Focal Passage: II Timothy 2:14-19, 22-26 

It is a well-known fact that biblical illiteracy is at an all-time high. This is true of those outside of the church. But it is also true of those within the church. 

The people of “The Book” often do not know their own “Book.” This is sad and disturbing. In order to know God’s Word a person must study God’s Word. This was the Apostle Paul’s entire point to Timothy (and to us) in the text before us — the believer must diligently study, faithfully apply and obediently follow God’s Word. 

Diligent study, II Timothy 2:14-15. The diligent study of God’s Word does not mean quibbling over words and useless arguments. Words matter, but getting “lost in the weeds” on useless issues that have no import on the meaning of God’s Word actually detract from the meaning of God’s Word. As verse 14 notes, such arguments “ruin those who listen.”

Instead of useless issues, we are to diligently study God’s Word as one who presents himself “to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed” (v. 15). We are to rightly or correctly handle and teach God’s Word.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 7-12 

Do you have a hearing problem? Some people tragically cannot hear because the internal mechanisms of the ear no longer work. However, many of us do not hear because we do not comprehend or process what is being said to us. 

When Jesus called the seven churches of Revelation to hear He was not asking if the hearing mechanisms of the ear worked; He was commanding them to listen, process, and embrace what was being said (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3: 6, 13, 22). 

The power of hearing the Word of God is demonstrated in the companion books of Ezra and Nehemiah, the priest and the politician God used to restore Israel and rebuild Jerusalem. Nehemiah helped rebuild the walls of the city of Jerusalem and Ezra helped restore worship of God’s people. In restoring the worship of God, Ezra centered his work around the Word of God.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: II Timothy 3:1-5; 13-17 

Lifeway Research and Ligonier Ministries recently released their 2022 State of Theology report, and the findings are not good. 

More than half of those surveyed do not believe Jesus is the only way of salvation; 73 percent believe Jesus was a created being and not eternal; 43 percent do not believe Jesus is God; 60 percent do not believe the Holy Spirit is a person; and, 57 percent do not believe that people are sinful by nature. And, more than half of those surveyed (53 percent) do not believe Scripture is literally true.

The criticism of God’s Word is not new. In fact, Satan’s initial ploy — “Did God really say …” (Genesis 3:1) — was to tempt us to question the veracity of God’s Word.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: James 4:13-17; 5:7-11 

Time is the only “commodity” that once you spend it you can never get it back. I have seen people accumulate and lose wealth and then do it again, all in one lifetime. 

I have observed people secure and then lose a job in a short period of time. But I’ve never seen anyone create time. Only God can create time (Genesis 1:1). What we do with our time says a great deal about our priorities. Faith in God glorifies God and prioritizes God’s will and purposes.

My plans or God’s plan?, James 4:13-17. Apparently, in the church James pastored, there were some who were making plans without consulting God. 

They were traveling to a neighboring city, spending a significant period of time there, and seeking financial gain through business.  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: James 4:1-10 

“Enemy love” is one of the most difficult biblical truths to embrace. It is difficult to turn the other cheek and walk the second mile, especially when you’re being abused and misunderstood. 

“Enemy love” has become particularly difficult in our hyper-political age where anyone on the ‘other side’ of an issue is our enemy. Polarization is not THE issue, demonization is. Jesus declared in the Sermon on the Mount that we are not to return evil for evil (Matthew. 5:38-42) and we are to love and pray for those who persecute us (Matthew 5:43-48).  [Read more…]

Focal Passage: James 3:1-5a; 9-10, 13-18 

You may have heard the saying, “Whoever controls the narrative is in control.” This is another way of saying that language is important. Words matter a great deal. If we don’t know what words mean then we cannot communicate, i.e. that a man is a man and not a women.

In his classic work, 1984, George Orwell warned of “doublespeak” where words are used that deliberately obscure, disguise, distort and even reverse or alter the meaning of words. The misuse of language represents moral confusion and moral confusion is another term for sin. Pastor James deals with the issue of language head on in this critical passage. [Read more…]

Focal Passage: James 2:14-26 

The relationship between saving faith and good works has always been a source of controversy. Some would argue that we must work for our salvation, demonstrating to God that we are worthy of His love and grace. 

On the contrary, Scripture teaches that saving faith is a Spirit-empowered gift from God through and in Jesus Christ. We do good works not to be saved but because we are saved. Pastor James addresses this issue in clear terms.

Saving faith, v. 14. James begins with the assumption that saving faith occurs when a person repents of their sin, trusts Christ by faith and commits to live a life following Jesus as Lord and Savior. In fact, James would have no “beef” with his readers if they had made a profession of faith that was accompanied by deeds of righteousness. James’ whole point is that if saving faith is present, such faith will exhibit itself in good and godly works. [Read more…]

Focal Passage: James 1:1-12 

Everyone hates them, but everyone has them — hard times. But why is it that when the grass is green, and all is well that we learn little about God and ourselves?

We seem to learn more about life when we go through difficult times than we do when all is well. God has a way of using hard times to mold and shape us into the people He wants us to be. Hard times are God’s sandpaper to smooth off our rough edges.

James, the half-brother of Jesus and pastor of the first megachurch located in Jerusalem (Acts 2:41; 4:4), wrote eloquently but truthfully about suffering, trials and tribulations. What did this faithful, local church, Spirit-inspired pastor say about hard times? [Read more…]

Focal Passage: Matthew 18:21-35 

Love leads us to forgive. Not only that, being loved empowers and compels us to forgive. This discourse presents an incredible example of a man who had been forgiven an impossible debt, only to threaten and abuse another whose debt he would himself not forgive. 

When we realize the great, infinitely immeasurable debt we owe, it is impossible for us to then withhold forgiveness from someone to whom we owe it. I regularly encounter people who recount a great pain or offense caused them by another person. 

Sometimes, through tears, they recall the depth of pain and admit that they simply can’t forgive their offender. Without undermining that great pain, I always bring the conversation back to our great sin debt which is forgiven in Christ. 

When I truly understand the horror of the pain my sin has caused, as well as the right wages of death coming as a consequence, a certain paradigm shift happens in my heart. No matter what pain a brother has caused me, it is always immensely less than the pain my sin caused the Father when He looks down from His throne and sees His only Son writhing in agony on the cross, the cross upon which I nailed Him with my every sin. When I think of that forgiveness, grace and infinite mercy He has shown me, I can’t help but respond by forgiving others their (by comparison) light offenses and small debts against me.  [Read more…]

By Scott Brown
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Waverly

Focal Passage: Romans 12:9-21

We’ve all likely heard stories of church hurt, crazy church splits and generally rowdy business meetings. It’s a shame so many are true. I’ve been in churches where you can smell the animosity in the air almost immediately. 

I knew one that paid an off-duty officer to sit in just to keep the peace. Why do I tell you this? It is almost entirely opposite what the local church should look like. 

A church that is consumed with infighting, selfishness and bitterness is a church that simply cannot have a positive impact on their community or the Kingdom.  [Read more…]