Thursday, May 24, 2018

Don't Forget Church on Your Vacation

            Summer is almost upon us.  It’s amazing how fast this year is moving, in just a little while our High School Senior will graduate, finalizing a milestone in their lives.  Our children and youth are looking to some summer time fun and maybe some vacation time, either here at home or somewhere on some distant shore or even in the foothills of the mountains. 

            Remember as this time of year brings to mind long awaited vacations, we never take a vacation from God.  As we all scatter to the four-winds plan out your vacation time to include some “God-time.”  It is amazing how many churches are around vacation spots such as the beach and yes even in the mountains.  Make your vacation special by planning on visiting a church.  The Scriptures are clear regarding our Church time in Hebrews 10:23-25 it tell us to,

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

We need to take to heart this message, we know by the signs of the times it want be long till Jesus comes, we are to gather with fellow believers to encourage one another.

            Be intentional when planning your vacations to visit a Church.  Many Churches have websites so you can check and see if they are of like-minded-faith.  I promise you if you go, God will have a message for you and you will discover there are Bible-believing-Baptist even in vacation hot-spots. Take it as an opportunity to greet them in love from a Sister-Church in the Faith from Startex, South Carolina named Tucapau. And don’t be surprised if they ask you to “say that again…can you spell that again.”

            May God bless you as you seek to serve the Lord.  Remember, no matter where you go, there you are, and so is God.

Blessings,
Pastor Eric
Galatians 2:20       

Thursday, May 3, 2018

A Moment in Biblical Literacy: The Great Commission


If you were asked to explain the “Great Commission" and locate it in the Bible could you?

Matthew 28:19-20  
"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

What does it mean to “Go?”

The emphasis of the Great Commission is not on the “Go.”  The Greek word for “go” here is a modifier (participle) of the command in the passage, meaning “as you are already going do ____.”

We are already going to work, school, shopping, out to eat, visiting with family and friends, and even vacationing, but as we are already going we are to “Make Disciples.”  

What does it mean to “Make Disciples?” 

This is where the emphasis of the Great Commission of Jesus to His followers is found.

The Greek word for “make” is an imperative, a command to every believer, to every Christian, it’s not a suggestion nor is it a request.  You are commanded to share your faith in the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Gospel.  What is the Gospel?

“…Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,  and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).  

Before you go further, allow me to take a burden from your shoulders.  You cannot make anyone believe in Jesus and you cannot save anyone, that’s Jesus’ job.

1 Peter 2:24  [Jesus] Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

It’s not even your job to convict anyone of their sins, that’s the job of the Holy Spirit.

John 16:8   And [the Holy Spirit], when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment.

Your job as a disciple is twofold, first, you are to love God and love people, this is the Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40). Second, you are to share your faith in the Gospel
 of Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), the good news that God has made a way of salvation through the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ for any person.  You don’t have to argue or win a debate, just love people and speak the truth in love and trust the Lord to work in their heart.

Now, when you have shared the Gospel, and a person has believed and accepted Jesus as Lord and believed that God raised him from the Dead to be saved (Romans 10:9-10), then you make sure they follow in Believer’s Baptism.

What does it mean to Baptize?

Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water as an act of obedience to the command of Christ. It’s their public profession of faith, symbolizing their belief by faith in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus for their sin.  It is symbolic of their death to sin, burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Jesus Christ.  (Romans 6:3-7)

As an ordinance of Christ to the Church, it is prerequisite to church membership (Acts 2:41-42). When a person is baptized a spoken formula of the baptism is to include, “I baptize you in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”  

The Baptism provides no saving work toward a person’s salvation. You are neither more saved if your baptized nor less saved if you are not, salvation is by God’s grace alone, through your faith alone, in the work of Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8-9).  As an act of obedience to the command of Christ it demonstrates that you have already believed.  It is an outward expression of an inward change.  

What does it mean to “Teach?”

Once a person believes by faith on Jesus for their salvation, they are spiritually “born again.”

John 3:3   Jesus answered and said to [Nicodemus], "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."  

A newborn believer is much the same as a newborn baby.  A newborn baby doesn’t have the knowledge or the skills to provide or protect themselves, they need someone to teach and guide them. 

A newborn believer knows that Jesus died for their sins and by faith gave them eternal life (John 17:3).  What they now need is to know how to live that life for Christ, to conform it to the image of Christ.  Learning every day to be a little more like Jesus through the taking off the old self (sin) and putting on the new self (faith) in Christ (Romans 8:29, 12:1-2; Ephesians 4:21-24, 5:1-2).

What do we teach a new believer?

·         How to read the Bible, the Gospel of John is a great place to start
·         How to pray, Matthew 6:5-13 is a wonderful outline for prayer
·         How to be the Church to worship, learn and fellowship
·         How to live their life of faith in Christ publically
·         How to share their faith

We call this Discipleship.

So, as you are going about living your life, take every opportunity to share the Gospel.
If you lead someone to saving faith instruct them on Jesus command to be baptized.
Teach them how to walk their new life in Christ pleasing and serving God.

And remember, you’re not alone in this Great Commission, Jesus said, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Learn It - Live It - Love It - Share It

Wednesday, May 2, 2018

Who is Jesus?


John 3:16
For God so loved the world, That He gave His only begotten Son,
That whoever believes in Him shall not perish, But have eternal life.


  • Jesus is God's Son

 What is the Gospel? – The Good News

1 Corinthians 15:1-4
1Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scripturesand that He was buriedand that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

  • Jesus Christ Died for our Sins
  • Jesus Christ Was Buried
  • Jesus Christ was Raised from the Dead to make our Salvation Possible

1 Peter 2:24
[Jesus] Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness

 Why the Gospel? – The Bad News

God has a standard all of us must obey, and we have broken it with our disobedience.

10 Commandments – The Law (Exodus 20)

1st You shall have no other gods before Me.

2nd You shall not make for yourself an idol.

3rd You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

4th Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.

5th Honor your father and your mother.

6th You shall not murder.
  • Matthew 5:22 Jesus said if you are angry at someone you are guilty
  • 1 John 3:15 says if you hate someone you are guilty

7th You shall not commit adultery.
  • Matthew 5:28 Jesus said if you lust after someone you are guilty

8th You shall not steal.

9th You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10th You shall not covet.

Jesus summed up the 10 Commandments in Matthew 22:36-40
  • Love God with all your Heart, Soul, and Mind
  • Love your Neighbor as yourself

The Truth

Romans 3:10
There is none righteous, not even one

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

Romans 5:8
God demonstrates His own love toward us, In that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 10:9-10
If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; For with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, And with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation

Romans 10:13
WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED

What Must I Do to Be Saved?

Mark 1:15
Jesus Said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at handrepent and believe in the gospel.”

  • Repent – “To have a Change of Mind” – to turn to God and turn from your sin
  • Believe – “Accept by Faith” that Jesus Died on the Cross for your Sin

A Prayer of Commitment

Lord Jesus,
I am a sinner in need of forgiveness.
I am sorry for breaking Your law and my disobedience.
Thank you for dying on the cross
And being raised from the dead to make my salvation possible.
I do invite You into my life to be Lord and Savior.
Amen.

Now What?

  • Read the Bible – the Gospel of John is a great place to start.
  • Pray – Mathew 6:5-13 is a wonderful outline for praying
  • Go to Church – to Worship God, Learn, and Fellowship with other Believers.
  • Baptism – Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19-20 to follow Him in Baptism.
  • Live – publically your Faith in Jesus.
  • Share – the Gospel with Others.

These few points are just where we start, 
Jesus calls us to live a life filled with Love for God and People.

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

62 Day Bible Reading Challenge


Dear Church Family,

                This Reading plan will focus upon two of Jerusalem’s Major Prophets;

Isaiah – who’s prophetic activity (740-687 BC) focused upon Israel’s destiny of both judgment for their dependence upon other nations and their lack of trust in YHWH and their subsequent destiny of salvation through YHWH’s Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53).

Jeremiah – known as the “Weeping Prophet,” who’s prophetic activity (627-585 BC) laments the judgment of Judah due to their unfaithfulness to YHWH before their subsequent fall into captivity to Babylon. Though they will fall into captivity YHWH will restore them. The Book of Lamentations, accredited to Jeremiah, are 5 laments over the fall of Jerusalem, focusing on the justice of YHWH and the hope that finally lies within YHWH’s character and love.
    
     Happy and Fruitful Reading 



If you missed any of our other reading or would like to catch up go to any of the links below;

1st Reading Challenge

2nd Reading Challenge

3rd Reading Challenge

4th Reading Challenge

5th Reading Challenge

6th Reading Challenge

7th Reading Challenge




Isaiah 1 & 2

Isaiah 43 & 44

Jeremiah 19 & 20 

Isaiah 3 & 4

Isaiah 45 &46

Jeremiah 21 & 22

Isaiah 5 & 6

Isaiah 47 & 48

Jeremiah 23 & 24

Isaiah 7 & 8

Isaiah 49 & 50

Jeremiah 25 & 26

Isaiah 9 & 10

Isaiah 51 & 52

Jeremiah 27 & 28

Isaiah 11 & 12

Isaiah 53 & 54

Jeremiah 29 & 30

Isaiah 13 & 14

Isaiah 55 & 56

Jeremiah 31 & 32

Isaiah 15 & 16

Isaiah 57 & 58

Jeremiah 33 & 34

Isaiah 17 & 18

Isaiah 59 & 60

Jeremiah 35 & 36

Isaiah 19 & 20

Isaiah 61 & 62

Jeremiah 37 & 38

Isaiah 21 & 22

Isaiah 63 & 64

Jeremiah 39 & 40

Isaiah 23 & 24

Isaiah 65 & 66

Jeremiah 41 & 42

Isaiah 25 & 26

Jeremiah 1 & 2

Jeremiah 43 & 44 

Isaiah 27 & 28

Jeremiah 3 & 4

Jeremiah 45 & 46

Isaiah 29 & 30

Jeremiah 5 & 6

Jeremiah 47 & 48 

Isaiah 31 & 32

Jeremiah 7 & 8

Jeremiah 49 & 50

Isaiah 33 & 34

Jeremiah 9 & 10

Jeremiah 51 & 52

Isaiah 35 & 36

Jeremiah 11 & 12

Lamentations 1 & 2

Isaiah 37 & 38

Jeremiah 13 & 14

Lamentations 3 & 4

Isaiah 39 & 40

Jeremiah 15 & 16

Lamentations 5

Isaiah 41 & 42

Jeremiah 17 & 18