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October 25, 2026. Reformation Sunday. Year A. "Reginald, ...all I have written seem like straw to me." - St. Thomas Aquinas. In today’s text, both groups of religious know-it-alls are silenced by the wisdom of Jesus. Pharisees and Sadducees represent the religious norms for the Jewish people, and with the backdrop of the Roman Empire pressing down upon them in first-century Palestine, that should have made them pretty close allies. But story after story shows their petty arguments pitting them against one another. Much like two rival politicians on a center stage. Scripture: Matthew 22: 34-46 Preacher: Rev. Dr. Casey Callahan Cover art: I Am the Light of the World, Khrystyna Kvyk (Ukrainian, 1994–) Worship with First Baptist Church of Asheville. Sundays: Bible study at 10:00 a.m., worship at 11:00 a.m. · 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC · fbca.net

October 18, 2026. Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost. Year A. The leaders approach Jesus with a conniving riddle: Do we pay taxes to Caesar or not? If Jesus says yes, he angers the anti-Roman crowd, but if he says no, he invites Rome’s wrath. Jesus circumvents the plot by exposing the idolatry of his questioners, who produce a graven image (the coin) in full view of any bystanders. They marvel at Jesus’ final question and response, “Give to God the things that are God’s.” But Jesus prompts us all to consider a lesson engraved in his clever response, “What does being made in the image of God require of me?” Scripture: Matthew 22:15-22 Preacher: Rev. Dr. Mack Dennis Cover art: Power Play, Lisle Gwynn Garrity [Lisle Gwynn Garrity | A Sanctified Art LLC | sanctifiedart.org Worship with First Baptist Church of Asheville. Sundays: Bible study at 10:00 a.m., worship at 11:00 a.m. · 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC · fbca.net

Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Collective memory plays a vital role in how we understand and practice our faith. From the Old Testament commandment to "Remember the Sabbath" to Jesus' command to "Do this in remembrance of me" at the Lord's Supper, there's a divine purpose and real power to the practice of sacred memory. This one-week adult Bible study led by Casey Callahan will explore the Power of Memory in Scripture. Leader: Rev. Dr. Casey Callahan Worship with First Baptist Church of Asheville. Sundays: Bible study at 10:00 a.m., worship at 11:00 a.m. · 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC · fbca.net

October 11, 2026. Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost. Year A. Focusing on v. 7, “And the peace of God...will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” I’ll preach to the children today in order to share biblical images of God “keeping” us. God keeps the Israelites together in the struggle of the wilderness. Jesus wishes to gather us “as a hen gathers her chicks” (Mt. 23:37). In John, Jesus promises to “draw all people to myself” (12:32). The author of Hebrews urges us to believers not to give up meeting together, but to motivate one another to love and do good deeds (Heb. 10:24-25). Scripture: Philippians 4:1-9 Preacher: Rev. Dr. Mack Dennis Cover art: Together, River Bradley (Third grader) Worship with First Baptist Church of Asheville. Sundays: Bible study at 10:00 a.m., worship at 11:00 a.m. · 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC · fbca.net

October 4, 2026. Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost (World Communion). Year A. Psalm 19 praises creation and describes it as “telling” and “proclaiming.” We learn the heavens and the earth are really quite eloquent, even if “their voice is not heard.” The poem quickly shifts to describe the life-giving eloquence of the law (Torah). The Psalm’s structure invites us to see God’s creation and God’s word in mutually illuminating conversation. Creation elicits our awe and wonder, while God’s word deepens our perception, care, and enjoyment of creation, allowing its inarticulate beauty to “speak” with even more power. Preacher: Rev. Dr. Mack Dennis Cover art: The Heavens Tell God's glory, Edie Mae Herrel

September 27, 2026. Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Year A. The tax collectors and prostitutes are already going into the kingdom of God ahead of the chief priests? Ouch, that's gotta hurt. Jesus isn't describing a future occurrence, but a present reality. All the wrong kinds of people have received the good news and believed and begun making their way inside, while the religious veterans are still trying to check IDs at the door. No matter our station in life, though, Jesus places the emphasis on changing our minds and bending our lives to God's will, and he points us to all the wrong kinds of people for direction. Preacher: Rev. Dr. Mack Dennis Worship with First Baptist Church of Asheville. Sundays for Bible study at 10:00 a.m.. and worship at 11:00 a.m. Learn more at fbca.net.

September 20, 2026. Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. Year A. All the laborers, even those arriving at day's end, get paid the same salary. What kind of twisted wage theft is this? Then the landowner places the late laborers in the front of the line so the early laborers witness his strange generosity. It's just not...just. Pair this with the lectionary's glimpse of Jonah's insolence about Nineveh, and we discover this Sunday's texts are designed to provoke a mutiny among those of us who've been doing most of the work. Or maybe they're designed instead to open our hearts to the glad news of God's unjust grace. Preacher: Rev. Dr. Mack Dennis Worship with First Baptist Church of Asheville. Sundays for Bible study at 10:00 a.m.. and worship at 11:00 a.m. Learn more at fbca.net.

September 13, 2026. Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Year A. Preacher: Rev. Dr. Mack Dennis Worship with First Baptist Church of Asheville. Sundays: Bible study at 10:00 a.m., worship at 11:00 a.m. · 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC · fbca.net

September 6, 2026. Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Year A. The core of the Passover story provides a detailed sequence of food preparation and mealtime. God not only commands the Israelites to prepare the lamb just so but also to eat it hurriedly. The meal upon which the Lord's Supper is founded is no casual affair, but fuel for a dangerous departure from domination, nourishment for a great escape from slavery, a communal meal to commemorate God's deliverance from the powers that be. Preacher: Rev. Dr. Mack Dennis Worship with First Baptist Church of Asheville. Sundays for Bible study at 10:00 a.m.. and worship at 11:00 a.m. Learn more at fbca.net.

August 30, 2026. Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Year A. Though the bush is aflame, the Lord doesn't speak to Moses until the curious shepherd "turns aside to see." The text's repetition of this benign phrase, "turn aside," makes it glow with more significance. The author directs our attention to God's appreciation for Moses' ability to discern the Lord's presence. As we ordain deacons today, we give thanks for those with the prophetic sensitivity to God's mysteries and revelations, while also recognizing that once those who do finally "turn aside to see" God are soon thereafter sent on a mission. Preacher: Rev. Dr. Mack Dennis Worship with First Baptist Church of Asheville. Sundays for Bible study at 10:00 a.m.. and worship at 11:00 a.m. Learn more at fbca.net.

August 23, 2026. Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost. Year A. Preacher: Rev. Casey Callahan Worship with First Baptist Church of Asheville. Sundays: Bible study at 10:00 a.m., worship at 11:00 a.m. · 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC · fbca.net

August 9, 2026. Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost. Year A. Preacher: Mae Craig Worship with First Baptist Church of Asheville. Sundays: Bible study at 10:00 a.m., worship at 11:00 a.m. · 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC · fbca.net

August 16, 2026. Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost. Year A. Preacher: Rev. Tambi Swiney Worship with First Baptist Church of Asheville. Sundays: Bible study at 10:00 a.m., worship at 11:00 a.m. · 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC · fbca.net

July 26, 2026. Ninth Sunday after Pentecost. Year A. Preacher: Rev. Dr. Craig Hines Worship with First Baptist Church of Asheville. Sundays: Bible study at 10:00 a.m., worship at 11:00 a.m. · 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC · fbca.net

July 19, 2026. Eighth Sunday after Pentecost. Year A. Preacher: Rev. Dr. Craig Hines Worship with First Baptist Church of Asheville. Sundays: Bible study at 10:00 a.m., worship at 11:00 a.m. · 5 Oak Street, Asheville, NC · fbca.net