By Ken R. Speakman
Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory

Focal Passage: Acts 2:1-15

Thousands jammed the streets of Jerusalem. Jewish law required all males living within 20 miles of Jerusalem to attend. Ordinary labor was prohibited during this national holiday, and all shops were closed. Many Jews had traveled from many other nations to stay for the Passover and Pentecost. Unknown to them, according to the divine plan of God, and the promise to the disciples, (Acts 1: 4-5), a new dispensation was only hours away. The third person of the Godhead would make His electrifying descent from the throne of heaven. Acts 2, is the story of that descent. [Read more…]

By Ken R. Speakman
Member, Tulip Grove Baptist Church, Old Hickory

Focal Passage: Acts 1:1-11

In Acts 1, the resurrected Lord is about to ascend to the Father. The Holy Spirit will descend in a matter of weeks and the New Testament church will be created. The book of Acts is volume two of the gospel of Luke (Luke 1:3-4) and is extremely important to understand the work of the Holy Spirit and establishment of the church. It would be confusing to go from the gospels to Romans. [Read more…]

By Ray Luck
Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Athens

Focal Passage: Matthew 13:1-13 (NKJV)

Jesus used parables as a medium for His teaching ministry. Parables are stories that depict real life, with a spiritual meaning attached. They were designed to provoke thought, calling for action on the part of the hearer.

Parables have always been a strength to me over the years including this one. Since Israel was primarily an agricultural country Jesus focused many of His parables around that theme. To discuss the four types of soil and how they receive seeds sown upon them was something the people within His hearing could understand, maybe. It is interesting that His disciples consistently had difficulty grasping the true meaning of His parables. [Read more…]

By Ray Luck
Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Athens

Focal Passage: Matthew 12:38-42, NKJV

Lucy, Linus, and Charlie Brown were lying on a hill looking at the clouds. Lucy asked Linus what he saw in the clouds to which he replied, “I see what looks like Honduras and that one is the profile of a famous painter and sculptor and that group makes me think of the stoning of Stephen with the Apostle Paul standing nearby.” Lucy then asks Charlie Brown who replied, “Well I was going to say I saw a ducky and horsie, but I changed my mind.”

When I was young, and even now, I like to look at cloud formations to see if they remind me of anything. Some people look at clouds or other things and try to glean a message or a sign from the Almighty. [Read more…]

By Ray Luck
Pastor, Oak Grove Baptist Church, Athens

Focal Passage: Matthew 11:20-30, NKJV

During the course of our lives we will receive several invitations to do a variety of things. Sometimes the invitation is very specific, other times it is open ended. When an invitation is given the one issuing the invitation usually, if not every time, will expect a response as to whether the invitee will or will not accept (RSVP).

During Jesus’ earthly walk He issued several invitations such as, “Come to Me” or “Abide with Me” or “Follow Me.” Many, over the years have responded positively to His invitations resulting in a changed life, a growing faith walk, and the promised eternal life with Him. However, there are many who refuse what Jesus offers as did those in John 6:66 — “From that time many of His disciples went back, and walked with Him no more.” [Read more…]