Cumberland Trace Church of Christ (Formerly Lehman Ave Church of Christ)

September 16, 2026 - Wednesday PM Bible Class

This episode is a sermon-style teaching about the faithfulness of God and how His unchanging character forms the foundation for our own faith. Bill opens with 1 Corinthians 1:4–9 and frames the message around five pillars that describe God’s faithfulness—His omniscience (ever-knowing), omnipotence (ever-powerful), omnipresence (ever-present), truthfulness (ever-honest), and absoluteness (never-changing). The talk emphasizes that our faithfulness is a response to God’s consistent faithfulness toward His people.

Scripture passages referenced include Psalm 31:23; 1 John 1:9; Revelation 2:10; Hebrews 4:13; Ephesians 3:20; Psalm 139:7–10; Hebrews 6:18; Malachi 3:6; Deuteronomy 7:9; Lamentations 3:23; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Timothy 4:6–8; and many Psalms. Bill also surveys biblical examples—Job, Noah, Abraham and Sarah, Moses, the Israelites, David, Elijah, Peter, Thomas and the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11—to illustrate how faith is tested and ultimately strengthened when we turn back to God.

Key takeaways and practical guidance include inviting God into everyday decisions and relationships, praying for wisdom and strength, practicing love and forgiveness, resisting the devil, studying Scripture to build faith, and surrounding yourself with God’s people. The message calls listeners to rely on God’s promises rather than feelings, to count the cost of commitments, and to view divine discipline as training that shapes faithful living.

Memorable moments include the speaker’s personal testimony of being 46 years in the Lord, a light-hearted anecdote about two mischievous boys, and repeated encouragements to remain faithful until death in order to receive the crown of righteousness (paired with Revelation 2:10 and 2 Timothy 4:6–8). The episode closes with a pastoral prayer asking God to help listeners live faithful lives and to trust His unchanging faithfulness through every season.

 

Duration 40:30

September 13, 2026 - Sunday PM Sermon

 

In this episode Hiram confronts Marcionism—the early church controversy of dismissing the Old Testament—and explains why the whole Bible is essential for Christian faith. Framing the talk around the title "Old Testament Lessons for New Testament Christians," the sermon walks listeners through ten concrete lessons drawn from Genesis through the Prophets and the Writings that shape New Testament belief and practice.

Topics covered include the historical example of Marcion and his edited Bible, the continuity between Old and New covenants, and ten specific takeaways: (1) God as Creator (Genesis, Psalms), (2) the equal value of every person as God’s image-bearer (Genesis, Leviticus, Proverbs), (3) God’s heart for the nations (Jonah, Ruth, Joshua), (4) the inevitability and purpose of suffering (Job, John 16), (5) the indispensability of prayer (Psalms, 1 Samuel, Jeremiah), (6) God’s seriousness about obedience (Leviticus, 2 Samuel, Numbers), (7) God’s sovereignty over nations and rulers (Exodus, Daniel, Romans 13), (8) God’s willingness to forgive anyone (Manasseh, Isaiah, Psalm 103), (9) divine providence surpassing human plans (Joseph, Esther, Romans 8), and (10) the hope of better days to come (Isaiah, Hebrews, John 14).

Hiram weaves scripture references and illustrative stories—Job’s suffering, Jonah and Nineveh’s repentance, Joseph’s providence, and the restoration of Manasseh—into pastoral encouragement. He emphasizes practical implications for listeners: don’t reject the Old Testament, value every life, persevere through suffering, pray regularly, respect God’s commands, submit to civil authorities while praying for them, trust God’s providence, and live in expectation of Christ’s return.

Participants and contributors mentioned in the recording include Darrell (who reads a passage), co-teachers Barrett and Grant (noted for teaching the Psalms class), Neal (co-teaching with the speaker), and Chase (who leads the closing invitation song). The episode closes with an invitation to receive prayer, restoration, or baptism and an appeal to embrace the hope both Testaments point to in Jesus Christ.

 

Handout:

Old Testament Lessons for New Testament Christians

Hiram Kemp

1. God is __________________________ _________________________ (Genesis 1:1)
2. Every ______________________ has ______________________ (Genesis 1:26-27)
3. God wants all _____________________ to know ________________ (Jonah 3:1-10)
4. ______________________________ is _________________________ (Job 1:20-22)
5. ______________________ is _____________________________ (1 Samuel 1:9-18)
6. God does not _____________ ___________ lightly (Leviticus 10:1-3; 2 Samuel 6:6-7)
7. God is _____________ over ____________ & ___________ (Daniel 4:17, 4:25, 4:35)
8. God will ____________ ______________ & ______________ (2 Chronicles 33:1-20)
9. God's _______________ is ____________ than our __________ (Genesis 50:15-21)
10. Better _______________________ are ________________________ (Isaiah 2:1-4)

 

Duration 34:48

September 13, 2026 - Sunday AM Sermon

In this sermon-style episode Hiram unpacks why the Bible is unique, authoritative, and central to Christian life. Drawing on passages from both Old and New Testaments (including Deuteronomy, Psalm 119, Isaiah, John, Romans, 2 Timothy, Hebrews, Revelation, and more), the message traces the Bible’s divine inspiration, careful preservation across history, and the sacrifices made to translate and protect it—highlighting figures like the anonymous monastic copyists and William Tyndale.

Key topics covered include: the Bible as God-breathed Scripture meant to be read and memorized; the completeness and sufficiency of Scripture; warnings against adding or removing God’s Word; how the Bible reveals truth (sometimes wounding us) and calls for honest self-examination; the Bible’s difficulty and the need for patient, disciplined study; the fact that all Scripture points to Jesus; and the universal, timeless application of biblical teaching. Practical comparisons (e.g., the Bible as lamp, X-ray, and mirror) and pastoral counsel underscore that engaging Scripture is not merely informational but transformative.

The episode features the sermon delivered by the pastor (speaker); it references historical context and apologetic considerations and addresses common modern objections—such as curiosity about “lost books”—by explaining the canon’s completion and authority. Scriptural examples and pastoral stories illustrate how the Bible is intended to form believers, not just inform them.

Listeners can expect clear takeaways and practical challenges: read the Bible regularly (don’t just quote verses), allow its truth to wound and change you, use tools and community to work through difficult passages, and trust that Scripture is sufficient to guide faith and practice. The episode closes with an invitation to repentance and baptism, and an offer of pastoral support for anyone seeking restoration or spiritual help.

 

Handout:

The Bible...
Hiram Kemp

1. The Bible is _________________ to be ________________ (Deuteronomy 17:18-19)
2. The Bible is _________________________________________ (John 16:13; Jude 3)
3. The Bible ______________________ the ________________________ (John 17:17)
4. The Bible is ____________________________________________ (2 Peter 3:15-16)
5. The Bible is ___________________ _______________________ (Luke 24:27, 24:44)
6. The Bible _________ to ________, _________, for ___________ (2 Timothy 3:16-17;
Hebrews 4:12-13)
7. The Bible is ___________________ to ____________________ You (Psalm 19:7-8)

 

 

Duration 30:51

September 13, 2026 - Sunday AM Bible Class

In this episode we work through 1 Corinthians chapters 1–3 to confront division in the church and re-center attention on the person and work of Jesus. Hiram continues a conversation started by Neal and interacts with class members as they unpack Paul’s call to unity, the danger of “preacher-itis,” and the source of true wisdom.

Topics covered include: Paul’s opening reminders that the Corinthians are sanctified and called; the critique of factions formed around favorite preachers; the countercultural nature of God’s wisdom—how the message of Christ crucified appears as folly to the world but is the power of God; and the contrast between worldly intelligence and godly wisdom.

The episode also examines why God chooses the lowly and despised to shame the wise, how the apostles received revealed truth through the Spirit, and practical implications for evangelism and teaching. Key pastoral points emphasize preaching Christ (not the preacher), leaning on Scripture so faith rests on God’s power, and understanding ministry roles: some plant, some water, but God gives the growth.

Listeners can expect a mix of exposition and interactive Q&A that highlights biblical prescriptions for unity—seeing God rightly, pursuing spiritual maturity (measured by behavior and humility, not merely knowledge), and giving all glory to the Lord so the church stops dividing over personalities and instead becomes a unified, God-centered witness.

 

Duration 43:32

September 9, 2026 - Wednesday PM Bible Class

 

In this episode a Charlie leads a thoughtful lesson on practicing faithfulness in the home, drawing practical lessons from Scripture and a real-life family example. He opens by explaining the series theme “Faithful Unto Death” and outlines preliminary questions every parent and spouse should consider: Am I a member of the Lord’s church? Did I marry a member? Have I encouraged my children to marry within Christ’s church?

The talk examines how marriage choices, church commitment, Bible study, prayer, and regular worship shape family life. The speaker cites 1 Peter 3 to highlight responsibilities for wives (submission, gentle and quiet spirit, winning by conduct) and husbands (dwell with understanding, give honor, be heirs together so prayers are not hindered).

An unnamed family is presented as an illustrative example — not perfect, but exemplary — of faithful parenting across generations: four children raised in the church, three marrying Christians, a son-in-law converted and now an elder, a daughter who shifted from classroom teaching to educating grandchildren at home, and a devoted grandmother who counseled family members and sought Biblical solutions for marital problems.

Key takeaways include the importance of intentional mate selection according to God’s will, the need to teach teens and young adults Biblical standards before marriage proposals come, the vital role grandparents and mature Christians in supporting families, and the centrality of Scripture and prayer as a manual for marriage and family life. The episode closes with a congregational prayer and a note that Bill Dayton will speak next week on understanding God’s faithfulness.

 

Duration 31:59

September 6, 2026 - Sunday PM Sermon

 

In this episode Neal leads listeners through a vivid imagining of the Israelites’ night at Pi-hahiroth, walking through the Red Sea and witnessing the destruction of the Egyptian army. Using Exodus 15 as his anchor, he examines how God’s majesty is revealed in three dimensions: His names (El, Elohim, Adonai, Yahweh), His characteristics (highly exalted, awesome in praise, wonder-working), and His acts (the Red Sea crossing, redemption and deliverance). The sermon connects those Old Testament events to Psalmic praise, New Testament witness, and the atoning work of Jesus.

Along the way Neal references scripture readers and worship leaders present in the service and weaves in anecdotes (a modern glacial disaster, a personal childhood story, and Handel’s Messiah) to illustrate the power and emotional response elicited by God’s greatness. He highlights Hebraic oral memory and the role of songs in preserving and passing on the memory of God’s deeds.

Key points include the theological meanings behind each Old Testament name of God, the call to remember and rehearse God’s mighty acts across generations, and the dual idea of redemption (physical deliverance in Exodus and spiritual redemption through Christ). The sermon emphasizes practical responses: worship, remembrance, rededication, and a public invitation for listener response — baptism or renewed obedience.

Listeners can expect a richly descriptive sermon that blends exegesis, historical and biblical references, practical application, and a closing invitation to respond to God’s grace. The episode is ideal for anyone seeking a deeper appreciation of God’s majesty, the theological significance of Exodus 15, and encouragement to live out an obedient, remembering faith.

 

Handout:

THE MAJESTY OF GOD (Exodus 15)

Neal Pollard

It is seen in...
I. HIS ____________________________________________________
II. HIS ____________________________________________________
III. HIS ___________________________________________________

 

Duration 33:10

September 6, 2026 - Sunday AM Sermon

In this episode, Neal uses real-life sinkholes in Kentucky as a vivid metaphor for spiritual and emotional collapse, then walks listeners through Ephesians 2:10–13 to show how Christ transforms lives. After describing local sinkhole incidents—including a tragic roadway collapse, the Louisville Zoo event, and the famous Corvette sinkhole—the sermon draws parallels between unstable ground and lives lived "without hope and without God."

The episode covers Paul’s portrait of humanity “formerly” (dead in trespasses and sins), highlighting the influences of the world, the devil, and a self-centered spirit. The speaker examines the “former passion” of indulging the flesh and mind, bringing the 1st-century context into 21st-century issues such as pornography, sexual immorality, substance abuse, and the resulting consequences.

Key theological contrasts are emphasized: the turning point introduced by the phrases “but God,” “but now,” and “so then.” The sermon explains how Christ removes the partition between Jews and Gentiles, makes the spiritually distant near by His blood, and restores identity, purpose, and reconciliation within the one body of Christ.

Biblical foundations and practical applications are given: baptism is presented as the means by which believers are united with Christ’s death and the blood of Christ is applied for the remission and washing away of sins. The speaker outlines the blessings found in Christ—mercy, grace, inheritance, nearness, reconciliation, and good works—and urges listeners who are estranged or have wandered to respond to the gospel.

The episode concludes with an invitation: a pastoral call to obedience, baptism, and return to fellowship. Listeners can expect scriptural exposition, cultural application, encouragement for those feeling hopeless or far from God, and an opportunity for public response or prayer as the congregation sings and invites decisions.

 

WITHOUT HOPE & WITHOUT GOD IN THIS WORLD (Ephesians 2:10-13) Announcements & Upcoming Events

Neal Pollard

I. WE SEE WHAT WE WERE ____________________________________________________
A. Paul Mentions Our Former _______________________________________________ (1-2)
B. Paul Mentions Our Former _________________________________________________ (3)
C. Paul Mentions A Former _______________________________________________ (11-12)
D. Paul Mentions A Former _________________________________________________ (13)
II. WE SEE GOD'S _______________ TO ______________ WHAT WE WERE _____________
A. "_________________________________ ___________________________________" (4)
B. "_________________________________ __________________________________" (13)
C. "_________________________________ __________________________________" (19)
III. WE SEE THE ____________ THAT'S MADE WHEN WE'VE BEEN __________ BY CHRIST
A. ________________________________ Grace In ______________________________ (7)
B. ______________________________ ______________________________________ (10)
C. _____________________________________________________________________ (13)
D. __________________________________________________________________ (15-16)
E. Spiritual ________________________ And A Spiritual ______________________ (21-22)

 

Duration 33:29

September 6, 2026 - Sunday AM Bible Class

This episode introduces the new quarter of adult and college classes and transitions into a focused study of 1 Corinthians, co-taught by the hosts and guest teachers. Announcements include Barrett and Grant leading the adult class (Psalms devotional studies) and Joey teaching the college class (sin struggles). The main teaching is a co-led lecture on Studies in 1 Corinthians with Hiram and Neal exploring the book’s context and application.

Listeners will hear a group discussion opening with the question: why do people leave a church? The episode catalogs common causes — hurt feelings or “church hurt,” unmet needs, lack of connection, doctrinal disputes, personality clashes, preacher-following, ministry availability for children, and even racial tension — and offers pastoral counsel about confronting problems biblically (go to elders, speak privately, avoid hasty moves) and recognizing the consumer mentality that can undermine Christian discipleship.

The hosts then ground the conversation in the history and geography of ancient Corinth — a strategic, wealthy, and morally compromised port city — and Paul’s role in founding the church there during his second missionary journey. Key background details include Corinth’s diverse population, its idolatrous and sexualized culture, and the unique pressures that produced division within the congregation.

The heart of the episode unpacks 1 Corinthians 1–4: Paul’s call as an apostle and his appeal for the church to be of the “same mind and same judgment.” Neal explains the theological meaning of calling (sanctification, fellowship with Christ, baptism as calling-on-the-name), Paul’s apostolic authority, and why reminding believers of their identity in Christ is the first step toward healing division.

Listeners are given a roadmap of the issues Paul addresses across the letter — factional allegiance to different leaders, sexual immorality, marital problems, disputes over judgment and conscience, misapplied Israelite examples, gender-role misunderstandings, abuse of the Lord’s Supper, and rivalry over spiritual gifts — and how these fractures reveal a deeper problem of worldly, fleshly thinking rather than a Christ-centered unity.

Finally, the episode points to Paul’s solution: re-center the church on the cross and on Christ’s revealed mind. Practical takeaways include pursuing unity through shared submission to Scripture and Christ’s mind (not merely human preferences), addressing doctrinal error through proper channels, valuing the body metaphor (many members, one purpose), and striving for mutual edification so the church can be blameless and effective in the world.

Duration 44:01

September 2, 2026 - Wednesday PM Bible Class

In this episode Bill fills in for Brother Clay and leads a thoughtful study on Luke—the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts. Drawing on classroom discussion and contributions from Neal, Hiram and Kevin, the group examines Luke’s identity (including Paul’s references to him as the “beloved physician”), his background as a likely Gentile and synagogue-attendee, and his close companionship with the Apostle Paul as shown by the numerous “we” passages in Acts.

The host covers authorship and audience (Luke addressing Theophilus, sometimes styled “Most Excellent”), the literary link between Luke and Acts, and why these two volumes together make up roughly a quarter of the New Testament. Key themes are highlighted: Luke’s focus on Jesus’ humanity and compassion, the central role of the Holy Spirit, the missionary expansion of the church, fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, and Luke’s special attention to the poor, outcasts and Gentiles.

Listeners will hear close readings of pivotal passages (Luke 1:1–4, Luke 24:44–49 and Acts 1:8), comparisons with the other Gospels (how Luke’s Great Commission emphasizes repentance, forgiveness and Spirit-empowerment), and discussion of Luke’s historical reliability and its impact on faith. Practical applications are emphasized throughout: the mission to seek and save the lost, the transformation of believers into Christlikeness, the church’s responsibility to care for the needy, and the ongoing relevance of Acts as the model for bold, unhindered witness.

Expect a mixture of exposition, group Q&A, historical context, and pastoral reflection—ending in prayer—aimed at helping listeners understand both why Luke matters for Bible study and how Luke & Acts should shape the church’s mission and daily life today.

 

Duration 39:27

August 30, 2026 - Sunday PM Sermon

 

In this episode the speakers unpack the theme of Jesus as the Master Teacher, using Matthew 7:28–29 as a starting point. Through scripture readings, songs, and several short sermons they examine what makes a great teacher—authority, insight into the human heart, creative methods (parables, questions, direct challenge), and above all teaching by example. Listeners will hear reflections on Jesus’ teaching style, including the foot-washing in John 13, and an invitation to move beyond merely knowing doctrine toward living it.

The episode moves to a sustained look at how Jesus redefines righteousness through the Sermon on the Mount and related passages (Matthew 5–7, Luke 18). Speakers challenge the audience to stop measuring holiness by external behavior and checklists and instead evaluate motives and the condition of the heart. The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector is used to show the danger of self-righteousness, while James 1:22 and other passages remind listeners that true faith is shown by being doers of the Word.

Another segment examines the illusion of self-cleansing and the risk of an ‘‘empty’’ holiness, drawing on Matthew 12:43–45 and John 15:4–5 to stress the necessity of abiding in Christ. The hosts explain how behavior modification without God’s presence leaves a person vulnerable, and why genuine transformation comes from the indwelling life of Jesus rather than merely sweeping one’s life clean.

The program also explores the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15) and a modern true-life story about a missing boy found decades later to illustrate God’s persistent compassion. Key takeaways include: God watches with compassion while we are still far off, God restores fully (not halfway), and heaven celebrates when a lost person returns. Scripture references woven throughout include Matthew, John, Luke, 2 Corinthians, Romans, Philippians, and others.

Expect a mix of preaching, pastoral reflection, scripture readings, and worship songs including “Every Time” and “Seek Ye First.” The episode issues a clear, warm invitation to examine whether you are merely performing righteousness or truly abiding in Christ, offers practical reflection questions, and closes with an encouragement to take steps toward restoration and closer relationship with the Father.

 

Duration 38:40