By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Focal Passage: Matthew 25:1-13

Weddings are great occasions. In Jesus’ day the whole village or town would turn out for the week long event. No one wanted to miss this joyous festival. 

One of the exciting parts was when the groom is coming down the road with his entourage at night to ‘surprise’ his bride-to-be with his arrival. The job for the virgins was to light the way for his arrival. In this parable we see that things didn’t go so well. There is one major warning here.

Don’t wait until it’s too late. Waiting till the last minute (vv. 1-5) rarely works. Waiting until the night before an exam to study rarely works. Waiting until company has arrived rarely produces a good meal.  [Read more…]

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Focal Passage: Matthew 24:42-51

The story is told of three apprentice demons who came before Satan to report to him about their work on earth. The first demon said, “I will tell people there is no God.” Satan said, “That will not delude them for they know there is a God.” The second said, “I will tell them there is no hell.” Satan replied, “You will deceive no one that way. Men know there is a hell for sin.” The third said, “I will tell them there is no hurry.” Satan then said, “Yes, that is the answer, you will have great success.”

Rather than being lazy, God said:

(1) Be vigilant. In days past, who was the most important person to guard the towns and cities? It would have to be the watchmen. They were to be alert, vigilant, and observant to any attacks. Today we have watchmen to alert us, and they are the “home security system.” [Read more…]

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Focal Passage: Matthew 24:32-41

We are an impatient people. How long am I going to wait in line for my Starbucks (which by the way is overpriced burnt coffee beans)? 

When is the server going to be up and running so I can get online (which may mean you are left out of your gaming.) I am so hungry. I can’t wait to eat (have you checked the scales lately or looked sideways in a mirror)? 

Many of the items we are anxious for can wait. But when it comes to Christ’s return there are some things that can’t wait. But until then we have signs that give us insight confidence on what to depend on, and preparation to make for that day.

[Read more…]

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Focal Passage: Matthew 24:23-31

Very few things in history have been on a national level known by the world —  9/11/01, the eruption of the Mount St. Helens volcano in 1980, the surprise election of President Trump in 2016. 

There is only one event in human history where everyone was aware of it — the Noahic flood. Where the “fountains of the great deep burst open, and the floodgates of the sky were opened” (Genesis 7:11b). These forces produced tsunamis of epic proportions, and everyone was well aware of it. There is coming another epic event on God’s prophetic calendar that every person will be made well aware of  — the return of Christ to the earth. What events will unfold? [Read more…]

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Focal Passage: Matthew 24:15-22

Nobody likes to be deceived — that moment when you realize you have been lied to and taken advantage of. It’s embarrassing.  Therefore, we shouldn’t be surprised to discover in these last days Satan is truly deceiving the nations of the world. What will all of this lead to?

Days of deception. Matthew 24:15 speaks about the abomination of desecration as mentioned in Daniel 9:27. The Roman General Tiochus Epiphanes, around 160 B.C., marched into the temple, erected a statue of Zeus and sacrificed a pig on the altar. Talk about blasphemy and abomination! 

Many see this as a future reference to the final days before Jesus returns. Paul writes about this in II Thessalonians 2:1-12.  He is referred to as the “man of lawlessness.” [Read more…]

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Focal Passage: Matthew 24:1-14 

Destruction (vv. 1-3). The first few verses refer to King Herod who had taken the existing temple and completely refurbished and remodeled it. He doubled its size and doubled the land on which it sat. This was his finest building project of which he had many. Its grandeur was a wonder to behold.

All of that changed in 66 A.D., just as Jesus prophesied. The Jews rebelled against the Roman Empire and four years later in 70 A.D.  Roman legions, under Titus Caesar Vespasianus, attacked and destroyed Jerusalem.

The temple desecration was the saddest part of the destruction. Just as Jesus prophesied, “There will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down” (v. 2). [Read more…]

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Focal Passage: Matthew 28:1-10

Many things in life are expected — the sun will come up, taxes will go up, inflation will go up, kids will grow up, and some days we want to give up. 

But there are some things that are not expected. The Resurrection of Christ is the world’s greatest “unexpectation.” The Pharisees and Romans expected the disciples to attempt to steal Jesus’ body. They never expected what would happen that glorious Sunday morning.  

Here are three great unexpectations: [Read more…]

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Focal Passage: John 16:19-22, 27-33 

It has often been said, ‘The greater the struggle, the greater the victory.’ Ask any mother with her newborn infant, any athlete after a last second win, any struggling Christian who receives an answer to a desperate prayer and most will say, “It was very difficult, but it was well worth the sacrifice.” 

Before anesthesia, a mother could cry out in anguish during childbirth. For her it must seem like every minute is an hour. Then later, after the delivery, she beams with joy because of the new life she holds in her arms. The one who caused her so much pain, now gives her the greatest delight. With this in mind, let’s examine two truths.  [Read more…]

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Focal Passage: John 15:18-25; 16:1-4a 

C. S. Lewis said, “If you want a religion to make you feel really comfortable, I certainly do not recommend Christianity.” 

Being a dedicated follower of Christ is not for those who simply want the easy road. Jesus states in these verses that not only will the world dislike you, they will hate you simply because of who you identify with. 

There are several reasons.  [Read more…]

By Chuck Williams
Interim Pastor, First Baptist Church, Milan

Focal Passage: John 15:9-17

Some things for me are hard to believe. It’s hard for me to believe that I grew up in a home where the telephone was attached to the wall. Hard for me to believe that when I changed channels on the television I had to get up from the couch and walk over to it. Hard to believe that I rarely got to see Bonanza because it played from 6:30-7:30 on Sunday night. It’s hard for me to believe I actually survived!!

Please indulge my sarcasm, but on a serious note, what is really  hard to believe is that Jesus chose me, became my friend, loved me and laid down His life for me. How is that magnificent love manifested? We discover how in John 15:9-17.

Obedient love — This love was to be the number one mark of a believer. It was not to be whimsical, mystical, or purely emotional.  Obedience to His commands would be the natural flow of a believer. It is the thermometer showing  how hot or cold our passion for Jesus ran. [Read more…]