By Derek Westmoreland
Senior Pastor, Hopewell Baptist Church, Savannah

Focal Passage: Genesis 11:1-9

It is a humbling situation (i.e. foreign land) when you cannot verbally communicate with those around you. In Genesis 11:1-9 we find God responding to the rebellion of man by confusing their language. As a result of what happened that day, we now have well over 6,000 languages on planet earth.

I. The nature of man is rebellion (vv. 1-4) In verses 1-2 we read that the entire population of the earth traveled together to the plain of Shinar. The people settling in Shinar, was in direct rebellion to God’s command in Genesis 9:1 to “fill the earth.” In verse 3 we learn that they used brick for stone and rock for mortar. When we arrive at verse 4 we find the three motivations they had for building the city and the tower. [Read more…]

By Derek Westmoreland
Senior Pastor, Hopewell Baptist Church, Savannah

Focal Passage: Genesis 8:15-22; 9:1, 11-16

I. God directed. The flood waters had receded but Noah had not yet received permission to disembark the ark. Noah did not know what to do next and then in Genesis 8:15-19 the Lord provided permission to exit and provided instruction for Noah. The Lord commanded him first to leave the ark with his wife, his sons and their wives, and all the animals that were on the ark. Secondly the Lord commanded them to populate the earth. [Read more…]

By Derek Westmoreland
Senior Pastor, Hopewell Baptist Church, Savannah

Focal Passage: Genesis 6:11-18, 7:11-14

I. The earth is corrupt. Verse 11 says, “Now the earth was corrupt in the sight of God, and the earth was filled with violence (NASU). The earth refers to the people living on earth. The earth was corrupt. Violence was common and violent acts follow corrupt hearts. Everywhere Noah looked he saw sin. It was survival of the fittest. Verse 13 reveals that God had seen enough and now judgment was sure to come. [Read more…]

By Derek Westmoreland
Senior Pastor, Hopewell Baptist Church, Savannah

Focal Passage: Genesis 3:1-7, 14-19

I. Temptation. In verse 1a the serpent tempted Eve. As the devil (Revelation 12:9, 20:2) tempted Eve, he began in verse 1 by addressing her intellect when he said “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?” The devil implied that if God really loved Eve, He would be more generous. The devil took God’s remarkable provision and generosity by perverting Eve’s view of God’s goodness. How did Eve respond? She altered God’s Word. When comparing Genesis 2:16-17 with Genesis 3:2-3 you can see that she omitted the word “freely.” [Read more…]

Derek Westmoreland
Senior Pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church, Savannah

Focal Passage: Genesis 2:4-9, 5-18

In Genesis 2:4 we find a new reference to “God.” In Genesis 1:1 – 2:3 we find the word “Elohim” in the Hebrew which is translated “God.” The word refers to God as the Creator. In Genesis 2:4, we find the phrase “LORD God.” “God” is the Hebrew word Elohim, while “LORD” in all capitals comes from the Hebrew word known as Yahweh or Jehovah. Yahweh speaks of the redeeming covenantal God; the God who is to be known. [Read more…]

By Derek Westmoreland
Senior Pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church, Savannah

Focal Passage: Genesis 1:1-5, 6-31; 2:1-3

I. God did the creating. God was not created in the beginning (Genesis 1:1). God was in the beginning creating all that we read in Genesis 1 (John 1:1-1:3, Hebrews 1:2-3). The word translated “God” throughout Genesis 1 is the Hebrew word “Elohim.” It means “Creator.” It is not until 2:4b that the name Yahweh (“LORD”) occurs. El is the singular form for the name “God.” Elohim is the plural form. Therefore, right away, in the very first verse of the Bible, God is revealed as a multi-person God. In Genesis 1:26a it reads, Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” There the plurality of the Godhead is presented. [Read more…]

Troy Styer
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Grand Junction

Focal Passage: Revelation 21:1-7

John moves from a vision of doom and gloom in chapter 20 to a vision of glory in chapter 21. I don’t take great pleasure in attending weddings. I usually only attend if I am forced to or there is the promise of good food. One wedding that I have already made sure I will be attending is the marriage supper with the Lamb. John describes this union in chapter 21. [Read more…]

Troy Styer
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Grand Junction

Focal Passage: Revelation 9:1-12

John opens up chapter nine by sharing with us what is found when the fifth trumpet is blown. He shows an army of locusts, the actions of the locusts, the appearance of the locusts, and the angel of the locusts. Yet, these are no ordinary locusts but rather demons on a mission. As John describes these various things, one thing stands out. It is that God is in control. He determines when it happens, why it happens, how it happens, and how long it happens. There is great comfort in knowing everything that happens in this world, both now and in the future, are controlled by God the Father. [Read more…]