By Al R. Hodges Retired IMB Missionary Focal Passage: I Samuel 16:4-13 Saul had been chosen as Israel’s first king, but had failed miserably as he repeatedly disobeyed God. God rejected him as king, and revealed to Samuel that He would choose another man to be king, a man after His own heart (I Samuel 13:14). The new king was not immediately identified, and Saul continued to reign. Only God
By Gene Price Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason Focal Passage: Proverbs 23:4-5, 30:5-9 So much of a person’s life is consumed with matters concerning money. Therefore it is important that “money matters” are kept in proper perspective. Security is not to be found in our wealth but in God. Wealth is to be used for the glory of God. One of the areas where wisdom from God is needed
By Al R. Hodges Retired IMB Missionary Focal Passage: 1 Samuel 15:7-15, 22-23 In I Samuel chapters 13-14 we see over time that Saul fought the Philistines and established his reign over Israel. Despite the fact that he stood head and shoulders taller than the average man, his heart lacked complete loyalty to God. At times, he acted foolishly and seemed to have allowed success to go to his head
By Gene Price Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason Focal Passage: Matthew 7:13-27 Every day choices have to be made in life. The choices made today affect the outcome of our tomorrows. Jesus warns us to carefully consider the outcome of those choices especially concerning spiritual matters. Jesus commands us to choose the narrow road or the narrow gate that leads to life (vv. 13-14). However, many will choose the
By Al R. Hodges Retired IMB Missionary Focal Passage: 1 Samuel 12:12-22 Do you fear the Lord? A healthy respect for our Creator is a good thing which should motivate us to worship and obey Him. The Israelites were involved in a cycle of fearing the Lord, then rebelling against Him, then experiencing His judgment through the attack of their enemies. When they were beaten, they repented and called on
By Gene Price Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason Focal Passage: Matthew 7:1-12 In this passage Jesus speaks first of our relationship with other people (ch. 7:1-6). A Christian is to be a brother who loves rather than a judge who judges. Then Jesus deals with our relationship with God. A Christian is to be a child of God who asks for good things and receives His providential blessings. Perhaps
By Al R. Hodges Retired IMB Missionary Focal Passage: 1 Samuel 8:4-9, 19-22 I Samuel, chapters 8-11, provide the account of how Israel transitioned from being led by judges into a monarchy led by a king. Judges were used by God as national leaders for the 12 tribes of Israel. However, there came a time when they wanted to be like the nations surrounding them. They demanded a king. Samuel
By Gene Price Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason Focal Passage: Matthew 6:25-34 We often hear people say, “Don’t worry about it.” We have all heard those words. They are easy words to say, but hard to put into practice. It is amazing that we worry about the same things that people worried about 2,000 years ago. People worried about their finances (Matthew 6:19), about food (Matthew 6:25a), fitness or
By Al R. Hodges Retired IMB Missionary Focal Passage: 1 Samuel 5:1-6; 6:11-16 God was working to reveal His holiness and power to the people of Israel. The house of Eli had been rejected as God’s priests. Times were changing. The Philistines were attacking. Chaos and confusion were the order of the day. Israel was losing a battle with the Philistines. They brought the ark of the covenant into the
By Gene Price Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason Focal Passage: Matthew 6:19-24 This section of the Sermon on the Mount deals with wealth and possessions. Possessions are important to all people of all ages. Jesus warns to invest in things that will last. Life is too short and eternity too long for us to seek fool’s gold and imitation pearls. In vv. 19-21, we are told to be careful
By Al R. Hodges Retired IMB Missionary Focal Passage: I Samuel 16:4-13 Saul had been chosen as Israel’s first king, but had failed miserably as
By Gene Price Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason Focal Passage: Proverbs 23:4-5, 30:5-9 So much of a person’s life is consumed with matters concerning
By Al R. Hodges Retired IMB Missionary Focal Passage: 1 Samuel 15:7-15, 22-23 In I Samuel chapters 13-14 we see over time that Saul fought
By Gene Price Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason Focal Passage: Matthew 7:13-27 Every day choices have to be made in life. The choices made
By Al R. Hodges Retired IMB Missionary Focal Passage: 1 Samuel 12:12-22 Do you fear the Lord? A healthy respect for our Creator is a
By Gene Price Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason Focal Passage: Matthew 7:1-12 In this passage Jesus speaks first of our relationship with other people
By Al R. Hodges Retired IMB Missionary Focal Passage: 1 Samuel 8:4-9, 19-22 I Samuel, chapters 8-11, provide the account of how Israel transitioned from
By Gene Price Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason Focal Passage: Matthew 6:25-34 We often hear people say, “Don’t worry about it.” We have all
By Al R. Hodges Retired IMB Missionary Focal Passage: 1 Samuel 5:1-6; 6:11-16 God was working to reveal His holiness and power to the people
By Gene Price Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason Focal Passage: Matthew 6:19-24 This section of the Sermon on the Mount deals with wealth and
