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Paramount Baptist Church, 63 Paramount Church Drive, Perkinston, MS (2026)

06/17/2026

Wednesday, June 17

The verses for today are sometimes called, “The Vision of the Fire.” We probably all saw news stories when fire devoured elegant neighborhoods near Los Angeles in January 2025. This was partly due to a human setting the fire, but it seemed to be under control when the wind rekindled it, causing another catastrophic round of fires. Political posturing and low water pressure did not help. The same situations could easily wipe out almost any community.

Although we feel like we’re drowning under heavy rainfall this week, and fire seems an unlikely threat here in South Mississippi, it is possible for God to send a fire that all of this rain will not quench unless He tells it to. Remember the soaked offering Elijah made that was consumed by fire from Heaven. (I Kings 18)

Amos 7:4-6 Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part. (5) Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small. (6) The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD.

06/17/2026

Tuesday, June 16

I think the United States tends to trust in having a very powerful military to protect us from enemies. But the prophet Amos reminds Israel that the God who formed the grasshoppers can send enough pests that we could all starve. We were talking about this in my Sunday School class Sunday, comparing the United States to S***m and Gomorrah. God can send fire and brimstone to destroy our land, He can send an invader we cannot defend ourselves against, or He can allow the moral rot we see today to simply consume our freedoms from within.

We celebrate 250 years of freedom this year. I need to remember that the only freedoms that really matter are those given by God. There are more important things than the success the world admires, there are strengths more valuable than those promoted by this world, and there is one name above all the famous ones we may know.

2 Timothy 2:19-26 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (20) But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. (21) If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. (22) Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (23) But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes. (24) And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, (25) In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; (26) And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Amos 7:1-3 Thus hath the Lord GOD shewed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings. (2) And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small. (3) The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD.

06/16/2026

Calling all men and young men! 🛠️📖

"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another." — Proverbs 27:17

Are you ready to build character, learn essential life skills, and grow in faith alongside a strong community of Christian men? Join us for the Paramount Iron Factory! This event is specifically designed for all young men aged 8–18, and it’s the perfect opportunity for mentors, fathers, and sons to connect.

🗓️ Event Details:
When: July 11, 2026 | 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM

Where: Paramount Baptist Church (63 Paramount Church Dr, Perkinston, MS 39573)

Food: Free breakfast & lunch provided! (Pastries, burgers, and sides) 🍔

🔧 What You’ll Learn:
We are diving into the practical, everyday skills that every man needs to know, including:

Mechanics: Changing oil, sparkplugs, brakes, and flat tires 🚗

Construction & Tools: Master power tools and structural building 🔨

Equipment & Yard Care: Servicing lawn mowers and sharpening chainsaw blades 🪵

Grilling: Mastering the fire, seasoning, and timing 🥩

Plumbing & Electrical: Basic residential hookups, pipes, and wiring ⚡

Life Safety: Hands-on CPR and vital fire safety training 🧯

Beyond the tools, we will dive into God’s Word with powerful Bible studies focused on growing into the men God has called us to be.

📲 How to Register:
Follow this link to access the registration form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2smLEarfLJ7DBlGMcC24WRuDsx8BFFS_EJxFPLHjC4MGDZg/viewform

Have questions? Reach out to Jesse Williams at 601-716-7498.

Don't miss out on a day of brotherhood, practical learning, and solid Christian fellowship. See you at the Iron Factory! 💪

06/15/2026

Monday, June 15

The reading is long today, so I’m not going to say much. Our lesson Sunday focuses on Amos 5:4-11, 8:4-7, 11-14, and 9:11-15. It will probably be easier to study the lesson if you’ve read all those “in between” verses, so I’ll be sharing Amos chapters 5-9 this week.

Amos 5:1-6:14 Hear ye this word which I take up against you, even a lamentation, O house of Israel. (2) The virgin of Israel is fallen; she shall no more rise: she is forsaken upon her land; there is none to raise her up. (3) For thus saith the Lord GOD; The city that went out by a thousand shall leave an hundred, and that which went forth by an hundred shall leave ten, to the house of Israel. (4) For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live: (5) But seek not Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and pass not to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nought. (6) Seek the LORD, and ye shall live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and devour it, and there be none to quench it in Bethel. (7) Ye who turn judgment to wormwood, and leave off righteousness in the earth, (8) Seek him that maketh the seven stars and Orion, and turneth the shadow of death into the morning, and maketh the day dark with night: that calleth for the waters of the sea, and poureth them out upon the face of the earth: The LORD is his name: (9) That strengtheneth the spoiled against the strong, so that the spoiled shall come against the fortress. (10) They hate him that rebuketh in the gate, and they abhor him that speaketh uprightly. (11) Forasmuch therefore as your treading is upon the poor, and ye take from him burdens of wheat: ye have built houses of hewn stone, but ye shall not dwell in them; ye have planted pleasant vineyards, but ye shall not drink wine of them. (12) For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right. (13) Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time. (14) Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken. (15) Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the LORD God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph. (16) Therefore the LORD, the God of hosts, the Lord, saith thus; Wailing shall be in all streets; and they shall say in all the highways, Alas! alas! and they shall call the husbandman to mourning, and such as are skilful of lamentation to wailing. (17) And in all vineyards shall be wailing: for I will pass through thee, saith the LORD. (18) Woe unto you that desire the day of the LORD! to what end is it for you? the day of the LORD is darkness, and not light. (19) As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him. (20) Shall not the day of the LORD be darkness, and not light? even very dark, and no brightness in it? (21) I hate, I despise your feast days, and I will not smell in your solemn assemblies. (22) Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. (23) Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols. (24) But let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream. (25) Have ye offered unto me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, O house of Israel? (26) But ye have borne the tabernacle of your Moloch and Chiun your images, the star of your god, which ye made to yourselves. (27) Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus, saith the LORD, whose name is The God of hosts. (6:1) Woe to them that are at ease in Zion, and trust in the mountain of Samaria, which are named chief of the nations, to whom the house of Israel came! (2) Pass ye unto Calneh, and see; and from thence go ye to Hamath the great: then go down to Gath of the Philistines: be they better than these kingdoms? or their border greater than your border? (3) Ye that put far away the evil day, and cause the seat of violence to come near; (4) That lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the lambs out of the flock, and the calves out of the midst of the stall; (5) That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David; (6) That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments: but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph. (7) Therefore now shall they go captive with the first that go captive, and the banquet of them that stretched themselves shall be removed. (8) The Lord GOD hath sworn by himself, saith the LORD the God of hosts, I abhor the excellency of Jacob, and hate his palaces: therefore will I deliver up the city with all that is therein. (9) And it shall come to pass, if there remain ten men in one house, that they shall die. (10) And a man's uncle shall take him up, and he that burneth him, to bring out the bones out of the house, and shall say unto him that is by the sides of the house, Is there yet any with thee? and he shall say, No. Then shall he say, Hold thy tongue: for we may not make mention of the name of the LORD. (11) For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and he will smite the great house with breaches, and the little house with clefts. (12) Shall horses run upon the rock? will one plow there with oxen? for ye have turned judgment into gall, and the fruit of righteousness into hemlock: (13) Ye which rejoice in a thing of nought, which say, Have we not taken to us horns by our own strength? (14) But, behold, I will raise up against you a nation, O house of Israel, saith the LORD the God of hosts; and they shall afflict you from the entering in of Hemath unto the river of the wilderness.

06/14/2026

Sunday, June 14

I have to ask myself some questions: Am I truly grateful to God for His many blessings? Will I whine if my blessings are taken away? Will I recognize that I need to repent before the Almighty Righteous Ruler of heaven and earth in order to restore that relationship?

These last verses of Amos show a blessed land whose blessings have been removed. Instead of repenting, they go seeking those blessings in another city.

I need to stay close enough to God that I can recognize when He withdraws His blessings, so that I realize quickly I need to repent. Trying to solve things myself has never really worked out all that well!

Amos 4:1-13
(1) Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, Bring, and let us drink.
(2) The Lord GOD hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks.
(3) And ye shall go out at the breaches, every cow at that which is before her; and ye shall cast them into the palace, saith the LORD.
(4) Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years:
(5) And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this liketh you, O ye children of Israel, saith the Lord GOD.
(6) And I also have given you cleanness of teeth in all your cities, and want of bread in all your places: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
(7) And also I have withholden the rain from you, when there were yet three months to the harvest: and I caused it to rain upon one city, and caused it not to rain upon another city: one piece was rained upon, and the piece whereupon it rained not withered.
(8) So two or three cities wandered unto one city, to drink water; but they were not satisfied: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
(9) I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: when your gardens and your vineyards and your fig trees and your olive trees increased, the palmerworm devoured them: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
(10) I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of Egypt: your young men have I slain with the sword, and have taken away your horses; and I have made the stink of your camps to come up unto your nostrils: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
(11) I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew S***m and Gomorrah, and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning: yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the LORD.
(12) Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.
(13) For, lo, he that formeth the mountains, and createth the wind, and declareth unto man what is his thought, that maketh the morning darkness, and treadeth upon the high places of the earth, The LORD, The God of hosts, is his name.

06/13/2026

Saturday, June 13

Yesterday’s reading warned us not to provoke or tempt men of God. In that instance, it was talking about giving wine to a Nazarite (who had taken a vow to take no strong drink) and commanding prophets not to prophesy.

These verses continue by reminding us that it is the men of God who remind us of the Word of God. The role of a man of God is to “provoke unto love and to good works.” (Hebrews 10:24) In these verses, it shows the prophets warning the people of the secret things of God.

We also see that God has more to say to the nations of Israel and Judah than to the pagan nations around them. I tend to get this backwards. I want the world to act like good Christians while excusing whatever sin I find in my life, my family, my church.

God does not operate that way. With His blessings come expectations. Are we the chosen of God? Then we should act like it! I hold my own children to a higher standard than I’ve ever held anyone else’s, and I also give them more gifts, time, assistance, etc than I give anyone else, even now when they’re grown. We would do well to remember the relationship comes with expectations.

Amos 3:1-15
(1) Hear this word that the LORD hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying,
(2) You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.
(3) Can two walk together, except they be agreed?
(4) Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?
(5) Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?
(6) Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?
(7) Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
(8) The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD hath spoken, who can but prophesy?
(9) Publish in the palaces at Ashdod, and in the palaces in the land of Egypt, and say, Assemble yourselves upon the mountains of Samaria, and behold the great tumults in the midst thereof, and the oppressed in the midst thereof.
(10) For they know not to do right, saith the LORD, who store up violence and robbery in their palaces.
(11) Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; An adversary there shall be even round about the land; and he shall bring down thy strength from thee, and thy palaces shall be spoiled.
(12) Thus saith the LORD; As the shepherd taketh out of the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear; so shall the children of Israel be taken out that dwell in Samaria in the corner of a bed, and in Damascus in a couch.
(13) Hear ye, and testify in the house of Jacob, saith the Lord GOD, the God of hosts,
(14) That in the day that I shall visit the transgressions of Israel upon him I will also visit the altars of Bethel: and the horns of the altar shall be cut off, and fall to the ground.
(15) And I will smite the winter house with the summer house; and the houses of ivory shall perish, and the great houses shall have an end, saith the LORD.

06/12/2026

Friday, June 12

These verses move on from the pagan nations to the chosen people of God. I believe that Israel is and was and will always be special to God. We can discuss being grafted in all day long, and yet we still have the Apostle Paul warning us in Romans 11 that if the wild branches (Gentiles) were grafted in, how much more can the natural branches (Jews) be grafted back in.

My advice on Israel has always been to trust but verify, support but hold accountable, assist but don’t be stupid. One thing I know: it isn’t my job --nor is it America’s job-- to punish the modern nation of Israel for whatever we disagree with them over, any more than it was the job of the nations mentioned previously in these verses to hold Israel accountable.

If I spent as much time judging myself as I do judging other people and nations, I would probably be a pretty good person. I’m not talking about disagreeing with wrongdoing, guiding a friend away from sin, or preaching the Word accurately. I am talking about holding other people and nations to higher standards than I hold my own nation, family, and self to.

Amos 2:4--16
(4) Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have dedspised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked:
(5) But I will send a fire upon Judah, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem.
(6) Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they sold the righteous for silver, and the poor for a pair of shoes;
(7) That pant after the dust of the earth on the head of the poor, and turn aside the way of the meek: and a man and his father will go in unto the same maid, to profane my holy name:
(8) And they lay themselves down upon clothes laid to pledge by every altar, and they drink the wine of the condemned in the house of their god.
(9) Yet destroyed I the Amorite before them, whose height was like the height of the cedars, and he was strong as the oaks; yet I destroyed his fruit from above, and his roots from beneath.
(10) Also I brought you up from the land of Egypt, and led you forty years through the wilderness, to possess the land of the Amorite.
(11) And I raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your young men for Nazarites. Is it not even thus, O ye children of Israel? saith the LORD.
(12) But ye gave the Nazarites wine to drink; and commanded the prophets, saying, Prophesy not.
(13) Behold, I am pressed under you, as a cart is pressed that is full of sheaves.
(14) Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:
(15) Neither shall he stand that handleth the bow; and he that is swift of foot shall not deliver himself: neither shall he that rideth the horse deliver himself.
(16) And he that is courageous among the mighty shall flee away naked in that day, saith the LORD.

06/11/2026

Thursday, June 11
I have read that the Bible allows abortion, and verse 13 of Amos 1 is one of the “proofs.” Well, that’s an entirely inaccurate reading of the verse. The Lord is actually saying that “they have ripped up the women with child” is one of the reasons He will not turn away the punishment. In fact, that is the only explicitly stated sin of the children of Ammon in these verses. Of course, it’s bad enough!

Not only will they harm a mother and her unborn child, they are doing it in order to “enlarge their border.” This is one of the most clear examples of bad things following when we ignore the Ten Commandments (covet is the one I have in mind).

I need to be sure to avoid the sins I consider small. They always lead to the ones I consider big. And God does not like it when I think of any violation of His command as a small matter.

Amos 1:13-2:3

Amos 1 (13) Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of the children of Ammon, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have ripped up the women with child of Gilead, that they might enlarge their border:
(14) But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:
(15) And their king shall go into captivity, he and his princes together, saith the LORD.
Amos 2 (1) Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Moab, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime:
(2) But I will send a fire upon Moab, and it shall devour the palaces of Kerioth: and Moab shall die with tumult, with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet:
(3) And I will cut off the judge from the midst thereof, and will slay all the princes thereof with him, saith the LORD.

06/10/2026

Wednesday, June 10

I’ve read what people believe is meant by “for three transgressions... and for four,” but honestly, it means what it says. I don’t have to be the most evil person who ever lived in order for God to punish me for my sin. God will not listen is I say, “But what about so-and-so, he/she did something worse than this.”

God will listen to a prayer of repentance, begging forgiveness, but even then, I have to remember that actions have consequences. Just as you cannot speak harshly to your spouse everyday, and apologize when you want them to do something for you, you cannot walk the path of disobedience and still expect God’s blessings.

Many of us say, I haven’t sacked a city lately. I haven’t gone after my brother with a sword! Well, I did hit one of mine in the head with a hammer once, and it’s a blessing I was too little to do any harm! But notice verse 11. What leads to these sins we call greater? He... cast off all pity... his anger did tear perpetually... he kept his wrath for ever.

Repent while the sin has only harmed your relationship with God. Before you do irreparable harm to others. Before the consequences are more than you can bear. Remember the words of Jesus: Matthew 5:27-28 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: (28) But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

I’ve heard some say, Well, I thought it, I may as well say it. That is not Biblical, and it goes directly against the words of Jesus in the Beatitudes. Repent while the problem is between God and you. Don’t wait until you hurt the ones you care about the most.

Amos 1:9-12
(9) Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Tyrus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they delivered up the whole captivity to Edom, and remembered not the brotherly covenant:
(10) But I will send a fire on the wall of Tyrus, which shall devour the palaces thereof.
(11) Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because he did pursue his brother with the sword, and did cast off all pity, and his anger did tear perpetually, and he kept his wrath for ever:
(12) But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah.

06/09/2026

Tuesday, June 9

The main thing I get from these verses is a simple, obvious rule: God is full of grace and mercy, but He will not tolerate sin. He punishes that sin whether it’s you and yours or me and mine committing it. If He punished it in Bible times, it is still wrong today.

Someone may say, “But I’ve never committed the same sins these ancient people committed.” While that may be true, don’t forget that the primary reason an action is sinful is because it violates God’s law. In verse 6, for example, it says, “they carried away captive the whole captivity.”

I’ve never taken a captive, but have I taken advantage of people? Have I shown the love of God to them? Have I made it a habit to help others instead of seeing them as a means of profit? I could go on and on... and yes, I have to admit that I have not always treated people as well as God wants me to. Therefore, I need to repent and do better. Do you?

Amos 1:3-8
(3) Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have threshed Gilead with threshing instruments of iron:
(4) But I will send a fire into the house of Hazael, which shall devour the palaces of Benhadad.
(5) I will break also the bar of Damascus, and cut off the inhabitant from the plain of Aven, and him that holdeth the sceptre from the house of Eden: and the people of Syria shall go into captivity unto Kir, saith the LORD.
(6) Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they carried away captive the whole captivity, to deliver them up to Edom:
(7) But I will send a fire on the wall of Gaza, which shall devour the palaces thereof:
(8) And I will cut off the inhabitant from Ashdod, and him that holdeth the sceptre from Ashkelon, and I will turn mine hand against Ekron: and the remnant of the Philistines shall perish, saith the Lord GOD.

Paramount Baptist Church

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