Oak Hill Baptist Church

Avoid simplistic answers to complex questions

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Deep Discipleship”

Our Bible verse for today: “Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all of this.” 2 Timothy 2:7 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Avoid simplistic answers to complicated questions”

Deep discipleship helps us to avoid the trap of accepting simplistic answers to complicated questions. Deep discipleship teaches us to arrive at our conclusions slowly and thoughtfully, and only after we have taken the time to pray about it and to do our homework by searching the Scripture and gathering facts.

In 2 Timothy 2:7 Paul urged Timothy to “reflect” on what he was saying and to “seek insight” from the Lord about it. To reflect on something means to mediate on it, contemplate it, ponder, brood, mull it over. It means to ruminate, evaluate, examine, and to study a matter. When we seek insight, we are investing time and effort to dive deep into a subject. The Amplified Bible translates 2 Timothy 2:7 this way, “Think over the things I am saying (grasp their application), for the Lord will grant you insight and understanding in everything.”

Acts 17:11 tells us that when Paul was in Berea preaching to and teaching the people there, he discovered that they were thoughtful and diligent students who took the time to study and research rather than jumping to quick and easy conclusions. Luke writes, “The people here were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, since they received the word with eagerness and examined the Scripture daily to see if these things were so.”

Too often we assume we know the right answer to hard questions and complicated situations, but often our answers are based on incomplete information or on a superficial understanding of the issue. This is how we end up accepting simplistic answers to complicated questions. Deep discipleship helps us to avoid this.

Tomorrow I will offer an example of a common misunderstanding about an important and complex issue that is sometimes problematic for Christians. And I will show how deep discipleship – the kind of reflection, contemplation, studying, and examining that the Bereans did and which Paul was urging Timothy to do, can help to reveal deeper meaning and greater understanding that could be missed if we answer too quickly because we assume we already know the answer. The question that will serve as our example for how doing a deep dive into a complex subject can help us gain a better understand of it is, “What factors or conditions must exist in order for a marriage to be considered a legitimate marriage?”

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

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We all need a good church home

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Deep Discipleship”

Our Bible verse for today: “The one who walks with the wise will become wise …” Proverbs 13:20 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “We all need a good church home”

This Sunday is Homecoming Sunday at Oak Hill Baptist Church. It’s an annual event for us, held at the beginning of the new church year (September). The idea is that as the old church year unfolded, some members might have drifted away for various reasons – perhaps life just got very busy. Also, over the summer attendance tends to dip as people travel for vacations and do lots of other summertime type activities. This special Homecoming event helps us to get the new church year started well by getting everyone back and reengaged with the full life of the church.

Every Christian needs to be fully involved in the life of a good church. God intends for it to be so. The Bible gives us no examples of “Lone Ranger Christians.” The healthy Christian life is always depicted as one that is lived in community with other Christians. (Even cloistered monks live that life in a community of other cloistered monks.)

In terms of deep discipleship and growing into a mature Christian, that too happens in community. We need each other and we learn from each other. That’s what Solomon was referring to in Proverbs 13:20 – you become a mature disciple of Christ by spending lots of time with other mature disciples of Christ, “The one who walks with the wise will become wise …”

The Apostle Paul flipped the script on this by communicating that same truth in a negative way. In 1 Corinthians 15:33 he wrote, “Bad company corrupts good character.” It’s like your mamma always said, “Choose your friends carefully because you become like those you associate with.” That’s true, and it’s true for both good and bad depending on the type of people you surround yourself with.

A quick check of a Bible concordance revealed more than 75 verses of Scripture in both the Old and New Testaments which teach this truth – we need to surround ourselves with people of good godly character. We need to be part of a good church family.

If you are close to Cumberland County Tennessee, we invite you to join us for our Homecoming Sunday on September 10^th. Sunday school begins at 9:00, the worship service will be at 10:00. Immediately following the service we will have a potluck lunch and an afternoon of games and fellowship. If you can’t be with us in person then join us online on our YouTube channel.

You need a good church home where you can learn and grow as a disciple of Jesus. If you don’t already have one, come and visit with us!

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

God wants to be heard and understood

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Deep Discipleship”

Our Bible verse for today: “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son.” Hebrews 1:1-2 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “God wants to be heard and understood”

Paraphrasing Henry Blackaby, “If we can’t hear God when He is speaking to us and know what He is saying, we are in trouble at the heart of our relationship with Him.” He has made that statement in his Bible study “Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God,” and I have heard him say it several times in person.

And he is right. One of the most exciting truths in all of Scripture is that God wants to be heard and understood by His people. From Genesis to Revelation, we are given example after example of God speaking to His people through dreams, visions, angels, prophets, preachers, burning bushes, and in many other ways. Scripture itself, every word of it, is God speaking to us.

We just need to learn to hear Him. We need to learn the ways in which He speaks to us, and we need to become spiritually sensitive enough to understand what He is saying. Not only is it possible to hear and understand God, but it is essential to hear and understand Him. God wants to be heard and understood by His people and if we can’t hear Him, and if we don’t understand what He is saying, we are in trouble at the heart of our relationship with Him.

That’s why at Oak Hill Baptist Church our Sunday evening Fall Bible Study will be “Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God.” We will be learning how to hear and understand God so we can then live life in the center of His will.

If you live in Cumberland County Tennessee, or if you are even close, I want to invite you to join us. The study will be on Sunday evenings at 6:00, September 17^th through December 10^th. It will include a workbook with five daily lessons, a DVD session with Henry Blackaby, and a group discussion. Everyone is welcome.

One of the greatest truths in all of Scripture is that God wants to be heard and understood by His people, and you can learn to hear and understand Him.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

God restores life to dry bones

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Deep discipleship”

Our Bible verse for today: “This is what the Lord God says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live. I will put tendons on you, make flesh grow on you, and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you so that you come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” Ezekiel 37:5-6 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “God restores life to dry bones”

The Old Testament prophet Ezekiel had a tough task. Judah had been conquered by the Babylonians, Jerusalem was destroyed, and along with 10,000 others, Ezekiel had been taken to live as a captive in Babylonia. He was then tasked by God to be a minister to the exiles, but also to be a prophetic voice of hope. God would restore Israel, if they would return to Him.

To provide a dramatic illustration of that promise, in chapter thirty-seven we read of the time when God led Ezekiel to a valley filled with dry bones. There had evidently been a great military battle in the valley and lots of corpses were left to rot in the open. Now the valley was filled with dry bones. God then asked Ezekiel if he thought it was possible for life to be restored to the bodies the bones had come from. Ezekiel affirmed that God could do it if He wanted to. And so, God did. The rest of the passage records the scene as the bones came together with a great rattling noise; tendons and sinews formed; bodies took shape; features appeared; and then the breath of life was breathed into each body. Finally, there was a mighty army of living people standing in the valley when moments before, there was only dry bones.

The scene illustrates the great truth that God can restore life to that which is dead. Not only is that true physically, but even more so spiritually. God can and will take the dry bones of our souls and breathe fresh life into them if we will just return to Him.

I love stories of revival and renewal. Spiritual revival has happened on a large scale in the USA on multiple occasions in our history. More commonly, we read of revival happening in regions of the country, or on college campuses. Often, we hear of individual churches that experience great revival and a church that was once mostly dry bones, becomes alive, thriving, and dynamic once again. It can and does happen!

But more common are the revivals that take place in individual hearts as we see lukewarm or wayward Christians suddenly come alive in their faith. They are renewed with new passion and enthusiasm. As a pastor, those are the examples that are nearest and dearest to my heart. Especially if they are people I know and love and have been ministering to for years.

If you are feeling spiritually dry, lukewarm, bored, or lacking passion and enthusiasm, God will breathe new life into the dry bones of your faith if you want Him to. A renewed commitment to deep discipleship is the answer.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

You are a work in progress

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Deep discipleship”

Our Bible verse for today: “I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “You are a work in progress”

Recently I came across an interesting comparison and contrast between two of Jesus’ first disciples. The individuals involved were Judas and Peter. Early on, by all outward appearances, Judas was by far the more impressive of the two. Judas was successful in all the ways the world typically measures success. Since he was selected to manage the ministry funds, he must have been skilled at managing money. Therefore, he probably had a professional air about him and he probably came across as smooth, confident, and self-assured. A man to be admired!

Peter, on the other hand, was somewhat buffoonish. Big, awkward, frequently saying and doing things that were inappropriate and embarrassing. A man easily dismissed as being socially inept and perhaps even a little dimwitted.

But time, of course, revealed what was really true about the two men. Judas became a byword for betrayal, and Peter became a saint (a leader in the early church, a writer of Scripture, and one of the most beloved and revered figures in the New Testament.) What ultimately made the difference? Two things: discipleship and sanctification. Peter was a true follower of Jesus and a fully committed disciple. Judas was not. Peter went on to decades of faithful service and a place in glory, and Judas went to hell.

Discipleship leads to sanctification. Sanctification is a fifty-cent theological term that simply means being set apart by God and for God, and then being progressively transformed into the person God wants you to be. Peter was set apart by God and for God. He was also committed to deep discipleship and consequently, he experienced incredible transformation as the Holy Spirit changed him into the man God wanted him to be.

Sanctification does the same work in our lives. That’s what Paul was referring to in Philippians 1:6 (above). As a true disciple of Christ, as one committed to a lifetime of deep discipleship, the Holy Spirit is slowly but progressively transforming you into the man or woman God wants you to be. It is a lifelong process, and it won’t be complete until the moment you arrive in heaven – it will continue throughout your life. There’s an old saying that applies here. It goes, “I may not be who I should be, but thank God I’m no longer who I used to be.”

And all God’s people said, “Amen!”

I urge you not to get discouraged. You are a work in progress. Commit yourself to a lifetime of deep discipleship and then trust God to slowly transform you into the person He wants you to be.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Honor God and just live your life

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Deep discipleship”

Our Bible verse for today: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “Honor God and just live your life”

I’m currently reading Eugene Peterson’s book, “Traveling Light: Galatians and the free life in Christ.” It’s a life application commentary on the book of Galatians and it is all about deep discipleship. It’s about learning to live free and live well in Christ.

In one part of the book Peterson examines the early life of Abraham to discover how he learned to live a life of faith and trust. The short answer is, “He just did it.” That’s all, he just did it. He made a decision to trust God and then he simply lived as if he did trust God. Writing about the scene in Genesis chapter twelve, where God called Abraham to leave his home in Haran and travel to a new land that Abraham knew nothing of, Peterson offers this observation:

“Can you find any arrows painted in the wilderness into which Abraham ventured? Did he have a rule-book that showed him step by step what he must do to please God? Did he have an AAA map which showed all the best hotels and oasis rest stops between Ur and Canaan? No, he lived by faith. He was living in response to God, obeying God, consulting God, being changed by God, being challenged by God, growing in relationship to God, listening to God, praising God, believing God.”

Peterson goes on: “Did Abraham have a twenty-year plan with carefully defined objectives as he launched his important career as father of the faithful? No, there were delays, interruptions, detours, failures. He didn’t do it all correctly – he didn’t live without doubt or sin or despair – but he did it. He followed and confessed and prayed and believed. God was alive for him. God was the center for him.

Abraham’s example is instructive for us. We don’t live life by following a detailed roadmap. Instead, we live by faith. And the deeper our faith is, the better we live. God has given us slightly more guidance than Abraham had (we have the Bible), but still, it’s not a detailed roadmap – it’s more like guardrails intended to keep us on the right path.

When it comes to living a life of deep discipleship, Solomon gives us some of the best advice found anywhere in the Bible. It comes in Proverbs 3:5-6 where we are told to trust in the Lord with all our heart, looking to Him, seeking to honor Him, staying within the guardrails set up by the Bible, and then trusting Him for the rest. Just put one foot in front of the other, make the best God-honoring decisions you can, and then just live your life.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

It’s never too late for resurrection

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Deep Discipleship”

Our Bible verse for today: “When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”” John 11:32 (NIV)

Our thought for today: “It’s never too late for resurrection”

In addition to writing a daily devotional message of my own, in my personal daily quiet time I also rely on devotional messages written by others. This year I’ve been using Alan Fadling’s “A Year of Slowing Down: Daily Devotionals for Unhurried Living.” It is exceptionally well-written and very rich.

This morning I want to share with you an insight I learned from one of Alan’s devotionals that coincides nicely with our theme for this month of deep discipleship. It comes from the scene in John 11 where Lazarus, the friend of Jesus, has died and his sisters, Mary and Martha are grieving. They had sent word to Jesus in advance that Lazarus was deathly ill and they asked Him to come quickly in order to heal him. But Jesus delayed and Lazarus died. By the time Jesus arrived Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. That’s what led to the comment from Mary which we just read in 11:32, “If you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Here’s the insight Alan shared about this:

“Mary is not wrong. Jesus certainly could have prevented Lazarus’s death. He has that power. But there is a deeper truth Jesus wants Mary to experience. There is something about Jesus she doesn’t know. He wants her to learn that not only can he prevent death, he can also conquer death. He wants her to encounter him as the Resurrection and the Life. Resurrection is a greater miracle than death prevention.”

Alan goes on: “When we feel disappointed by what appears to be God’s failure to show up, is it possible his intent might be to do something far greater for us than we could imagine? Might we learn something in the thirteenth hour, after God has seemingly failed to act on our behalf, that is greater than what we would learn if God arrived just in time to save us? The reality of resurrection requires the reality of death first.”

The point I want to make this morning is that whatever your situation is, as bad as it might seem, even if the time of salvation seems past, it’s never too late for resurrection. Jesus can raise the dead, restore life to dry bones, and He can redeem your apparently dead and lost situation.

One of our goals in deep discipleship is to learn to continue trusting Jesus after all seems lost. I encourage you to trust Him today, because it’s never too late for resurrection.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Faithfulness grows out of discipleship

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Deep Discipleship”

Our Bible verse for today: “When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in his upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before. Daniel 6:10 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Faithfulness grows out of discipleship”

Daniel was in a tough situation. At this point in his life, he had so distinguished himself by his sterling character and exceptional work ethic that he had been elevated to a high position in the king’s court. But he was surrounded by other high officials and administrators who were jealous of his standing with the king and who therefore conspired against Daniel, trying to orchestrate his downfall.

But they were frustrated in all their attempts. In 6:4 we read, “… But they could find no charge or corruption, for he was trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him.” Let me ask you, how hard would your enemies have to look to find fault in you? Daniel’s enemies looked hard but couldn’t find anything to charge him with.

However, Daniel was known to be faithful to God and to the practice of his faith. And everyone knew that the practice of Daniel’s faith ran counter to the practices of the culture they all lived in. And so, his enemies decided that in order to trap Daniel, they would trick the king into issuing an edict that would require Daniel to violate some aspect of his faith. In this case, the king issued a decree that for thirty days everyone in the kingdom was required – on pain of death – to worship only him, and not any of the other gods or goddesses. That, of course, would include Daniel and his worship of the One True God.

So, the edict was issued but Daniel ignored it, and as we read in 6:10 above, he proceeded to worship God exactly the way he had before. I’ll let you read the rest of the story for yourself (spoiler alert: it turned out well for Daniel), but the point I want to make here this morning is that the secret to Daniel’s success as a man of God in a hostile culture was his determination to always remain faithful to God no matter the circumstances or opposition.

More than 500 years later, the Apostles of Jesus stated it this way in Acts 5:29, “We must obey God rather than men.” Such resolve grows out of deep discipleship. It takes a spiritually mature man or woman of God to remain faithful in the face of intense opposition or even persecution.

The secret to Daniel’s success as a man of God was his faithfulness, and that faithfulness grew out of his deep discipleship practices. The same will be true for us.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

How deep is your discipleship?

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Deep discipleship”

Our Bible verse for today: “Then Daniel responded with tact and discretion …” Daniel 2:14 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “How deep does your discipleship go?”

We have just concluded a month of devotionally considering what it means to “be” the Church out there in this messy world of ours. It was all about action and attitude – what to do and how to do it. We thought widely and deeply about how we can most effectively serve others in the name of Christ and share the Good News of the Gospel with them as well.

This month we will build on what we learned last month and I hope to show that such effectiveness grows out of deep discipleship. Being effectively on-mission with Jesus in the society we live in today is going to require all of us to be much more than just casual Christians. Our relationship with God will have to be deep and strong. We will have to be firmly tethered to sound doctrine and living faithfully according to Biblical principles.

I think the Old Testament leader Daniel is an excellent example of exactly that. He lived in circumstances much worse than our own. He was a captive in a pagan culture that was marked by gross immorality, violence, and cruelty. Also, there was little grace and zero tolerance for faith practices that ran counter to the culture. And yet, Daniel was a man of uncompromising faith in God. He refused to give in to the pressure being applied to him and would not go along with the immoral and ungodly practices all around him. But beyond that, he responded to it all in a calm, confident, reasoned manner as he stood firmly on his convictions without losing his head. As verse 2:14 says, “Daniel responded with tact and discretion …”

God teaches us an important lesson through the story of Daniel and I believe it is summed up nicely by the introductory comments to the book of Daniel offered by the editors of the “Experiencing God Study Bible”:

“Daniel’s book seeks to convince believers that God is steadily working out his purposes even during the worst of times and that persecution of believers is a call to faithfulness, not to apostasy. Though times may be difficult now, God is in control, steadily working out his purposes and gradually bringing history to an end … Some of your greatest encounters with God can come during your most difficult moments in life.”

We will come back to Daniel’s story in the days and weeks to come as we seek to deepen and strengthen our own relationship with God. It’s true that we live in tough times. But it’s also true that God does some of His greatest work in the middle of our most difficult and trying circumstances. As the editors wrote, “Some of your greatest encounters with God can come during your most difficult moments in life.”

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Action and Attitude

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Be the church”

Our Bible verse for today: “But those who trust in the Lord, will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not become weary, they will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Action and Attitude”

As we end this month of devotionally thinking about effectively being the church in this messy world of ours, if I had to sum up what we have learned in just a single phrase I think it would be “Action and Attitude.” Effectively being the church is a matter of how we act and the attitude with which we do it. It is what we do, but also how we do it; it is what we say, as well as how we say it.

Also, as has been noted in previous devotionals, I think our example of living well and living joyfully in the middle of all the trials and challenges of life should be inspirational to the observing world and can cause them to want the faith that we have.

I love inspirational stories. They make me want to be better than I am. I especially love being around inspirational people. Reading an inspirational story is good, but watching it being lived out in real life is better. That’s one of the reasons I’m grateful God allowed me to have twelve years of friendship with my friend Tom, whose funeral I told you about last week. Tom lived large and lived well despite great challenges and serious disabilities.

It’s also why I’m grateful for the example I see lived out in my own home day-after-day by my wife Linda. It has been more than sixteen years since she had the stroke that rendered her seriously disabled. But they have been sixteen years of resilience, achievement, and victory for her. Hard years, yes, but good years. Tom and Linda are the kind of Christians who inspire believers and unbelievers alike to want to be stronger, better, and more resilient. We all need to be more like that.

In his book “You Gotta Keep Dancin’” Tim Hansel (who lived with daily debilitating pain) writes about others who have inspired him. He calls such people the “verbs” and “exclamation points” of life. In other words, they’re all action and attitude – despite the challenges they face. They’re people who, rather than sitting around complaining, rather than being victims of their circumstances, instead find ways to live life to the fullest, with vigor and gusto. And they have chosen to live that way. They have chosen to be a victor rather than a victim. They embrace their situation as it is, and they do what they have to do in order to live the fullest life they can under the circumstances as they are. As Tim wrote, “What a test adversity is. It can either destroy or build up, depending on our chosen response.”

I thank the Lord for the inspirational examples He has put into our lives like Tom and Tim and Linda, Christians who show the rest of us how to do this right. They truly are the verbs and exclamation points of life – all action and attitude as they live life to the fullest. That’s what the observing world needs to see from all of us as we go out there on-mission with Jesus, just being the Church in a hurting and confused world.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00, in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville