Has anyone noticed that I have not recapped our Wednesday night Refresh Bible study in a while?  I did not recap the month of November because Bible Study Brother was holding down the fort for me.  Then when December arrived, a new series popped up on Wednesday nights- What He Said, What I Heard.  We get to see clips from the previous Sunday’s sermon and members share what they took away from the clips.  It is always refreshing to hear what others got out of the sermon.  It moves the sermon from the pulpit and into people’s everyday lives, and I am here for all of that. Last night’s Refresh…

I will RISE UP and pray for ways to be an ACTIVE participant in building the Kingdom of God! Week 1- Rise Up Declaration If you read the sermon recap on Monday, you are aware that my church has embarked on a Rise Up campaign. The campaign is an opportunity for us all to get involved in the work of the church. When I say church, I am not talking about a building or even a particular congregation. I am speaking of the universal church of Christ. I am all about action points and tangible steps that I can take to improve my life and the lives of others. I…

Faith over fear.  Easy to say.  Hard to really walk out.  We know how Jairus’s story ended, so we can applaud his faith.  We can tout him as an example of persevering despite the facts presented to him.  Wednesday night’s Refresh Bible study focused on the practical application of Sunday’s sermon.  You know…the walking out of the faith that we have. But before we get to the walking out of the faith we have, we need to have a real talk.  Sit down.  If you are a super saint, this may knock you off your feet.  We are in a pandemic.  You may be alone when you read this, so…

Wednesday night Refresh was a continuation of last week’s Bible study.  Ya’ll know technology just would not let us be great last week.  Although we heard the scripture and a piece of the lesson, the bulk of the teaching was cut off.  Pastor took us back to Matthew 18:20 and encouraged us to reach out to fellow believers.  He reminded us that we thrive when we operate in the spirit of community.  As he was getting ready to close out with music, you could hear his speaker in the background saying that it had a low battery.  That cry out because of a low battery got us some extra jewels.…

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them. Matthew 18:20 Wednesday night Refresh Bible study began as it typically does.  Pastor gave pertinent announcements and then began to dive into the lesson.  He shared the scripture that was the focus of lesson.  He started talking about why the scripture was powerful.  And then…nothing.  My TV was frozen, and the spinning loop began to play on the screen.  I closed the app on the TV and went to my phone hoping that I had not missed too much.  The good news is that I had not missed a thing.  The…

2020 has been the kind of year that has left many of us on the edge of our seats.  From senseless killings of black men and women by police, to a worldwide pandemic, to a crazy political climate, to a tropical storm AND a hurricane barreling towards the United States at the same time.  A strange year indeed.  In the midst of all the upheaval, Wednesday night REfresh Bible has been a welcome port from the catastrophes that have befallen the world. Wednesday night dropped us into Psalm 124.  The entire psalm.  Not just a piece of it.  Psalms are songs that the Hebrews sang in praise to our God. …

Wednesday night REfresh Bible study at my church is a welcome reprieve in the middle of a busy week.  It centers me.  This Wednesday night was no exception.  We were all reminded to keep the glory of God where it truly belongs. Acts 14: 8-18 finds us in Lystra with Paul and Barnabas.  Paul is doing what he has been called to do.  He is preaching the word of God.  As he preaches, he notices a man in the crowd that has been crippled from birth.  Paul sees that the man has faith to be healed.  Paul tells the man to stand up straight on his feet.  The man does…

After a long week, I am always looking for something to pick me up.  Wednesday night REfresh Bible study certainly provides that for me.  Each week I walk away with practical solutions to an impractical world.  It’s only fitting that in the week leading up to the celebration of our church’s 147th anniversary that we were given encouragement to survive. This week we journeyed to Acts 27:13-26.  There we find Paul on a ship facing a storm of epic proportions.  At this point, Paul is a prisoner on the way to see Caesar.  When the journey begins, the winds are blowing softly.  Nothing out of the ordinary has taken place. …

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Matthew 5:13 August is a very important month for St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church.  We are celebrating our 147 anniversary!!!!  Wow!  Listen, I get goosebumps when I hear of a couple that has been married 30 years.  I think of how they had to work to stay together that long.  I think of the memories that they have created in their time together.  So to realize that a body of believers has remained in fellowship…