From the Director’s Desk (June 2025) – Trent Kennedy
June is a big month for us. We have completed Camp Hensel, papers have been written, exams have been taken, and sermons have been preached. June 29 is our formal graduation ceremony. Eight students will walk across the stage and move on to new opportunities and challenges in the Kingdom. Five of our graduates have been hired to serve in various ministry roles. Our ladies will take what they have learned and put it into practice right away by teaching…
Gospel Parallels: Salvation and Condemnation – Dave Rogers
The suggestion that someone will not experience everlasting peace and joy is distasteful and abhorrent to much of the world, but the Bible shows that some will be lost rather than saved. Without the prospect of condemnation, the very idea of salvation becomes absurd and pointless; the word loses all meaning and value if we have no possibility of missing it. Hebrews 9:27 declares that, “…it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment”. Though the…
Heavenly Wisdom (Jas. 3:17-18) – Kevin Cauley
Boys are naturally competitive. I have four of them. They are grown now, but when they were younger, they had daily conflicts. One was the battle for the front seat. “It’s my turn;” “No, it’s my turn,” was so routinely debated, you’d think it was congressional legislation. When one didn’t get his way, he would inevitably appeal to the supreme court with the cry: “Daaaad!” I never knew whose turn it was (Who’s got time to keep up with that?),…
Worldly Wisdom (Jas. 3:14-16) – Cody Kilgore
Acareful reading of James’ epistle reveals a shuddering concern for the inward man. Through this epistle, no less than thirty terms which are indicative of the inward man are employed. The prevailing caution toward the inward man might be eye-catching, but it should not be earth-shattering. Have we not been warned by the pen (Pro. 4:23) and the person of inspiration (Matt. 6:21-23) concerning the inward man? Has it not been impressed upon our minds that the inward man affects…
A Real Wise Man – Chase Green
Think about a scenario for a moment. If a teacher were to ask a Bible study class, “Who is the wisest and most understanding person in this room?” what would you think of someone who immediately raised his hand and waved it proudly in the air for all to see? This person may think he is the wisest, but in actuality, he may be one of the most foolish ones in the room. The reason for this is that true…
A Case in Point: Naboth’s Vineyard
Solomon counseled, “Get wisdom!” (Pro. 4:5), and how we ought to heed that admonition. James would have us know, however, that not just any wisdom will do. There is a kind of wisdom that “does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic” (Jas. 3:15). Literally, it is “earth bound,” “spiritually dead,” and “from hell.” This kind of thinking manifests itself in fruit like envy, selfishness, pride, deceit, confusion, and every kind of evil thing (Jas. 3:14, 16). It…
No Picture of Him Exists
James Butler Bonham (1807–1836) was a 19thcentury American soldier. Born near Red Bank (now Saluda), South Carolina, Bonham moved to Montgomery, Alabama, in October 1834; the following year, he traveled to Mobile, where he helped to organize a company of militia cavalry called the Mobile Greys to serve in Texas. The company reached San Felipe, Texas, in November 1835, and Bonham was commissioned a lieutenant in the Texian Cavalry one month later. On December 1, 1835, Bonham wrote to Sam…
Memorizing God’s Word
Bible memorization is a sticky subject for some. “I’m too old!” “It’s too difficult!” “My memory isn’t good!” “Is it really necessary?” These are just a few of the sentiments sometimes expressed about the subject. It can, admittedly, be an intimidating task, but it doesn’t have to be! Memorizing God’s Word will bless your life and greatly benefit your spiritual growth. And, it is something that everyone can do! Consider, briefly, some thoughts about the “why” and “how” of Bible…
A Scary Comfort (Jeremiah 6:15)
“Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to blush…” (Jer. 6:15) These words were used to describe the people of Judah, specifically in her capital, Jerusalem. Destruction was certain for this city, and this verse gives us a key indicator as to why. These people were comfortable with their sin. They were so comfortable with it that their sinful actions and the sinful actions…
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
Every generation has its heroes – its giants. Those who pave the way for us through their hard work and dedication. Those who exemplify prized virtues like humility, integrity, devotion, and ingenuity. Our nation has been shaped by figures like these, their pictures hang in monuments throughout the country. The church has giants too. Preachers, elders, Bible class teachers, and servants of all kinds, who have set forth profound examples of what it means to be a New Testament Christian.…
The Three Crosses of Calvary (Luke 23:33-43)
On the day Jesus would die, three crosses were prepared. Three crosses were prepared because three men were going to be crucified. Three men would die the same humiliating death, but all three of them were extremely different. These differences serve as a lesson to all of us. As you read this article, I want you to think about one question… which cross represents you? The first cross is the cross of the Savior. This is a cross that only…
From the Director’s Desk (May 2025) – Trent Kennedy
Big Change Coming! Southwest Servant’s Academy has been a mainstay for the School’s summer schedule each June since Rick Brumback directed the school. This week-long academy exposes high school students to the rigors of studying at SWSBS. However, the June schedule has become too crowded with Camp Hensel and the School’s graduation. So this year, Southwest Servants’ Academy is going through some changes: Date: August 7-10 instead of the end of June. Timeframe: Thursday night – Sunday morning instead of…