Troy Styer
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Grand Junction

Focal Passage: I John 4:1-6

The old Verizon phone commercial asked people the question, “Can you hear me?” The question that John wants his readers to ask is, “Should we hear you?” John wanted to prepare his readers to be able to discern between those who taught the truth and those who did not. They needed to have their spiritual antennas up to make sure they were hearing the truth.

One of the grave dangers is to believe everything that you hear. John encourages his readers not to do this. The word “spirit” could refer to teachers who espoused a teaching they claimed they had received from a spirit. He challenged them to remember that just because someone claims to be spiritual does not mean they are. Just because someone has a Bible does not make them a preacher. The key is what they have to say. John admonished his readers to search the Scriptures to see if their teaching agrees with the Bible. The reason for this is because there were so many false prophets among them. His readers had experienced this themselves when some left their fellowship (I John 2:19). [Read more…]

Troy Styer
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Grand Junction

Focal Passage: I John 2:15-27

Many years ago, I took a youth group white water rafting down the Ocoee River. Shortly after starting our guide fell out of the boat. You can imagine my shock and horror at the thought of trying to navigate this river without our guide. Fortunately, we were able to get the guide back in the boat and continue down the river. John’s readers are fortunate to have him as their guide to navigate the difficult issues that are mentioned in this passage.

The first difficult issue John guides them through is their relationship with the world system. John says you cannot love God and the world at the same time. I once saw a lady on a bumper boat; she stepped on the concrete to get out while the boat went in the opposite direction. She had the choice to get wet or fall on the concrete. The bottom line is that you cannot stay upright when you are being pulled in opposite directions. [Read more…]

Troy Styer
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Grand Junction

Focal Passage: I John 1:5-2:6

Jesus said in John 8:32, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.” John shines the light of truth on the darkness of three lies in this passage. The three lies are the lies of fellowship, sin, and obedience. John will make the contrast between truths and lies as great as the contrast between light and darkness. John had shared his desire for them to have fellowship with God; he did not want these lies to interrupt their fellowship. [Read more…]

Troy Styer
Pastor, First Baptist Church, Grand Junction

Focal Passage: I John 1:1-4

When we claim to know someone famous, people will often ask us how? Or where is your proof? What do we do? We tell them personal stories about the person. We show them photos of the person and how we met them. These things give credibility to our claim that we really know this person. John gave proof of how he knew Jesus and what great joy was derived from that genuine relationship. John longed for his readers to experience this same fellowship. Unfortunately, some of them were being swayed by various teachings that discredited the Incarnation of Christ. John knew this was essential to genuine fellowship with God and other believers.

The word “beginning” would alert readers that John was talking about Jesus Christ. It also demonstrated His deity by illustrating the fact that He existed before creation. John draws upon various learning styles to highlight Jesus’ humanity. He demonstrates the audible learning style by telling them he has (heard) the teachings of Jesus. He describes the visual learning style by relating all the things he had (seen) Jesus do. He (saw) Jesus perform many different miracles. He was present (observe) at the Transfiguration of Christ. He utilizes the hands-on learning style by saying that he had worked hand-in-hand (touched) with Jesus in His earthly ministry. John wraps this verse up by reinforcing to his readers that he was talking about Jesus Christ by calling Him the Word of Life. This is the title John used for Jesus in his gospel. [Read more…]

By Brent Moore
Pastor to Adults, First Baptist Church, Clarksville

Focal Passage: Malachi 3:1-7, 16-18; 4:1-2

God always has a plan. That is a good thing because I have a hard time trying to figure the plan out. It seems like the unrighteous prosper, the shady characters in this world get away with things that are not right, the oppressed are even more oppressed. The truths in Malachi speak to this predicament. The ultimate purpose in hard times and heartache for the people of God is refinement. God is working towards a pure bride. He will then bring the covenant people to Himself to marry the Lamb in the Last Day.

Being a messenger of God to “clear the way” is never a fun or easy thing. The task will have a fair share of critics. The third chapter of Malachi opens with preparation for the messenger God is sending. Ultimately we know from the New Testament the messenger is John the Baptist. John the Baptist had a specific task with some direct words. He called the Pharisees and Sadducees a “brood of vipers (Matthew 3:7).” He spoke against the adultery of Herod and lost his head for it (Matthew 14:4). [Read more…]

By Brent Moore
Pastor to Adults, First Baptist Church, Clarksville

Focal Passage: Malachi 2:10-17

I am not part of a generation where one can count on another to keep their word. In fact, I do not think the previous generation was much better. I have heard stories about a former age relying on handshakes and a good look in the eye to get business done, but it seems like a long time ago. Today, we use our signature for phones, user agreements, and just about every store transaction. Even with contracts being signed every day, we do not seem like a more faithful people. Our problem is the same as the people of old, we have a heart problem.

Malachi opens this section in chapter two with rhetorical questions. “Don’t all of us have one Father? Didn’t one God create us?” The implication is the people are acting as if they do not. The individuals in Malachi are exhibiting unfaithful actions towards their fellow brothers and sisters. They are “acting treacherously” with one another. Malachi calls it, “profaning the covenant of our fathers.” [Read more…]

By Jay McCluskey
Pastor, North Cleveland Baptist Church, Cleveland

Focal Passage: Galatians 5:13-15, 6:1-5, 10

“Liberty is being free from the things we do not like, in order to be slaves to the things we do like.” — Ernest Bean

In Galatians, Paul calls on believers to celebrate their freedom from the legalistic path prescribed by the Old Testament laws. In this passage he describes a high and noble use of this freedom:

“For you were called to be free, brothers; only don’t use this freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but serve one another through love” (Galatians 5:13 HCSB).

While we often proclaim freedom as our entitlement to pursue a path for our own gain, Paul writes of a more holy use of freedom for these Christians: service to one another. As the passage continues, Paul describes the characteristics of this service. [Read more…]