Tennessee Baptist and Reflector

Telling the Story of Tennessee Baptists Since 1835

AUG. 7: MANAGE MONEY DILIGENTLY

By Gene Price
Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeFocal Passage: Proverbs 31:13-21

Often Proverbs 31 is viewed as a passage written describing an ideal wife. Yet this Proverb contains many business principles that apply to both men and women. The Proverbs 31 “business woman” understands that her business and its success are directly related to her God-given talents, skills, abilities, and the plan He has for her life. Her goal for both her business plan and her life is to seek God and to glorify Him in all her endeavors. All business activities should be viewed as a ministry for God.  [Read more…]

JUL. 31: FAITHFUL

By Al R. Hodges
Retired IMB Missionary

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleFocal Passage: 1 Samuel 18:1-5; 20:35-42

There was the reigning, but rejected by God, King Saul. There was the heir apparent to the throne, Saul’s son, Jonathan. There was also Jonathan’s friend, the newly anointed but not yet reigning king, David. But this was no stage play. It was real life drama portraying the faithfulness of two friends and the faithfulness of the God they served. Both David and Jonathan were young men who served in Saul’s army. [Read more…]

JUL. 31: EARN MONEY PRODUCTIVELY

By Gene Price
Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeFocal Passage: Proverbs 6:6-11

Hard work is a Christian virtue. It is a sign of increasing godliness. God does not want a person to waste their life but to move forward using all the opportunities that God has placed within each person’s path. Even before “The Fall,” Adam was to tend the garden. Hard work leads to a purposeful life and a balanced life. God does want a person to work (if able bodied) but He never wants a person to be a workaholic.

Solomon used the ant as an example of how a person is to approach work.  An ant has a tireless work ethic. An ant does not have someone standing over them making sure that their daily work is done. An ant has something inside of them that causes them to work diligently. The only way to keep an ant from working is to kill it. Ants do not procrastinate. The ant prepares its provisions in summer. [Read more…]

JUL. 24: DELIVERED!

By Al R. Hodges
Retired IMB Missionary

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleFocal Passage: I Samuel 17:32-37, 42-50

Has anyone ever sought to discourage you for a task God wanted you to accomplish? Such was David’s situation. His father Jesse sent him to the place where the Israelites were at war with the Philistines. He was to take food to his three soldier brothers, and get information on how the battle was going.  Upon arrival, he found the battle at a stalemate. Every day, a huge Philistine giant named Goliath, would taunt and challenge the Israelites. “I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let’s fight each other! Winner will take all!” (I Samuel 17:8-11). David was a shepherd boy in his teens. He asked his brothers and others about Goliath’s challenges, but his brothers shunned and belittled him. Word of David’s interest got to King Saul. David was summoned to the king, where he made what must have seemed an audacious proposal. [Read more…]

JUL. 24: MAKE AGREEMENTS CAUTIOUSLY

By Gene Price
Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeFocal Passage: Proverbs 6:1-5, 22:7

Solomon, the man who asked for and received wisdom, warns about the snare of over-extended financial obligations. His words are needed as society is drowning in debt, both consumer and national debt. The average credit card debt is over $16,000. The national debt is about 18.9 trillion dollars. “Spending out of control” seems to be a way of life.

Proverbs 22:7 warns that debt enslaves a person. Debt causes a person to lose their freedom. People who owe money work for their creditors. Work then enjoy possessions is now enjoy possessions then work to pay for them. Debt causes all kinds of problems. Debt brings stress into a person’s life, and leads them to make bad decisions that cause even more problems. [Read more…]

JUL 17: ANOINTED!

By Al R. Hodges
Retired IMB MissionarySunday School Lessons explore the bible

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 knew who, when, and how the transition to the new king would take place. In His perfect timing, God called the Prophet Samuel into action. It was a dangerous assignment to anoint a new king while there was a sitting king. God told Samuel to go to Bethlehem and anoint as king one of Jesse’s sons (I Samuel 16:1). Samuel was obedient to God’s call, even though he knew he would be risking his life (16:2).  God gave him instructions to go to Bethlehem and organize a sacrifice (worship), specifically inviting Jesse’s family. Samuel was to anoint a son of Jesse whom God would reveal ( vv. 2-3). [Read more…]

JUL 17: VIEW MONEY PROPERLY

By Gene Price
Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeFocal 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 is in personal finances. There has to be a proper balance between hoarding and generosity.

A believer is not to seek after riches in the same way that the world does (Proverbs 23:4). A believer should seek riches but in a way that brings God’s blessings. Mere riches just for riches’ sake are not to be sought. Common sense should be used in all business dealings; however, it is a mistake to seek anything in life without asking God for His direction and His blessings.  A person should seek God’s help in all areas of life, but especially in personal finances. Riches give a false sense of security (v. 5). When a person seeks protection under the wings of their wealth, it is a false protection. If riches are not taken away from man by theft, taxes or poor management, eventually riches will be taken away by death (I John 2:15-17).  Under the wings of the Almighty God is sure protection. Our Heavenly Father cares for His own. He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” [Read more…]

JUL. 10: JUDGED

By Al R. Hodges
Retired IMB Missionary

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleFocal 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 (ch. 13:9-13; ch. 14:28-30). When Saul appropriated for himself the role of priest in offering a sacrifice to the Lord, Samuel confronted him with his sin and told him of God’s judgment. “Your kingdom will not continue. The Lord has sought for Himself a man after His own heart …” (ch. 13:14). Even though judgment was pronounced on Saul, God still sent him on a special assignment. He was to annihilate the Amalekites, bringing God’s judgment on them for their attack on the Israelites years before (Exodus 17:14; I Samuel 15:1-3). [Read more…]

JUL. 10: TRANSFORMED IN MY CHOICES

By Gene Price
Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason

Sunday School Lesson Bible Studies For LifeFocal 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 wide road or wide gate that leads to destruction. In spite of the fact that salvation is available to any and everyone, not everyone will be saved. Many believe in universalism which is the belief that all men will be saved. Jesus confronts this error. It is a lie from hell that all will be saved. Jesus said there are two kinds of people: heaven bound or hell bound, sheep or goats, good seed or bad seed, wheat or tares, saved or lost. Jesus is the dividing line in history, therefore He commands us to enter through the narrow gate. [Read more…]

JUL. 3: FEARED

By Al R. Hodges
Retired IMB Missionary

Sunday School Lessons explore the bibleFocal 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 the Lord. The Lord then provided a judge to deliver them. Toward the end of Samuel’s lifetime, the elders of Israel got together and proposed a “better plan.” They insisted on having a king to reign over them instead of God. This was a sinful affront to the sovereignty of God over them (I Samuel 8:7).

Saul was chosen as Israel’s first king, and Samuel convened the people for a meeting.  He reviewed for them how God had always taken care of them, yet in a crisis where they should have turned to God, they insisted on having a king. Rather than coming to God, they had distanced themselves from God (v. 12). [Read more…]

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