Russellville Community Church

05/24/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxyXfwpQ1fc

05/24/2026

05/21/2026

Good morning! The office will be closed today from 11:45 a.m. until about 2:00 p.m.

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05/12/2026

05/10/2026

Good day, Happy Mothers Day and welcome to the Words of Faith Sunday School Class for May 10, 2026. Today’s scripture is Proverbs 31 (Sayings of King Lemuel 1-9 Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character – 10-31). Pastor Kelly’s sermon is “Noble Character”.

PROVERBS - King Solomon is the principal writer of Proverbs and they were written around 900 BC. Solomon’s name appears in 1:1, 10:1, and 25:1. We may also presume Solomon collected and edited proverbs other than his own. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. The Hebrew title Mishle Shelomoh is translated "Proverbs of Solomon." During his reign as king, the nation of Israel reached its pinnacle spiritually, politically, culturally, and economically. As Israel’s reputation soared, so did King Solomon’s. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon reveals the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations, too. It appears that no topic escaped King Solomon’s attention.
Proverbs is a book based on metaphor. It is packed with word-pictures of universal truths. Throughout Proverbs, Wisdom is anthropomorphized (giving human characteristics to an idea) as a woman. As early as Proverbs 1:20, wisdom is compared to a woman who shouts in the streets, chastising fools and scoffers. Proverbs 31 provides a detailed metaphor of feminine wisdom in the context of a family and a community.

Proverbs 31:

Verse 1- 9
KING LEMUEL - We don’t know much about King Lemuel, other than what is revealed in Proverbs 31. The name Lemuel means “for God” or “devoted to God.” Based on the one passage attributed to Lemuel, we know that Lemuel was a king, he had a wise mother, and he wrote some poetry. Many commentators have surmised that Lemuel is actually King Solomon—in which case the mother would be Bathsheba. It could be that Lemuel was a pet name for Solomon, used by his mother in tender address, and that Solomon wrote down her advice in the manner she would have expressed it. Another theory is that Lemuel is actually King Hezekiah. A third theory is that Lemuel and his mother are fictional characters created by Solomon as a picture of an ideal king and queen mother.

The counsel from King Lemuel’s mother is good advice for any leader of men. She warns Lemuel not to fall into the trap of immorality; chasing after women will sap a king’s strength (Proverbs 31:3). Then she warns her son against the dangers of alcohol; a drunken king is never a good king. A ruler who craves beer and wine will pervert justice and act lawlessly (verses 4–7).

Finally, King Lemuel’s mother instructs her son about the necessity of true justice: “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, / for the rights of all who are destitute. / Speak up and judge fairly; / defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8–9). May the Lord grant us many rulers like King Lemuel who heed this advice of a queen mother on ruling well.

Verses 10 – 31
The book of Proverbs was written to teach young men how to obtain wisdom and build moral character. It is packed with practical guidelines and ethical principles for developing integrity and making wise and beneficial decisions in life. The question in Proverbs 31:10, “A wife of noble character who can find?” indicates that the reader ought to look long and hard to find such a wife for himself.

V 10 -31 are written as a CHIASM (also called a chiasmus) which is a literary device in which a sequence of ideas is presented and then repeated in reverse order. The result is a “mirror” effect as the ideas are “reflected” back in a passage. Each idea is connected to its “reflection” by a repeated word, often in a related form. The term chiasm comes from the Greek letter chi, which looks like our letter X. Chiastic pattern is also called “ring structure.” This section is also an ACROSTIC poem is a poem in which the first letter (or sometimes the first syllable) of each line spells out a word, name, or sentence. The acrostic or alphabetical structure of various portions of Scripture could have been a memorization aid or simply meant to enhance the beauty of the reading.

WISDOM - is the practical application of that knowledge and understanding in daily life, enabling a person to make sound, God-honoring decisions. The “when” and “how”. Wisdom is a gift from God. The first step to gaining wisdom is actively seeking understanding. A person cannot live according to wisdom he does not possess. Simply acknowledging the value of wisdom without pursuing understanding is empty and inconsistent. It reflects the kind of hypocrisy in which one professes faith but fails to live by it.

PROVERBS 31: 10-31 goes into great detail describing the attributes of a wife who is more precious than rubies—the kind of woman the wise young man should seek.

Here is a summary, the actual scripture is to long to publish -

The first qualities mentioned are trustworthiness and devotion. A virtuous wife is an asset to her husband and not a liability.

A worthy woman is diligent and hard working. She carefully manages her household Like the wise woman of Proverbs 14:1, she works hard to build up her home. She’s not like the foolish one who tears it down with her own hands.

RUBIES - Are mentioned in several of the following verses. Rubies were highly important and deeply valued in biblical times as symbols of beauty, immense value, and wisdom. Mentioned multiple times in the Bible—including in Job and Proverbs—they were often used to illustrate the incomparable worth of wisdom and a virtuous woman, which were said to be "far above rubies".

Two things in the Bible are considered more precious than rubies: the virtue of wisdom (Proverbs 3:15) and a woman of noble character: “Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies” (Proverbs 31:10, NLT). A woman who is more prized than rubies is one with godly traits that are rare and valuable.

A woman who is more precious than rubies is also intelligent and capable. She is strong and energetic, with a healthy work ethic (Proverbs 31:17). She has good business sense, her “trading is profitable,” and she increases her family’s wealth (Proverbs 31:17–18, 24). The description that “her lamp does not go out at night” in verse 18 implies that she has the foresight to plan for the future.

A woman who is more precious than rubies is generous and kind. She spares no expense to protect her family (verses 21–22). “Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land,” says verse 23. A virtuous woman brings honor and respect to her husband and family. Verses 25–26 applaud her dignity, wisdom, kindness, and strength of character. Her family members, who are at the center of her devotion, adore and express their fondness for her with blessings and praise (verses 27–28).

The chapter concludes with the writer recognizing the significance of such a woman: “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all” (Proverbs 31:29). While she may be physically beautiful and charming, her crowning achievement is that she fears the Lord (verse 30). Such a woman is more precious than rubies because of her godly character—a rare and priceless jewel.

Most of my information for these lessons come from research I have done over the internet. A few of my favorite sources are Got Questions. Com, Bible.com, Wikipedia, 2BeLikeChrist, Google, Google AI, William Barclay Study Bible and other sources.
RCC is holding live services this morning. Check our pages at 10:30 to see if the service is being put Online. The service will not be posted online during the afternoon.
If you would like to make an online donation to the church use your PayPal account and the email address of: [email protected] to make your donation. If you have specific instructions for your donation please make note of in the notes section.
Be Safe out there and may God bless you and yours. MP

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05/02/2026

Good day and welcome to the Words of Faith Sunday School Class for May 3, 2026. Today’s scripture is Proverbs 4. Pastor Kelly’s sermon is “Wisdom”.
BOOK OF PROVERBS - King Solomon is the principal writer of Proverbs. It is also presumed Solomon collected and edited proverbs other than his own. Solomon’s proverbs were penned around 900 B.C. During his reign as king, the nation of Israel reached its pinnacle spiritually, politically, culturally, and economically. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon reveals the mind of God in matters high and lofty and in common, ordinary, everyday situations, too. Matters pertaining to personal conduct, sexual relations, business, wealth, charity, ambition, discipline, debt, child-rearing, character, alcohol, politics, revenge, and godliness are among the many topics covered in this rich collection of wise sayings.

Proverbs 4
Get Wisdom at Any Cost

1 Listen, my sons, to a father’s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.
3 For I too was a son to my father, still tender, and cherished by my mother.
4 Then he taught me, and he said to me, “Take hold of my words with all your heart;
keep my commands, and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8 Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.”
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.
11 I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evildoers.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot rest until they do evil; they are robbed of sleep till they make someone stumble.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.
24 Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways.
27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

In the Bible, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom are closely related yet distinct gifts designed to work together, often described as a progression from collecting information to living it out. They are gained in order. This scripture is all about WISDOM, so we need to know a little about it.

KNOWLEDGE - (learning) is the accumulation of facts, truth, and information about God and His Word. Knowing the “what”. It is defined as “information gained through experience, reasoning, or acquaintance.” Knowledge can exist without wisdom, but not the other way around. One can be knowledgeable without being wise.

UNDERSTANDING (insight) is the ability to perceive the deeper meaning, implications, and connection between those facts. The “why” and “how”. Understanding is a key aspect of wisdom.

WISDOM - is the practical application of that knowledge and understanding in daily life, enabling a person to make sound, God-honoring decisions. The “when” and “how”. Wisdom is a gift from God. The first step to gaining wisdom is actively seeking understanding. A person cannot live according to wisdom he does not possess. Simply acknowledging the value of wisdom without pursuing understanding is empty and inconsistent. It reflects the kind of hypocrisy in which one professes faith but fails to live by it.

PROVERBS 4:1-9: Solomon passes down wisdom to his son. One of the most crucial lessons he imparts is about acquiring it. He writes, “The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding” (Proverbs 4:7). In other words, Solomon urges his son to seek understanding, insight, and discernment at any cost. Make it a top priority. Wisdom’s benefits far surpass wealth, status, and material gain.

PROVERBS 4:25 - On a spiritual level this verse stresses the importance of staying on the righteous path by avoiding distractions and temptations that may lead us away from our godly goals and biblical principles. The wisdom of letting our eyes “look straight ahead” is echoed in the New Testament book of Hebrews, where believers are taught to avoid distractions and hindrances by stripping “off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up” (Hebrews 12:1).

Most of my information for these lessons come from research I have done over the internet. A few of my favorite sources are Got Questions. Com, Bible.com, Wikipedia, 2BeLikeChrist, Google, Google AI, William Barclay Study Bible and other sources.
RCC is holding live services this morning. Check our pages at 10:30 to see if the service is being put Online. The service will not be posted online during the afternoon.
If you would like to make an online donation to the church use your PayPal account and the email address of: [email protected] to make your donation. If you have specific instructions for your donation please make note of in the notes section.
Be Safe out there and may God bless you and yours. MP

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04/28/2026

The Church office will be closed on Thursday, April 30th.

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04/26/2026

Good day and welcome to the Words of Faith Sunday School Class for April 25, 2026. Today’s scripture is John 10:1-10. Pastor Kelly’s sermon is “His Sheep Know His Voice”.

GOSPEL OF JOHN – John 21:20–24 describes the author of the gospel of John as “the disciple whom Jesus loved,” and this is understood to be John the Apostle, one of the sons of Zebedee. This gospel was thought to have been written between 85 and 90 AD. John cites the purpose of the gospel as follows: “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31). His purpose was not to present a chronological narrative of the life of Christ, as with the other gospels, but to display His deity. John sought to strengthen the faith of second-generation believers and bring about faith in others, but he also sought to correct a false teaching that was spreading in the first century. John emphasized Jesus Christ as “the Son of God,” fully God and fully man, contrary to a false doctrine that taught the “Christ-spirit” came upon the human Jesus at His baptism and left Him at the crucifixion.
JOHN - John describes himself as “the apostle whom Jesus loved”. He was the brother of James another Apostle and the son of Zebedee. Together, they were called by Jesus “Boanerges,” which means “sons of thunder,” and here we find a key to John’s personality. Along with Peter and James, John was part of Jesus’ inner circle. The Apostle John is the author of five New Testament books: the gospel of John, the three short epistles that also bear his name (1, 2, and 3 John) and the book of Revelation. Both brothers were characterized by zeal, passion and ambition. John’s zeal for Jesus was also influenced by his natural ambition, as seen in his request (through his mother) that he and his brother be seated on Jesus’ right and left hands in the kingdom, an incident that caused a temporary rift between the brothers and the other disciples. (Matthew). John was passionately devoted to the proclamation of truth. No one in Scripture, except the Lord Jesus, had more to say about the concept of truth. His joy was proclaiming the truth to others and then watching them walk in it (3 John).

John 10:1-10
The Good Shepherd and His Sheep
1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber.2The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.3The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.4When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice.5But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.”6Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them.
7Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.8All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them.9I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

PHARISEES: The Pharisees were an influential Jewish religious sect in the time of Jesus. They were known for their emphasis on personal piety (the word Pharisee comes from a Hebrew word meaning “separated”), their acceptance of oral tradition in addition to the written Law, and their teaching that all Jews should observe all 600-plus laws in the Torah, including the rituals concerning ceremonial purification. The Pharisees were mostly middle-class businessmen and leaders of the synagogues. Though they were a minority in the Sanhedrin (Jewish Council) and held a minority number of positions as priests, they seemed to control the decision-making in the Council because they had popular support among the people.

GOOD SHEPHERD - It should be understood that Jesus is “the” good shepherd, not simply “a” good shepherd, as others may be, but He is unique in character (Psalm 23; Zechariah 13:7; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 2:25; 1 Peter 5:4). The Greek word kalos, translated “good,” describes that which is noble, wholesome, good, and beautiful, in contrast to that which is wicked, mean, foul, and unlovely. It signifies not only that which is good inwardly—character—but also that which is attractive outwardly. It is an innate goodness. Therefore, in using the phrase “the good shepherd,” Jesus is referencing His inherent goodness, His righteousness, and His beauty. As shepherd of the sheep, He is the one who protects, guides, and nurtures His flock.

GATE OF THE SHEEP - As He did in declaring that He is “the door of the sheep” in John 10:7, Jesus is making a contrast between Himself and the religious leaders, the Pharisees (John 10:12–13). He compares them to a “hireling” or “hired hand” who doesn’t really care about the sheep. In John 10:9, Jesus speaks of thieves and robbers who sought to enter the sheepfold stealthily. In that passage the Jewish leaders (Pharisees) are contrasted with Christ, who is the Door. Here, in John 10:12, the hireling is contrasted with the true or faithful shepherd who willingly gives up his life for the sheep. He who is a “hireling” works for wages, which are his main consideration. His concern is not for the sheep but for himself. Interestingly enough, the shepherds of ancient times were not usually the owners of the flock. Nevertheless, they were expected to exercise the same care and concern the owners would. This was characteristic of a true shepherd. However, some of the hirelings thought only of themselves. As a result, when a wolf appeared—the most common threat to sheep in that day—the hireling abandoned the flock and fled, leaving the sheep to be scattered or killed (John 10:12–13).

In this context, Jesus is telling us that He is not only the shepherd of the sheep, but also the door of the sheep. In doing so, He is vividly contrasting Himself with that of the religious leaders of His time whom He describes as “thieves and robbers” (John 10:8). When Jesus says, “I am the door,” He is reiterating the fact that only through Him is salvation possible. This is far removed from the ecumenical teachings popular in today’s liberal religious circles. Jesus makes it clear that any religious leader who offers salvation other than the teachings of Christ is a “thief” and a “robber.”

Most of my information for these lessons come from research I have done over the internet. A few of my favorite sources are Got Questions. Com, Bible.com, Wikipedia, 2BeLikeChrist, Google, Google AI, William Barclay Study Bible and other sources.
RCC is holding live services this morning. Check our pages at 10:30 to get the link for our Online Service. The service will be posted for viewing beginning at 10:30 am.
If you would like to make an online donation to the church use your PayPal account and the email address of: [email protected] to make your donation. If you have specific instructions for your donation please make note of in the notes section.
Be Safe out there and may God bless you and yours. MP

04/23/2026

Office Hours
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

04/19/2026

Good day and welcome to the Words of Faith Sunday School Class for April 19, 2026. Today’s scripture is Luke 24:13-35. Pastor Kelly’s sermon is “We Recognize Jesus in the Breaking of Bread”. This is the familiar scripture about the “Road to Emmaus”.

Luke 24:13-35
On the Road to Emmaus
13Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16but they were kept from recognizing him.
17He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?”he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!26Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”
33They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

EMMAUS – There were 4 towns named Emmaus in and around the area, so Cleopas and his companion could have been walking to any of them. However the town (destination) was not important. The story of the disciples on the Emmaus Road is important for many reasons. It provides an emphasis on the Old Testament prophecies related to Jesus, evidence regarding an additional appearance of Jesus, and a connection regarding the many eyewitnesses of the resurrected Jesus. Luke 24 is often seen as a model of the journey that Jesus makes with many of us today, as He opens our eyes, points us to the Word, and reveals Himself along life’s walk as the resurrected Savior and Lord.
CLEOPAS - Cleopas was a follower of Jesus during His earthly ministry and among the few who saw the Lord on the day of His resurrection. Cleopas was not one of the Twelve, but some have surmised that he was one of the seventy (Luke 10) Jesus sent out. Scripture does not give us any details about Cleopas other than he and an unknown disciple saw the risen Lord on their way to Emmaus.

Per the Biblical scholar William Barclay who says it better than I could –
“This is another of the immortal short stories of the world.
(i) It tells of two men who were walking towards the sunset. It has been suggested that that is the very reason why they did not recognize Jesus. Emmaus was west of Jerusalem. The sun was sinking, and the setting sun so dazzled them that they did not know their Lord. However that may be, it is true that the Christian is a man who walks not towards the sunset but towards the sunrise. Long ago it was said to the children of Israel that they journeyed in the wilderness towards the sunrising. (Num.21:11.) The Christian goes onwards, not to a night which falls, but to a dawn which breaks--and that is what, in their sorrow and their disappointment, the two on the Emmaus road had not realized.
(ii) It tells us of the ability of Jesus to make sense of things. The whole situation seemed to these two men to have no explanation. Their hopes and dreams were shattered. There is all the poignant, wistful, bewildered regret in the world in their sorrowing words, "We were hoping that he was the one who was going to rescue Israel." They were the words of men whose hopes were dead and buried. Then Jesus came and talked with them, and the meaning of life became clear and the darkness became light. A story-teller makes one of his characters say to the one with whom he has fallen in love, "I never knew what life meant until I saw it in your eyes." It is only in Jesus that, even in the bewildering times, we learn what life means.
(iii) It tells us of the courtesy of Jesus. He made as if he would have gone on. He would not force himself upon them; he awaited their invitation to come in. God gave to men the greatest and the most perilous gift in the world, the gift of free-will; we can use it to invite Christ to enter our lives or to allow him to pass on.
(iv) It tells how he was known to them in the breaking of bread. This always sounds a little as if it meant the sacrament; but it does not. It was at an ordinary meal in an ordinary house, when an ordinary loaf was being divided, that these men recognized Jesus. It has been beautifully suggested that perhaps they were present at the feeding of the five thousand, and, as he broke the bread in their cottage home, they recognized his hands again. It is not only at the communion table we can be with Christ; we can be with him at the dinner table too. He is not only the host in his Church; he is the guest in every home.
The Christian lives always and everywhere in a Christ-filled world.
(v) It tells how these two men, when they received such great joy, hastened to share it. It was a seven miles tramp back to Jerusalem, but they could not keep the good news to themselves. The Christian message is never fully ours until we have shared it with someone else.
(vi) It tells how, when they reached Jerusalem, they found others who had already shared their experience. It is the glory of the Christian that he lives in a fellowship of people who have had the same experience as he has had. It has been said that true friendship begins only when people share a common memory and can say to each other, "Do you remember?" Each of us is one of a great fellowship of people who share a common experience and a common memory of their Lord.
(vii) It tells that Jesus appeared to Peter. That must remain one of the great untold stories of the world. But surely it is a lovely thing that Jesus should make one of his first appearances to the man who had denied him. It is the glory of Jesus that he can give the penitent sinner back his self-respect.

Most of my information for these lessons come from research I have done over the internet. A few of my favorite sources are Got Questions. Com, Bible.com, Wikipedia, 2BeLikeChrist, Google, Google AI, William Barclay Study Bible and other sources.
RCC is holding live services this morning. Check our pages at 10:30 to get the link for our Online Service. The service will be posted for viewing beginning at 10:30 am.
If you would like to make an online donation to the church use your PayPal account and the email address of: [email protected] to make your donation. If you have specific instructions for your donation please make note of in the notes section.
Be Safe out there and may God bless you and yours. MP