Bartlett Baptist Church

08/16/2026

Heart

Scripture Reading — Matthew 5:21-22

“I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” — Matthew 5:22

As we learn from Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5, the commandment “You shall not murder” addresses not only our physical actions but also our words and our thoughts.

I have never physically murdered anyone, but I’m humbled— even horrified—to realize that I cannot begin to count the number of times I have violated the sixth commandment. Jesus explains that if we so much as become angry and hateful toward a person and we call them a name that demeans them, we are “subject to judgment.” This gets right to the heart of the matter.

In moments of anger, hurt, resentment, or sometimes even out of mere frustration and annoyance, I have called others or thought of them as “stupid,” just as the religious leaders of Jesus’ day did when they called a brother or sister a “fool.” According to Jesus, this kind of attitude violates the sixth commandment by showing contempt for others made in the image of God.

As a confessional statement of the church puts it, “I am not to belittle, hate, insult, or kill my neighbor—not by my thoughts, my words, my look or gesture, and certainly not by actual deeds . . .” (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 105).

I am often guilty of diminishing other people. I need to continually ask God to forgive me and to create in my heart a deep, genuine love for others.

What about you?

08/14/2026

08/14/2026

Respecting

Scripture Reading — Romans 13:1-7

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. — Romans 13:1

Throughout history, most cultures around the world have understood the family as the “building block” of human society. And many of these cultures operate with the foundational idea that where the family is strong, the society is strong.

This general understanding of the importance of the family unit should come as no surprise, since this is how God has ordered human social life for flourishing. In the family, children learn to honor, respect, and obey their parents, whom God has given them. From lessons learned in the home, children mature into productive citizens in the societies where God, in his sovereign wisdom, has placed them. And just as God has called children to honor and obey their parents, all people are called to honor and obey the earthly authorities God has established.

So the scope of the fifth commandment extends beyond the family to include the authority of teachers, elders, pastors, and governing authorities. In Romans 13 the apostle Paul lays out in detail the consequential meaning of submitting to those in authority over us. No earthly authority is absolute, of course. But in general God calls us to submit to governing authorities and to pray for wisdom as they make decisions for the common good. Authorities and governments can be changed, if necessary, but if they seek our good and that of our neighbors, they generally serve as God’s instruments for peace and well-being.

08/13/2026

Honoring

Scripture Reading — Proverbs 23:22-25

Listen to your father, who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. — Proverbs 23:22

Years ago I mentioned something about the fifth commandment’s call for children to obey their parents to a high school church youth group. One of them looked me in the eye and asked, “Does the Bible really teach that adult children need to obey their parents?”

That was a great question, and I’ve often thought about it since then. On the one hand, they were right: as children grow into adults, the dynamics of obedience to their parents will change. Yet the instruction for children to honor and respect their parents, regardless of their age, remains at the core of the commandment.

In this section of Proverbs we find the helpful advice to “listen to your father”—and this points to the fact that through experience gained from years of life’s ups and downs, parents may well have significant wisdom to offer us. We also find here a wise reminder not to dismiss or neglect aging parents. In fact, for many folks today, caring for aging parents can be one of the most challenging seasons of their lives. Yet as God placed our early care into the hands of our parents, he also places the care of our elderly parents into our hands.

May we strive to do our best to love and honor our parents throughout our entire lives, as God calls us to do.

08/11/2026

Rest

Scripture Reading — Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

Often Sunday nights are my least favorite time of the week. Though I love my work, Monday morning means rising early to face a new workweek. At times, however, those feelings of reluctance about the coming week remind me of the promise of the eternal Sabbath.

In the context of our Bible reading for today, Jesus rebukes the Jewish religious leaders for taking a legalistic approach to daily living. They were critical of the way Jesus and his followers observed the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-14), and those leaders thought they had all the answers about following the law and getting right with God.

But it’s impossible for any of us to get right with God by trying to follow the law perfectly, and Jesus knew that. So he invites all who are weary and burdened to come to him, because he alone will give us true rest.

Couched in Jesus’ invitation is his declaration that he is the only Savior. Only he has the power to give his followers rest from sin and from fruitless striving to please God. In short, Jesus himself is our true Sabbath. He promises us peace with God—true, lasting peace —and this is available for us now, wherever we are.

Though it may seem as if we are forever facing challenges, we can count on Jesus to be our forever Sabbath. We can look forward to resting in God’s presence with all of his children eternally. Freed from pain, sorrow, and fear of death, we can worship God and enjoy him forever in Christ.

08/11/2026

Will you join in prayer today?

Heavenly Father, awaken in me a fresh hunger for Your Word and deliver me from every appetite that dulls my desire for Truth. Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path, so teach me to read it, believe it, and obey it without compromise (Psalm 119:105). Renew Your Church through the authority of Scripture and raise up believers who will stand firm when the culture turns away from You. Let a return to Your Word ignite personal revival in our hearts and spiritual awakening across America. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

08/10/2026

Keeping

Scripture Reading — John 20:1-10

Early on the first day of the week… — John 20:1

While I was growing up, there were certain things our family did not do on Sundays. We did not eat at restaurants or go shopping among other things. Over the years, that definition of “keeping the Lord’s Day” has changed for many folks.

The understanding of keeping the fourth commandment has changed since the people of Israel received it as well. The Israelites strictly and carefully (and often legalistically) observed their Sabbath on the seventh day of the week (Saturday). But after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, the early Christians began to celebrate their Sabbath on the first day of the week (Sunday), calling it “the Lord’s Day” in celebration of Jesus’ rising from the grave.

While observance of this day has varied in different times and places, a core element stands at the center of remembering and celebrating Jesus’ victory over sin and death: worship.

Though we can and should worship God in everything we do, the New Testament emphasizes the importance of meeting weekly as Christ’s body to worship together— praising God, hearing his Word, sharing the sacraments, and fellowshipping with each other. Till Jesus returns, worship will remain at the heart of keeping the Lord’s Day.