Swanville Bible Church

09/05/2026

From the Desk of Pastor Bruce
I have started a new series on Sunday morning services. I will be preaching from 1 Thessalonians, which I am excited about. The Bible tells us that we will have trouble in this world. Jesus warns of this in John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus says, “But take heart, I have overcome the world.” We all have troubles and will continue to have troubles, we live in a broken world, but we need to trust in Jesus, He gives us hope. The theme of 1 Thessalonians is to be faithful! 1 Thessalonians 1:7 “And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.” The Thessalonians were faithful even in persecution.
Many have asked me what needs to happen before the Lord returns, it just seems like our world is falling apart? Well, let me share with you what Jesus calls the “birth pains” of His second coming found in Matthew 24. There are nine months of pregnancy but toward the end there are signs that the baby will be born soon. It’s the same with the second coming of Jesus, there are signs that the time is getting close. I am not going to quote the text, just tell you what they are, all found in Matthew 24; “Wars and rumors of wars, nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom, famines and earthquakes in various places…All these are the beginning of birth pains.” Then Matthew 24 goes on to say what will happen to all Christians… “then you will be persecuted and put to death, hated by all nations, because of Jesus, there will be more and more wickedness and the love of many will grow cold.”
Here is a word of encouragement; since it seems as though our time is getting closer. Look at James 1:2-3 “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
Here is my encouragement, stay in God’s Word, and pray for the believers all over the world. Read God’s Word, with the purpose of knowing GOD!
Pastor Bruce Miller of Swanville Bible Church

08/28/2026

From the Desk of Pastor Bruce
I am writing this article from the couch of my brother’s living room in Monroeville Alabama. Lori and I left Sunday after the service was over and drove to our daughter’s home in Iowa, 6 hours away. The total drive is about twenty hours, and we made it with only 2 close calls. Both happened while other drivers were on their cell phones.
When I get back to Swanville, I will be starting a new sermon series in 1 Thessalonians. I bought a new commentary from one of my hero’s, Chuck Swindoll and in the Introduction to 1 Thessalonians, he starts by saying, “If you are sharing Jesus with someone and you tell them that Christians have no problems and life is grand, you just misled that person and they will soon fall away to follow the ways of the world”.
1 Thessalonians 2:2 “We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you about His gospel in the face of strong opposition.” Paul had been in prison for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, and he did not sugar coat the fact that you will have trouble.
Just a little over 20 years ago God called me to be a pastor and I had many “objections” to doing what God was calling me to do. I knew the pastorate was not going to be easy and I felt very unqualified. I asked God for a verse to confirm His calling, and He gave me Isaiah 41:9-10 “I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand”.
So, God does not keep us from trouble, but as we experience troubled times, He holds us up, giving us peace so we can endure the struggle. I am very glad because life is not always fair, but who promised it would be?
Trust in God, trust that He will hold you up in the middle of your deepest troubles.
Pastor Bruce Miller from Swanville Bible Church

08/23/2026

08/21/2026

From the Desk of Pastor Bruce
When I was reading my scripture today, I started asking very thought-provoking questions. Questions that made me question why do I do this or why do I do that? In Ecclesiastes 12:8 Solomon writes “Meaningless! Meaningless!” says the Teacher. “Everything is meaningless.” Solomon was the wisest man that ever lived and he had riches and fame. He spent his whole life looking for the answers of our existence. In Ecclesiastes 7:14 he says “When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this:
God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.”
When I was young, I had a difficult time with the theology of “God being Sovereign” which means that God is “All-knowing, all-powerful, and He is everywhere.” I was pretty sure I didn’t have anything to say about my life. It wasn’t until I became aware that God was sovereign (meaning that God ruled everything about me and He was ruler over my destiny) but not that He was some egotistical power man on steroids, no! God loves us with such a passion that says, I have the best in store for you, won’t you follow along?
At the end of the very short book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:13 “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.” Here is my take on this text. You can plan all you want, plan to make a profit, to marry well and have well behaved kids that also succeed in life. But none of this matter! Solomon has done it all, and his conclusion was the only thing that matters is to fear God and do what He says. He would call that a successful life whether you are floating in riches or not. Keep your eyes on Jesus, stay in His Word, and follow Him.
Pastor Bruce Miller from Swanville Bible Church

08/15/2026

From the Desk of Pastor Bruce
The purpose of my articles is to encourage the saints to live their lives for Jesus Christ. There are sins, however, that have infiltrated the church, and they need to be addressed. Sin isn’t a new thing; it’s been around since the beginning of time. The Hebrew word for sin literally means “to miss the mark” or “wander from the way”.
This article was written to give you hope! If you find yourself in, or are caught in sin and struggling, just know that God still loves you and it is not hopeless. Romans 8:1-2 ought to be encouraging to anyone that is caught up in sin, any sin! “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.”
God is loving and gracious and forgiving! Before Jesus died on the cross for all our sins, He prayed to His Father and said… Luke 23:34 “…Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing…” One thing we must remember! 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” God sent His Son to die on our behalf because He loves each one of us.
If you realize that you are involved in sin, and the Holy Spirit has been tugging at your heart, I would like you to know that there is hope. I am simply going to share with you some scriptures that may help you in your recovery. Romans 6:14 “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.” Grace says that I love you no matter what! Galatians 5:1 “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.” Find a loving church, one that will pray with you, a place where you can be challenged to follow Jesus. One final text is Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Pastor Bruce from Swanville Bible Church

08/05/2026

From the Desk of Pastor Bruce
Many years ago, when I was a contractor, someone from church saw me in the hardware store getting supplies. He came up to me and said that he almost didn’t recognize me. In church, I wore nice pants and a button-up shirt and sometimes I wore a tie. In the store, I wore blue jeans and probably a T-shirt with paint stains on it. I told him that this is who I am. Moving forward in time, maybe about 4 years ago, Lori and I watched a movie called “The Overcomer” and it was very encouraging.
In the movie, one man was in a hospital bed and not doing very well. Another guy, who was in the hall, accidentally stepped into his room which started a conversation that I’ll never forget. The man who was dying asked, “Who are you?” the guy said, “I’m a basketball coach.” Then he asked, “If that was taken away from you, who are you?” “Well, I’m a husband and father.” The man in the bed was persistent and he asked again, “if that was taken away from you, what are you?” By this time the man was getting confused, like maybe the guy was playing some kind of joke, but he answered anyway… He said, “Well, I’m white and I’m a deacon at church.” Then he asked one more time, “If that was taken away, who are you?” “Well, I’m a Christian.” The man said, “is that important to you?” “Yes, it is very important to me.” “Interesting, then how come it is so far down the list of who you are?”
Our identity is in Christ! Not where we are seen the most or what we wear. It does not have anything to do with what I do for a living, or if I’m a father or like to play in the wood shop. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” (NIV) Another text that explains who we are is Philippians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Just an encouragement: Remember who you are, a child of the King!
Pastor Bruce Miller of Swanville Bible Church

07/31/2026

From the Desk of Pastor Bruce
Something happened to me this week that really put a scare in me. In 2006 I went to college at the age of 45 and it was overwhelming. It had been a while since I had studied anything, except blueprints for a home or other project. About a year after I had started school, I was looking for one of my assignments. So, I asked my computer expert, my daughter, and she asked me what class it was from. When I told her, she looked for the class in my files, but it wasn’t there. In fact, I didn’t have anything saved in files. She was shocked and then proceeded to show me how to save my documents so I could find things. She spent hours, maybe days, reorganizing my files in their class file.
This week, when I was preparing my sermon, I did everything right and saved my sermon, under the correct heading. I accidentally deleted it when I was trying to save another document. I thought I had lost them for good. My daughter would have been proud of me:) It took me a little bit, but I was able to find the correct document and re-label it in its proper spot.
Scripture is clear, 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Maybe the question should be, how then do we become born again or saved? Ephesians 2:8-9 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” This is as easy as creating a document on your computer, but you must save it or it will be lost. Please listen to the words of Jesus about the end times. Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Through faith in Jesus Christ, come to Him in repentance and you will be saved for all eternity.
Pastor Bruce Miller of Swanville Bible Church