: Jeremiah 1:4-10 What makes a person valuable? Is it how they look or, perhaps what they wear? Is it found in their education or abilities? Is it tied to physical acumen, language, or culture? Of course, the answer is found in none of the above. Instead, God has placed a high value and significance on life itself. In other
By Mark Proctor Pastor, Highland Park Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Joshua 24:14-28 I have a treasured book in my study containing some of history’s greatest speeches. I often read them finding myself wishing that I could compose and deliver such stirring homilies. What made those speeches great was not the composition but the passionate soul of the speaker. In Joshua 24, we hear the passion of the retiring, elderly Joshua
By Justin Randolph Pastor, Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville Focal Passage: Psalm 119:153-160 I remember well my first and only experience roofing. It was on a Baptist Collegiate Ministries missions trip in Gulfport, Miss. We volunteered to roof a church that was damaged in a hurricane. We had a good system going and felt good about our work until we got down off the roof and noticed the shingles were
By Mark Proctor Pastor, Highland Park Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Joshua 22:1-8 An experienced backpacker will tell you in chilling detail of the dangers of reaching the summit after a long ascent up a mountain. With muscles weakened by fatigue and clothes soaked with sweat, the high country winds above the tree line can bring on hypothermia quickly. The top is no place to forget the rules. In
By Justin Randolph Pastor, Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville Focal Passage: Psalm 119:89-96 It’s a new year! Time to make commitments we intend to keep. For example — commitments to lose weight, exercise more, read the Bible in its entirety, go on a missions trip, and be more faithful in our giving. Unfortunately, these commitments are usually easy to make, but harder to keep. Thankfully, God’s Word is absolutely permanent.
By Mark Proctor Pastor, Highland Park Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Luke 1:26-38 Twenty years ago, on the same week God called me from the engineering business into the ministry, my wife delivered another announcement: we were expecting our third child. I was terrified — a career change and an unexpectedly expanding family. At once, natural, human emotions threatened to eclipse the sovereignty of God. That balance is the struggle
By Justin Randolph Pastor, Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville Focal Passage: Psalm 119:41; Luke 1:30-35 What is a miracle? A miracle is something we cannot do on our own. The reason we see miracles is because we get into situations that we cannot handle in the flesh. If I could show up and heal my brother, I wouldn’t have to pray for a miracle. If I could stop the wind
By Mark Proctor Pastor, Highland Park Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passages: Judges 4:4-10, 12-16 Even a cursory examination of Israel’s history in the book of
By Justin Randolph Pastor, Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville Focal Passage: Philippians 1:12-21 Wouldn’t it be great if all the lessons of life we needed
By Mark Proctor Pastor, Highland Park Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Proverbs 24:10-12; Mark 10:46-49 The day comes for us all, the day we have
By Justin Randolph Pastor, Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville Focal Passage: Jeremiah 1:4-10 What makes a person valuable? Is it how they look or, perhaps
By Mark Proctor Pastor, Highland Park Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Joshua 24:14-28 I have a treasured book in my study containing some of history’s greatest
By Justin Randolph Pastor, Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville Focal Passage: Psalm 119:153-160 I remember well my first and only experience roofing. It was on
By Mark Proctor Pastor, Highland Park Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Joshua 22:1-8 An experienced backpacker will tell you in chilling detail of the
By Justin Randolph Pastor, Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville Focal Passage: Psalm 119:89-96 It’s a new year! Time to make commitments we intend to keep.
By Mark Proctor Pastor, Highland Park Baptist Church, Columbia Focal Passage: Luke 1:26-38 Twenty years ago, on the same week God called me from the
By Justin Randolph Pastor, Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville Focal Passage: Psalm 119:41; Luke 1:30-35 What is a miracle? A miracle is something we cannot