From the Director’s Desk…
In August we hit the ground running! SWSBS welcomed eleven new students and twelve returning students to Austin. Over the course of the year, we will continue to build knowledge, character, and habits in these Christians. Our second year class will focus their attention this quarter on various Bible texts. Over the course of this second year, practical classes in preaching, teaching, evangelism, and counseling will be woven into their studies to prepare them for the work that lies ahead.…
A Psalm for When I’m Depressed (Psalm 42)
Depression does not feel like a cozy blanket. It is not warm; it is a ship’s anchor—dragging, dulling, making even the simple act of breathing feel like heavy labor. What does faith look like when our feelings refuse to cooperate? It looks like choosing focus, quiet endurance, and remembering that God’s presence is never canceled out by the storm. Strength in Spiritual Memory It is difficult to maintain perspective when bills stack up, family pressures mount, and spiritual peace seems…
A Prayer for When I’m Overwhelmed (Psalm 61)
Picture this with me: You are in the cabin of a cruise ship. You have gone to sleep for the night and all is well. Suddenly, you are startled awake by the jolt of the ship and emergency sirens. The vessel has slammed into a reef. Because you are in one of the lower levels of the ship, water has already made its way to your room. The door is pinned shut, you feel the water flowing through the cracks,…
A Psalm for When I’m Celebrating (Psalm 100)
“To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: (Eccles. 3:1). The Bible addresses every aspect of our life and for many of life’s events, it seems there is a Psalm that can be appropriately applied. Solomon said there was a time to laugh, dance, and embrace (Eccles. 3:4-5). We celebrate people and their accomplishments. We celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, baby showers and retirement. We celebrate our nation every Fourth of July and other national holidays…
A Psalm for When I’m Lonely (Psalm 25)
“Loneliness is a symptom of our mental,emotional, physical and spiritual separation fromGod, and we can only truly remedy this pathologyby seeking Him.” (Source unknown) In no way am I a medical professional, but I am a human being created in the image of God (Gen. 1:26-27), and I have experienced times of loneliness. This topic can be rather confusing because often I am alone but not lonely. At other times, I am surrounded by people but still aware of how…
A Psalm for When I’m Thankful (Psalm 103)
Gratitude stands as one of Scripture’s most vital yet frequently neglected themes. Psalm 103 opens with a stirring thought: “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits.” These words encourage us to intentionally direct our hearts toward thankfulness to God for every blessing He has poured out. When we cultivate this thankful heart, we find the ability to focus on…
A Psalm for When I’m Angry (Psalm 37)
In case of an emergency where help is needed beyond what you can provide, one would call the appropriate phone number (e.g. 9-1-1). What about a spiritual emergency? When tempted to stir up wrath quickly or to remain in anger, the writers of the psalms have taught us we should call on God! Anytime emotions overwhelm us we should seek God’s help, especially in times when anger rises like a tidal wave. Numerous psalms would help us in this struggle,…
Bearing the Brand – Marks of Jesus (Galatians 6:17)
Scars often tell stories. A mark on someone’s skin can often be connected to a memorable event in their lives. Scars are often permanent, leaving those who bear them an ever-present reminder of the cause of those wounds. They serve as a lesson and testimony to all who see them. In Galatians 6:17, Paul says, “From now on let no one cause trouble for me, for I bear on my body the brand-marks of Jesus.” No doubt, Paul had scars…
Taking the Battle to Satan
We are in a spiritual battle, and Scripture makes clear that we must put on the full armor of God if we are going to stand firm and be victorious (Eph. 6:11-17). The apostle Paul describes this conflict not as a struggle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, and powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. At times temptation feels so overwhelming that we begin to wonder whether…
The Danger of an Ungrateful Heart (Romans 1:21)
When you think about the most heinous sins mankind has committed, what comes to your mind? Murder. Sexual immorality. Rebellion. Deception. The celebration of wickedness. Romans 1:22-32 contains a sobering list of sins like these. What would cause a person to commit such awful and ungodly actions? Paul answers this question in Romans 1:21. The downward spiral of the Gentiles can be seen here in something we may consider small: They were not thankful. The Gentiles were given sufficient evidence…
Don’t Touch That!
Have you ever heard the saying, “Two wrongs don’t make a right”? Though the principle is very simple, many still try to justify bad behavior with more bad behavior. An example appears in the Old Testament account of David’s reign as king of Israel. 1 Chronicles 13:7-10 reveals the sad account of Uzzah’s untimely death. The first mistake is described in 1 Chronicles 13:7. The Ark of the Covenant had been taken from Israel, and it was finally going to…
From the Director’s Desk
Most of the SWSBS staff were blessed to attend PTP Branson in July. This event brings together Christians from Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and other states for a week of study and fellowship. Some of our staff were asked to give lessons, and all of us were afforded the opportunity to sit in on classes to learn and grow. On Friday night, our own Steven Lloyd was honored with the “Lifetime Service” award. This award is given annually by the…