What's in it for me?

When I first started this blog, I wrote a post titled "Generation Lost" about the generation of twenty-somethings that seem so scarce in our churches. I have never understood how people that were raised in church can just quit going.

I used to blame it on the fact that a lot of churches spoon-feed their young people with cool videos, special services, rocking music and all sorts of special events all through their youth. My generation has definitely been pampered. We haven't had to spend much time at all worrying about ministering to others. Instead, we were always being ministered to. Not that youth ministry is bad - I work in youth ministry at my church and I think it is a great thing. But we have to be careful not to get our kids into a "What's in it for me?" mindset. I think that a lot of young adults are so used to going to church for the cool youth events and for fellowship with their friends that they miss what it's really all about - worshiping the Lord and encouraging other believers in their walk with Christ.

So when kids graduate out of the youth group and are no longer constantly entertained by cool classes and events, a lot of them leave. They seek out the church that will give them what they want - an awesome band, or a coffee bar, or whatever the newest trend is. They go church hopping asking, "What's in it for me?" until they just drop out all together.

I have recently watched the small group of twenty-somethings at the church I currently attend disappear. It's not that anyone completely stopped going to church or pulled away from God, but some found new churches, others moved for school and some only make it every now and then. It's discouraging to sit in a Sunday school class as the only student. And my teacher and I have no idea how to encourage people to come for our "College and Career" class on Sundays. People my age that are single and in school or working just don't seem interested in church unless it's convenient or it offers them something they want. They all want to know, "What's in it for me?"

Although I know that church is not all about me, I have to admit I have been asking myself "What's in it for me?" more often lately. And I can honestly say that I understand how so many young adults end up discouraged and just stop coming to church.

It's not that I feel unwelcome in my congregation. The people at my church are encouraging and fun to be around and always willing to lend a hand if they can. They have welcomed me with open arms and have allowed me to minister to the young people of our church through our Wednesday night program and programs like UPWARD Basketball and Cheerleading. There are plenty of things that I can be involved in, and I enjoy the opportunities that I have there.

My problem is not that there's not a place for me to minister. My problem is not that there's not a place for me to worship. My problem - and I think the problem for a lot of twenty-somethings that are not married yet and still a little uncertain about their futures - is that there's no one else like me at my church.

Now, I know that I shouldn't base my church attendance of the attendance of others. I can almost hear my mother saying, "If so-and-so jumped off a bridge, would you jump too?" But it can be hard to be faithful when you feel like you're doing it all alone.

It's like no one knows what to do with me. I'm not married, so I can't be in the Young Married class. I can go in the Adult Class, as long as I don't mind hanging out with my parents and their friends. I could probably crash the teen class, but I'd better be prepared to hear about all the high school drama that I was so glad to escape years ago. There's just no good solution for the one person that doesn't fit in anywhere. I can't and don't expect the church to build a class around me. Besides, I would be the only one in it, and that wouldn't solve anything.

So, as much as I hate to do it, I have to ask, "What's in it for me?" How can the church minister to people like me? How does the church handle people that don't fit in?

I wish that I knew. Because even though I know that my church family loves me and wants what's best for me, I can't help but feeling like the leper that's hanging out by the gate. I'm constantly the "sore thumb" of the group - the oldest, or the youngest, or the third wheel, or the only one without kids, or the last poor soul that can't seem to get married, or the one that doesn't have a house of her own yet... the list goes on and on.

So for now, I just have to trust God. Sometimes I get caught up in the things that I don't have (like a husband and family of my own, for example). During those times, I have to remember that God has blessed me in different ways and that He has a reason for keeping those things from me at this point in my life.

In her book, Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl, Lysa TerKeurst wrote, "Whenever I get an overly idyllic view of someone else's circumstances, I often remind myself out loud, 'I am not equipped to handle what they have - both good and bad.'" That's something I am working on. It's coming about slowly, but I'm working on it.

I am also working on taking my "What's in it for me?" and turning it into "What does God want to teach me through this?" That's coming about rather slowly, too. But when God allows us to go through struggles, rest assured that He has something in it for us.

So what is in it for me? What is God trying to teach me?

1. "...But we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us." Romans 5:3-5 - Patience is a virtue, and I don't possess it yet.

2. "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers." Ephesians 4:29 - Um, ouch.

3. "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28 - Something good will come out of this struggle someday. Maybe I'll be the one that figures out how to make this twenty-something ministry work in my church. Who knows? Oh, wait... God does.

4. "There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she my please her husband." 1 Corinthians 7:34 - He's still working on me, and without the distractions of marriage and family responsibilites I can better focus on His Word.

5. "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common unto man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 - When I am tempted to skip Sunday school and stay under the covers for an extra hour, I have to remember that God has provided me with so much through this church and that He has a purpose for me there. Even though things might not be perfect right now, God is faithful and He will make a place for me to learn, grow and worship.

6. "Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way." 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 - I am a part of the body of Christ and it is my duty to do my part. God has called me to a purpose that is just for me, and if I am faithful He will bless my efforts.

7. "Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us..." 2 Corinthians 7:6 - Didn't I say earlier that it was hard to be faithful when you feel alone? Well, guess what? I'm not alone after all. God can and will comfort me in my time of need.

8. "But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth." 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 - It's not about me.

9. "Grace be unto you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." Galatians 1:3-5 - It's not about me.

10. "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20 - It's not about me.

11. "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:26-28 - I am a child of God. And it's not about me. (Am I the only one seeing a theme here?)

12. "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, it we faint not." Galatians 6:9 - My discouragement over my lack of peers in my church may get me down, but I must continue to be faithful.

13. "And the aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed." Titus 2:3-5 - I should take this time in classes with my elders to soak up their wisdom and learn how to be a godly woman.

14. "Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 2 Thessalonians 5:16-18 - Enough said, don't you think?

15. "Let no man despise thy youth: but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee...meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them, that thy profiting my appear to all." 1 Timothy 4:12-15 - It's hard to ask "What's in it for me?" after reading that verse. I have to be an example for others! If I quit, there's a generation behind me that might do the same.

16. "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ." 2 Timothy 2:3 - I have to be loyal to Christ in all circumstances.

17. "I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." Revelation 1:8 - It's all about Him.

18. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16 - So what's in it for me? Jesus. And He's enough.

YWAC Bible Study for November

Check out the new Young Women Active for Christ Bible Study for November - available online now at http://www.wnac.org/.

This month's study, "The Wisdom of a Woman," is about the wisdom of Abigail.

"But now thus saith the Lord that created thee...Fear not! For I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine! Even every one that is called by my name: for I have created [her] for my glory, I have formed [her]; yea, I have made [her]." Isaiah 43:1 and 7 (emphasis added)

Have you ever watched a marathon? The runners usually wear shirts with the name or logo of their sponsor on them. They often dedicate their performance in the race to a charity, or maybe a loved one or friend.

We are all like runners in a marathon. In 1 Corinthians 9:24-25, Paul wrote, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible."

The New Living Translation words that verse like this: "Don't you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize."

If our lives are like a race, then God is our Creator, Sustainer, and Trainer. He calls us by His name (Isaiah 43:1). We run wearing His image (Genesis 1:26). We represent Him. The way we run reflects on Him.

What kind of a representative for Christ are you?

Are you a good representative for God in the way you honor your body as His temple?

"Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and the the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." 1 Corinthians 3:16-17

Come check out our L.E.A.P.F.R.O.G. Class on Monday nights at 6:30!

Every Second Matters

The video posted above is an AT&T commercial advertising their broadband network. At the end of the commercial, they use the tag line "every second matters."

I love the way the video is split - showing what could have happened in each instance, all depending on the timing of something small.

This video reminds me of two things: First, that every second matters and that we are responsible for the way we use our time. Second, that God works through the little things, every second of the day.

One of my favorite quotes is: "Choices, no matter how small, do matter. Your day-to-day decisions have a way of determining your destiny. The person you are becoming - situation by situation, choice by choice, decision by decision - is the person you will be forever." David Ausberger

Our lives are all hanging on one choice. One decision, one situation, one choice can change your life forever. Just like one second made a difference in the video, it can make a difference in your life.

Thankfully, we don't have to rely on AT&T to orchestrate every second of our lives. The Master of the Universe is in charge of our every second. He decides when to give us open doors. He decides when to give us those choices, decisions and situations that make such a difference in our lives.

That doesn't mean that God is just a puppeteer, sitting up in Heaven pulling our strings. He gave us minds that think and reason. He gave us each our own free will. He gives us the freedom to use our seconds as we please.

"God gave you the gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say 'thank you'?" - William Arthur

"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Psalm 90:12

"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad." 2 Corinthians 5:10

Every second matters.

How will you use yours?

YWAC Bible Study

Check out the NEW Young Women Active for Christ Bible Study for August!

It's available online now at www.wnac.org.

A Woman's Place

I love to read, so there are days when I log onto blogger and just press the "next blog" button to see what people are writing about. There are some blogs that I immediately pass by, and there are others that I like enough to actually add to my blogger reading list and visit again.

A blog that I recently found was written by a female preacher. As I read a few posts, looking for the place where she explained where it was okay to be a female preacher, I was amazed at how much this person seemed to whine and complain about her chosen profession. Many of her posts were complaints about being a woman in a man's world.

I have seen other posts like this before - from bloggers that claim to be Christian writers and teachers, but support gay rights, abortion, and tons of other issues that are blatantly against the teachings of Christ.

The thing that upsets me the most about this is that there are people out there in cyberspace that are unknowingly being taught false doctrine through these kind of blogs and websites. It's something that we all know will happen. Throughout the Bible, we are warned that people will try to twist the Gospel and teach false doctrine. In 2 Peter 2:1, Peter said, "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."

I am especially upset by what I call "Christian feminism." Apparently, there are a lot of Christian people (women and men) that get hung up on this issue. There are people that cringe at the sound of the word "submission" when it comes to a wife submitting to her husband. Others believe that the only reason women were not included in church leadership in the Bible is because of the rules of society at the time.

First of all, let's examine the example that Jesus set for us. When it was time for Him to choose His disciples - the top twelve people that would carry on His ministry when He was gone - He chose twelve men. Jesus was not about conforming to the society He lived in. During His ministry, He upset all the religious leaders because He did things that were socially unacceptable. He ate with publicans and sinners. He healed people on the Sabbath Day. He talked to a promiscuous woman at a well in Samaria. None of those things were "politically correct," so I don't think that Jesus did anything to conform to the world. After all, He is the one that told us NOT to conform to the world in His sermon on the mount in Matthew 5:13-16.

There is a reason that He placed men in these leadership roles. From creation, God ordained men to have dominion over all things (Genesis 1:28). Then, when He created women, He created them to be a "help meet" for man (Genesis 2:18). Men were created to be leaders. Women were created to be helpers.

God has filled His Word with instructions to both men and women. Before we examine the roles of men and women in church positions, let's look at the roles God assigned to men and women in the family.

Ephesians 5:22-25 says, "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it."

God created man to be the head of the household. Women, no matter how much it makes you cringe to hear it, we are supposed to submit to our husbands.

I think the reason that so many women have problems with these verses is because they misinterpret the word "submit." These verses do not mean that your husband can be a dictator. They don't mean that when he yells "jump" you have to ask "how high?". These verses actually give men a huge responsibility. They mean that men have to strong leaders. Men have to be able to make important decisions. Men should be rooted in the Word of God so they can spiritually lead a family. And men have to be willing to be the protectors and providers for their wives and children.

In reality, those verses should be encouraging for women. In those verses, I read that my husband should love me like Christ loved the church. Do you realize that God is commanding your husband to love you with a love that is so pure and deep and strong that it can't even be fathomed? Basically, these verses are telling us to trust in our husbands and look to them for leadership. In return, our husbands are supposed to romance us and cherish us and love us! I think that sounds like a pretty sweet deal.

So in our families, God expects the man to be the head of the household. Does that mean that He wants all women to stay home and be the picture perfect housewife like June Cleaver? Absolutely not. Read Proverbs 31:10-31. The Proverbs 31 woman worked outside her home and helped provide for her family. She purchased real estate, worked a vineyard, managed maidens, raised children, helped the poor... AND she honored her husband. She submitted to him and trusted him, and he could trust in her (vs. 11).

God created women to be creative. He gave us organizational skills and leadership skills that we can use in many different ways. Women can be doctors, lawyers, teachers, authors...ANYTHING they want to be. And He wants women to work in the church. He didn't give us talents so that we can hide them and let them go to waste (check out the Parable of Talents in Matthew 24). He wants us to use our talents for Him!

In 1 Timothy, Paul talks about the roles of men and women in the church. He makes it clear in Chapter 3 that men are to have the leadership roles within the church. In 1 Timothy 2:9-15, he talks about women being modest and godly and says, "I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence." This is especially a touchy verse. Some people like to think that Paul only said this because of the cultural rules of the time, but we've already learned that the customs of the world don't have any influence on the ways of God. Others like to take this verse to extremes and say that women have no place in the church, but that's not the case either.

Titus 2:2-5 says, "The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed."

God chose men to be leaders in the church (according to 1 Timothy 3:1-13), but He has a place for women there, too. He needs us to work teaching children and ministering to other women and supporting the men that He placed in leadership roles over us.

I like the fact that God created women to be the softer more gentle sex. I like that He created men to be our protectors and providers. I like the fact that He has a place for me, even though it's not in the spotlight. After all, working for God is not about gaining glory or recognition. It's about submitting to God's will, trusting His plan and respecting His authority.

In fact, that is exactly why I think God set men in dominion over women. There are many times in the Bible where our relationship with Christ is compared to marriage. We, as the church, are called the Bride of Christ. Christ is often compared to a groom, while God is our Heavenly Father.

Husbands are supposed to love their wives like Christ loved the church. We are to submit to our husbands' authority like we would submit to Christ. According to 2 Corinthians 3:17, "...where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." We find freedom when we commit our lives to Christ and submit to His will.

Think about how "free" you would feel if you stopped struggling against the role you were created to fulfill. When we surrender to the fact that we are the weaker sex and let the men in our lives fulfill the leadership roles they were created for, when we submit to our husbands, it takes stress off our shoulders. It makes our lives more harmonious and makes us free to find and fulfill our God-designed roles in our home, church, community and world.

Books of Summer

I've always loved to read, but it seems like I haven't gotten to do much pleasure reading in the last few years. This summer, I had a lot of free time while I was babysitting and traveling, so I actually got to read a good bit. These are just a few of my summer reads. Check them out (all of these are available at any bookstore or at www.Christianbook.com).

Predator by Terri Blackstock

When I first started reading this one, I wasn't sure that I was going to like it. It's about an online predator that uses Internet communities like Facebook and MySpace to find and track his victims. Since it seems like everyone is on sites like this now (including me), the plot was really close to home. Once I got into the story, it was great. There's a killer on the loose, lots of suspects and mystery, and a budding romance for the main characters, Krista and Ryan. I would especially recommend this one for teen girls that are on sites like Facebook and MySpace. It gives lots Internet safety advice in a way that would keep their interest, and it just might make them think twice about Tweeting every move they make. It also deals with big issues like grief, doubt and trusting God through hard times.

Intervention by Terri Blackstock

This is one of the best Terri Blackstock books I have ever read! The story pulls you in from the very beginning and keeps you glued to the page until the end. The main character, Barbara, tries to send her addict daughter to rehab (again), but her daughter disappears on the way to the rehab center and the woman that was escorting her is found murdered. Barbara has to drop everything to find her daughter, who is wanted for her escort's murder, and clear her name. It's a story about God's protection, patience and healing. READ THIS ONE!

The second book in this series will be out in February 2011, and I can hardly wait!

The Me I Want To Be by John Ortberg

Okay, so this one isn't in the "just for fun" fiction stack, but so far, it has been a really great book. This is the first John Ortberg book I have read, and I was pleasantly surprised by how funny and easy to read it is. I'm about half-way through this one and I have already learned a lot. This book is great if you don't have a lot of time to read through an entire book at once. The chapters and short and are set up in sections so you can easily use this to help with your daily quiet time or Bible study, and you can pick it right back up pretty easily.

The idea is that we all have different versions of "me" - the person we pretend to be, the person we really are, the person we have the potential to be, the person God created us to be...and how to live in the freedom of being yourself - the person God created you to be. Great thoughts so far... I am hoping to do the Bible study that goes with this with some friends later this year as well.

"The Commitment We Must Make"

Sermon by Bro. Stan Bunch
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
National Association of Free Will Baptists Convention

Isaiah 6:8

1. Isaiah's commitment came after brokenness and cleansing

• Before God can do a work through a person, He has to do a work in a person.
• Isaiah's brokenness and cleansing led to a commitment to serve God.

2. Isaiah's commitment didn't come with conditions

• Isaiah committed without conditions - he committed to God before he knew all the details. His response to God shows obedience and a desire to please God.
• Isaiah understood the task would be hard, but he relied on God for guidance and understanding one day at a time.
• How far can God trust you with a call? Are you faithful to carry through, even through hard times and trials?

3. Isaiah's commitment was based on the holiness of God and a desire to please Him

• Our success is not determined by the world. It is determined by our willingness to serve God and please Him.
• Isaiah committed fully to God. He continued in faith, even when things didn't go like he wanted.

Are you as committed as Isaiah?

"The Call We Must Consider"

Sermon by Bro. Karl Sexton

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

National Association of Free Will Baptists Convention

Isaiah 6:8

There is a specific call for every life, but no one escapes the general call to missions. We are all called to be witnesses for God.

1. The Question of the Sovereign

• The Questioner - He is the Holy Lord God
• Verse 8, "who will go for us?" - shows us the Trinity
• We are called by the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost
• The Questions - Who will go?
• The question is still going out today, but are we listening for the call?
• The question demands a decision from us - will we go?
• The question denotes a duty to us - it is our job to go. We have to be witnesses for our generation (Judges 2:10).

2. The Qualifications of the Servant

• God must qualify us before He can send us.
• What motivates your service to God? Are you motivated by the call of God upon your life? Isaiah had been busy about religious activities in the temple, but his life was changed when he felt the call of God upon his life.
• Isaiah was confronted by God's preeminence - Matthew 6:33-34.
• Your witness comes from your worship. Is your worship about pleasing God, or is it about making yourself feel better?
• Jesus doesn't want to be your #1, He wants to be your ONLY One.
• Isaiah was convicted and cleansed - only a cleansed man can serve the Master faithfully. Once we are convicted and cleansed, we are ready to commit to the Lord's call.

3. The Quest of the Saints

• We are to share our message - of redemption and grace.
• We are to fulfill our mission - to go and make disciples.
• "I do not fear that the church will not succeed, but that the church will succeed at things that don't matter." - Unknown
• Our quest is personal - evangelism is not an option (Acts 1:8). We are all called to be witnesses for Christ.
• Our quest is pertinent - we must go and make disciples.
• Our quest is pressing - is the call of God burning in your heart?

"The Condition We Must Correct"

Sermon by Bro. Charles Murphy

Monday, July 19, 2010

National Association of Free Will Baptists Convention

Isaiah 6:5-7

Do you desire to serve God? Our desire to serve God is evidence of our salvation. The strength of that desire is a measure of our spiritual maturity. But before we can be used by God, we have to be cleansed from our sins by God. We must correct the condition of sin...

1. Because of sin's hindering effect on our lives.

• Our sin separates us from God. (Isaiah 59:1-2)
• Without God, we can do nothing.
• You can't serve God if you are separated from Him and His will.

2. Because of sin's hardening effect on our hearts.

• Our sin hardens our hearts and makes us less sensitive to the calling of God. (Isaiah 6:9-10)
• "But exhort one another daily, while it is called to day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin." Hebrews 3:13 - We should challenge and encourage one another to turn from sin daily.
• Our sin is an urgent matter. If we don't turn from our sin, it will hinder our lives and harden our hearts so that we cannot be used by God.

HOW DO WE CORRECT THE CONDITION OF SIN IN OUR LIVES?

1. We must see God as He really is:

• If we don't see the holiness of God, then we don't see our own sinfulness.
• When we see how holy God is, we can then see how unholy and sinful we are.
• Isaiah feared God (verse 5). The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Wisdom leads to repentance from sin.
• To know God as He really is, we must spend time with Him - in prayer, in His word, and in service for Him.

2. We must be broken before God:

• When Isaiah saw God, he saw his own spiritual bankruptcy. "Woe is me!" (verse 5)
• He recognized that he was a man of unclean lips - do you take the sins of the mouth seriously? "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh." (Matthew 12:35, Luke 6:35, James 3:6-10)
• We must confess our conformity to the world (1 John 2:15-17, 1 Peter 1:14-16)

3. We must receive cleansing from God:

• Isaiah 6:6-7 - The coal came from the altar, which points us to the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, Jesus.
• Jesus's death on the cross and His blood cleanses us from our sins. (Isaiah 53:5-12)
• "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6
• Romans 5:20-21

4. We must consecrate ourselves to God:

• We must lay ourselves on the altar (Romans 12:1 - "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.")
• We must consecrate ourselves to God in our daily lives by being holy. (Ephesians 5:26-27)
• We must take personal responsibility for our actions. We live in grace, but that doesn't take away our free will or our responsibility for the choices we make.

Do we want the had of the Lord to be withdrawn from us because of our sin? Or do we want God to be with us and guide us? We must deal with the condition of sin in our lives if we are going to live in God's will.

"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:6-7

"The Concept We Must Grasp"

Sermon by Bro. Jeff Blair

Sunday, July 18, 2010

National Association of Free Will Baptists Convention

"Caller ID"
Isaiah 6:1-4

When you read through the text, the main thing is not the mission or the missionary. The most important thing is the identity of the One who is calling...

1. THE REVELATION OF GOD'S CHARACTER

• He is HOLY - With the song of the seraphim, we see that God is holy.
• There are two types of holiness that God displays - majestic holiness and moral holiness.
• God is so holy that even the seraphims cannot look at Him (verse 2 - with two wings he covered his face).
• The earth is filled with God's GLORY.
• If you can't open your eyes to His holiness, then you can't close your eyes to His glory.
• "God is both farther from us and nearer to us than any other being." - C.S. Lewis

2. THE REALITY OF ISAIAH'S ENCOUNTER

• Isaiah encountered the Holy One and it changed his life forever.
• One glimpse of God fueled Isaiah's ministry for a lifetime.
• God has to be the One that calls.
• He calls WHO He wants, WHEN He wants, for WHAT He wants.
• Isaiah's call is unique. We are each called in a unique way, but we all experience the presence of God with our call.

"The where, when and how are not important. What matters is the Identity of the Caller!"

"The Crisis We Must Face"

Sermon by Bro. Bert Tippett

Sunday, July 18, 2010

National Association of Free Will Baptists Convention

Before we can look at who will go, we have to examine the crisis that Isaiah faced in his life. Isaiah was a prophet under king Uzziah. We will examine the life of king Uzziah and the crisis that Isaiah faced with the king's decline and death:

1. THE PIETY THAT GUIDED HIM - 2 Chronicles 26:1-5 King Uzziah was only 16 when he became king, but he followed the example of his father and did what was right in the sight of God. He also had a godly mentor - Zechariah.
2. THE POWER THAT BLESSED HIM - 2 Chronicles 26:5-15 Because king Uzziah was faithful to God and followed Him, God blessed him and his kingdom. God gave Uzziah and his kingdom success, growth and blessings.
3. THE PRIDE THAT DESTROYED HIM - 2 Chronicles 26:15-23 Everything was going great for king Uzziah. He was a successful leader of a great nation and was being blessed by God. But in verses 15 and 16, we see that he became prideful. His pride led to his destruction when he went into the temple to burn incense in offering to God. Only the priests were allowed to burn incense, but in his pride, Uzziah wanted to do it himself. He ignored the warnings of the priests and defied God's law and insulted God's plan - the position of Priest AND King was reserved for Jesus. No other man was to have both of those positions. When Uzziah crossed that boundary set by God, he was punished with leprosy.

Isaiah watched his once godly and successful king die of a horrible disease. As he did, he faced a crisis much like the one we now face in America - He was faced with uncertainty and leadership changes that he could not control.

When we are faced with crisis, we must follow Isaiah's example and turn to God.

When you are faced with crisis, remember that:

1. YOU ARE THERE BY GOD'S APPOINTMENT. God has a reason for letting us go through hard times. Whether it's to show us something that we need to purge from our lives or to prepare us to do the work God has for us, He has His reasons.
2. YOU ARE THERE BY GOD'S KEEPING. God never lets us go through hard times alone. He will never leave us or forsake us. He is there, holding your hand and is ready to carry you when you can't walk another step.
3. THERE IS A PURPOSE FOR YOU BEING THERE. God uses the storms of our lives to teach and mold us.
4. WHEN IT IS TIME, GOD WILL BRING YOU OUT OF THE STORM. He will probably not change our circumstances until we let our circumstances start to change us. When we surrender to Him and trust Him, He will bring us to the other side.

Free Will Baptist National Convention

We just got back from a great week at the 74th Annual National Association of Free Will Baptists Convention in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Our theme for the week was "Who will go?", taken from Isaiah 6:1-8.

The week was filled with great preaching, all from these verses. On Sunday, Bro. Bert Tippett spoke about "The Crisis We Must Face" and Bro. Jeff Blair spoke about "The Concept We Must Grasp." Then, on Monday, Bro. Charles Murphy spoke about "The Condition We Must Correct". Tuesday, Bro. Karl Sexton preached about "The Call We Must Consider" and on Wednesday, Bro. Stan Bunch preached about "The Commitment We Must Make."

We also had many children and teenagers from our church, association and state competing in the National Youth Conference.

Competitors from our church were: Caleb Patton, Landon Camp, Joe Paul Hopper, Brandon Moore, Joseph Summerlin, Jacob Summerlin, and Katie Milligan.

Caleb Patton won the National Championship title in Truth Quest, a Bible competition based on the game show Jeopardy.

Landon Camp, Joe Paul Hopper and Brandon Moore represented our state in the Bible Millionaire competition (based on the game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire).

Joseph Summerlin competed in the 7th - 9th grade Keyboarding competition. He placed third.

Jacob Summerlin won the National title in the Pitched Percussion competition and placed second in Keyboarding.

Katie Milligan competed in the Senior High painting competition.

We also had two students from our church attend Truth & Peace, a leadership conference for 9th - 12th grade students. Our T&P attendees were Jeremy Moore and Joseph Summerlin. It was Jeremy's third year at T&P and Joseph's first year to attend.

Our youth all did a great job! We are so proud of them for dedicating their time to learning and competing for the glory of the Lord!

It's that time again! With summer in full swing, it's time for Vacation Bible School at Sulphur Springs!

Bring your kids out for a fun-filled week at Hero Headquarters! Your kids will meet some cool super heroes and will learn how to be heroes for God as they study Bible stories, play games, make crafts and get to fellowship with other kids.


Kids 6th grade and under will meet Sulphur Springs Family Life Center from 6:30 until 8:30 each night. VBS begins on Monday, June 21 and will last until Friday, June 25.




Teens (entering 7th grade and up) -
Bring your friends and youth groups out for an awesome Youth Revival as we study the Heroes of the Bible and learn to be H.I.S. (Heroes in Service). The teen VBS/Youth Revival will take place at the Sanctuary from 6:30 until 8:30 on Monday, June 21 thru Friday, June 25. We will have awesome praise and worship music, games, group Bible study, and snacks. Come out for an awesome time!


*We will have a van running if you need a ride to VBS. Please email Christina at cmhopper.warrior@gmail.com with VBS in the subject line if you need a ride.

Young Women Active for Christ Bible Study for June

The new YWAC Bible Study for June 2010 is now available online at http://www.wnac.org/. This study can be used as an individual or a group study. It is written specifically for teen girls ages 11-18. Check it out and share it with your friends and the young women at your church! Click on the image above to go directly to the study.

Finding Happiness

Sermon/Outline by Bro. Rick Taylor 6/13/10

"Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Psalm 1:1-3

Happiness: a state of well-being and contentment; a pleasurable or satisfying experience (Merriam Webster's Dictionary)

What makes you happy?

We all have different things that make us smile or lift our moods. For some people, it's shopping. Some people listen to music. Others play a sport or go for a run. Then there are people that get a rush of happiness when they see a plan come together or reach a goal.

While these things can make us feel happy for a moment, do any of them bring us lasting happiness or joy? No.

We can't get happiness from someone or something - at least not lasting happiness. People will fail us. Things can be destroyed. True happiness starts on the inside and only comes from Jesus Christ.

Re-read the verses above. In Psalm 1:1, "blessed" can be translated into "how happy". Now, put that into the verse:

How happy is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful...

This first verse tells us three things that a happy person does not do:

1. A happy person does not take the advice of unbelievers - When you are going through a hard time, where do you go for advice? Do you ask fellow believers, or do you go to worldly friends? Do you read the Bible, or do you pick up a magazine or secular advice column?

In Proverbs 3:13, Solomon said, "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding."

Our wisdom should come from God. We should go to His word and His people for advice and guidance.

2. A happy person does not follow the same path as an unbeliever - Who do you follow?

We all have heard that we're supposed to be separate from the world and that we're supposed to follow the "road less traveled," but how exactly are we supposed to do that?

In 2 Corinthians 6:14, Paul warned, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"

This doesn't mean that you can't have unsaved friends. I think it's good for us to have some unsaved friends in our lives (because how can you be salt and light [Matthew 5:13-16] in the world if you hide away from the people of the world?). But we need to make sure that we are a bigger influence on our unsaved friends than they are on us.

When I was in high school, my youth pastor had one student from our group stand on a chair. He picked another student and had him stand on the floor next to the chair. The student in the chair represented a believer and the student on the floor represented an unbeliever. My youth pastor told the student in the chair to try to pull the other student up. At the same time, the student on the floor was trying to pull the other student down. Every time, the student on the floor succeeded in pulling the other student off the chair.

Because we are not perfect and because we all struggle with sins, it is easier for unbelievers to pull us down than it is for us to pull them up. Our unsaved friends need us. We need to be good witnesses to them. We need to show them the love of Christ. But we can't spend so much time with them that we are pulled back down into a sinful life.

Solomon warned us about this very thing in Proverbs 1:10 - 16, "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. If they say, Come with us...my son, walk not in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood."

So who should we fellowship with? Our brothers and sisters in Christ. Matthew 18:20 says, "Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." God blesses us when we gather with other believers to praise and worship Him. He wants us to have fellowship with each other so we can encourage one another and lift one another up.

3. A happy person does not dwell on the negative - Do you see your glass as half-empty or half-full? I have to admit, I often see mine as half-empty. There are many times that I catch myself being negative, sarcastic and cynical.

But does putting down others make me happier? No. Does it help the Kingdom of God? Absolutely not.

So why is it so hard to be positive?

My Sunday school teacher, Mike, reminds us to be positive every week. He often talks about the 80/20 rule (made popular by T.D. Jakes and in Tyler Perry's movie "Why Did I Get Married?"). The theory of the 80/20 rule is that most of the time, 80% of things are good. But we tend to focus on the 20% that's going wrong. We all tend to dwell on the negative, even when the good outweighs it.

The best way to focus on the positive? Look at the promises in God's word:
In Romans 8:28, we are promised that "...all things work together for good to them that love God..."

Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established."

1 Corinthians 15:58 says, "Therefore, my beloved brethern, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."

When you look at all the promises and blessings that God gives to us, you have to be positive. Battle negativity with thankfulness - because you always have more to be thankful for than you have to be negative about.

So, now that we know what a happy person doesn't do, what does a happy person do that makes him or her so... happy?

"But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper." Psalm 1:2-3

1. A happy person desires the things of the Lord - What are the desires of your heart?

Do you want to be successful in your job? Do you want to be a better wife or mother? Do you want to be a writer, singer, or actor?

Psalm 37:4-5 says, "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."

Those verses don't give us a free pass with God's signature on it that says we can be successful at whatever we want, whenever we want, however we want. They say to "commit thy way unto the Lord."

When we are in God's presence and in His will, we will desire godly things. As we get closer to Him, He will place desires in our hearts, and as we continue to commit to His timing and His plan, He will bring those desires and dreams to pass.

So happy people dream big and trust in God's perfect timing. Happy people desire godly things.

2. A happy person thinks on the things of God - When you hear the word "meditate" what do you think about? Do you picture a little guy in a robe sitting on the floor with his legs crossed and humming "ummmmm"?

Psalm 1:2 says, "...in his law doth he meditate day and night." A happy person studies God's word. When was the last time you "meditated" on the Word of God? Do you just read it like it's empty words on the page? Or do you really let it speak to you?

Remember Proverbs 3:13? "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding."

3. A happy person will bear Spiritual fruit - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance..." Galatians 5:22-23

Take a moment to think about one of your heroes of the faith - a pastor, parent, Sunday school teacher, mentor, or friend that has had a great impact on your faith. What spiritual fruit was evident in his or her life? What first made you realize that he or she was different? That he or she had something that you didn't have? That he or she had something you wanted?

What made you realize that he or she had Jesus?

Do people see spiritual fruit in your life? When we can share spiritual fruits (love, joy, peace, etc.) with other people, it makes us happy.

So where does your happiness come from? Do you try to borrow happiness from people, things, and success? Or do you get your happiness from Jesus?

May's YWAC Bible Study Available Online Now!

Be sure to check out this month's Young Women Active for Christ study online!

Book of the Month

One of my friends and I are reading Fit for My King by Sheri Rose Shepherd this month. The book is a 30-day Devotion and Diet Plan that teaches Biblical principles about health and fitness. So far, it has been great!

The diet is extreme - no white flour, no sugar, no potatoes, no "fake food", no fast food, no artificial sweetners. It's been hard (we started the book about two weeks ago), but we both can tell a difference in our energy levels and we both feel better.

We bought the book thinking about the diet, but the devotions are awesome and they really make you think about WHY we should take care of our bodies. Sheri Rose Shepherd reminds us that we need to treasure God's temple (our bodies) and that we are all God's Princesses.

If you're up for the challenge, you can find more information about the book at http://www.fitformyking.com/.

April's YWAC Study Available Online Now!

The new Bible study for Young Women Active for Christ is now available on the WNAC website. April is Missions Emphasis Month, so the study this month is about missions. Check it out!

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8

Compassion is the Key

Last night, I visited the church I grew up in for their District WAC Meeting. The ladies there have had a huge role in shaping my view of what it means to be a godly woman.

Mrs. Ginger Peoples, the Field Worker for the Vernon District WAC, spoke about compassion. She read from the book of Jude.

The society Jude lived in was much like the one we live in today. People were evil. They didn't even try to hide their sins. They mocked the things of God. They were hard people to live with, but in verse 22, Jude tells us: "And of some, have compassion, making a difference."

Isn't that something you want to do? Don't we all want to make a difference?

If we're going to do that, we have to show compassion to others.

Look at Matthew 25:35-40. In these verses, Jesus tells us to feed the hungry, bring water to the thirsty, take in strangers, clothe the naked, visit the sick and minister to those in prison. We should do those things with compassion in our hearts. We have to minister to people right where they are, even when they are in places where we don't want to be.

I've never understood why some churches talk about reaching the lost, but turn away people that try to come in because they're not dressed right, or don't live right, or don't come from the right side of town. We can't make people "clean up" before they come to church. Even if they do clean up their acts, it will only be an outward cleansing until they know Jesus. It's important for us to portray cleanliness. We should treat our bodies as temples; we should respect the places that God has given us to live and to worship in. But until we're cleaned on the inside, by the blood of Jesus, all the other things are just a show. We have to show people that they can come just as they are. That's how Jesus wants them. Just as they are, but willing to change from the inside out. That's how we should want them, too. And we should love them, right where they are.

We also have to have faith and believe in people. It can be hard to believe in someone after they've disappointed or hurt you, but we cannot expect them to fail. We are called to have compassion on them, and to encourage and motivate them to succeed. When we expect failure, we may think that we're shielding ourselves from the pain of disappointment, but in reality we're setting ourselves and the people we love up to fall. Remember that Jesus believed in you enough to die for you. He doesn't ask us to die for the people in our lives - He just wants us to love and encourage them.

So never give up. There's no such thing as a lost cause. Jesus didn't give up on us, and He is unwilling for people to give up on sharing His love with others. He wants us to "sing until the whole world hears" (Casting Crowns). He wants us to proclaim His goodness and mercy and power to everyone we meet. He wants us to go into a sinful and dying world and show them the same compassion that He showed to us.

If you want to make a difference, compassion is your key.

Young Women Active for Christ Bible Study

Visit http://www.wnac.org/ to download your copy of the Teen Bible Study for March.

Using examples from the life of David, this month's study looks at fear and doubt and how to defeat them so we can live lives full of God's power!

"For God hath not given us the spirit of fear: but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

2 Timothy 1:7

Family February

For the month of February, Bro. Rick preached about families.

Our families are the cornerstone of all our other relationships - at church, school, and work. Our families have the power to make us confident and strong in our faith, or they have the power to make us feel fear, doubt and failure.

Satan knows that the family is important to God. God has set up an order for the family, and Satan does all he can to disrupt this order. Satan wants to see our families fall apart. He wants to see us struggle, fight and disagree.

While God celebrates at marriage, Satan celebrates at divorce. God celebrates at the birth of a baby; Satan celebrates at an abortion. God celebrates when families pray together; Satan celebrates when families curse at one another.

Satan is the enemy of strong, happy families. Look at how he works in the world. You've probably heard, "Happy families don't sell" when reality TV families fall apart. It's sad and true. We, as a nation, don't embrace the true meaning of family. We want to see the drama and tension and fights. How sad that some families are willing to sacrifice their relationships with each other for fame, greed or pride.

Pride is a big problem in the family, especially for women in today's society. We're told by people in magazines and on TV that we need to be "Super Woman." Career, fame, recognition, money, family...we can have it all!

That may be true by society's standards, but when you look at God's standards, where is a woman's place in the family?

We can have careers, but our families should come first. Money is nice, but it's not a substitute for spending time with your children. Recognition and fame are slippery slopes, and it's hard to keep a godly perspective on your life when you're living in that.

Does that mean that we're limited to the kitchen? Absolutely not. God has given us gifts and talents and He expects us to use them for His glory. Women can be doctors, lawyers, writers, teachers, dancers, actresses, singers...

But no matter what we are in the corporate world, when we come home, we are expected to submit ourselves to our husbands. We should be chaste, modest, and trustworthy. We should help provide for the needs of our families and other's families. We are not to be lazy or idle. We should work with our hands and be good stewards of our family's resources. We should speak with kindness and speak of the things of the Lord. (Proverbs 31:10-31)

While the man is the head of the household, we serve as the backbone of the family. It's a huge responsibility. We shouldn't feel burdened by this, because it's a gift from God. He gave us, the weaker sex, the ability to bring forth life. He gave us the gifts and talents we would need to fill the role that He designed for us.

Satan loves to see us struggle to break out of God's design for our families. He likes to see us fight amongst ourselves about who is in charge. He likes to see husbands and wives that can't agree, children that are disrespectful, and families that never slow down enough to really know each other.

Here are few things to remember about God's design for the family...

1. The Parents' Obligation to the Family

• Christ must be the cornerston of the family (Ephesians 5:22, 25)
• Our devotion to God should leave no question to our devotion to our spouse and family.
• Loving God means loving people.
• Communication is crutial (1 Peter 3:5-7 and 1 Corinthians 7:1-5)
• Our committments must be kept (Genesis 2:24)
• Other than your committment to God, your committment to your spouse is the most important (Mark 10:9)
• We need to be committed to our family's spiritual well-being (Joshua 24:15)

2. The Children's Role in the Family

• Children should honor and obey their parents (Exodus 20:12)
• Children should fear the Lord (Proverbs 1:7-9 - "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge...")
• We must educate our children in the things of the Lord (Deuteronomy 6:5-8)
• We should teach by example, showing our children how to be dedicated to God, His Word, His Church, and His People (Proverbs 6:6-8)

3. The Church's Obligation to the Family

• Our obligation, as a church, is not to the building we worship in, but to the people we worship with.
• We as a church, are a family, held together by the love of Christ.
• We should provide families with positive communication (Philippians 4:8)
• We should provide families with help in physical, financial, and SPIRITUAL matters
• We should pray for families in our church and community (James 5:14-16)
• We should desire to see families be saved and become part of our church family

"...Choose you this day whom ye will serve...but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

My second teen Bible study for WNAC is now available online. Go to http://www.wnac.org/ and click on the Young Women Active for Christ Bible Study link to download this month's study about dealing with disappointments.

Thanks for your prayers and support as I continue to write these studies each month.

The Words I Would Say

Sorry that I haven't updated the blog in the last few days. I just haven't felt very inspired to write anything lately.

I just wanted to share the lyrics to the song "The Words I Would Say" by Sidewalk Prophets. This song is really great, and it has an awesome message.

Three in the morning

And I'm still awake

So I picked up a pen and a page

And I started writing

Just what I'd say

If we were face to face

I'd tell you just what you mean to me

I'd tell you these simple truths

Be strong in the Lord

Never give up hope

You're gonna do great things

I already know

God's got His hand on you, so

Don't live life in fear

Forgive and forget

But don't forget why you're here

Take your time and pray

These are the words I would say

Last time we spoke

You said you were hurting

And I felt your pain in my heart

I want to tell you

That I keep praying

Love will find you where you are

I know, 'cause I've already been there

So please hear these simple truths

Be strong in the Lord

Never give up hope

You're gonna do great things

I already know

God's got His hand on you, so

Don't live life in fear

Forgive and forget

But don't forget why you're here

Take your time and pray

These are the words I would say

From one simple life to another

I will say

Come find peace in the Father

Be strong in the Lord

Never give up hope

You're gonna do great things

I already know

God's got His hand on you, so

Don't live life in fear

Forgive and forget

But don't forget why you're here

Take your time and pray

Thank God for each day

His love will find a way

These are the words I would say

What an awesome song of encouragement! I want to encourage all of you to write notes of encouragement to your friends and family that are going through difficult times. You never know how much it can mean just to get a little note saying that someone cares!

Also, please be in prayer for the family of Mrs. Geraldine Strickland. She passed away Wednesday morning. Visitation will be held at Magnolia Funeral Home on Thursday from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. and the funeral will be at the church on Friday at 2:00 p.m.

No Questions Asked

I'm sure most of you saw the National Championship football game between Alabama and Texas (Roll Tide!). If you did, then I'm sure you saw Colt McCoy's statement at the end of the game.

What he said has really stuck out in my mind for the last few weeks.

"I always give God the glory. I never question why things happen the way they do. God is in control of my life. And I know that if nothing else, I'm
standing on the Rock."


Colt McCoy, University of Texas Quarterback

That is an awesome statement of faith.

How many times do we question God? We pray for something to happen and when it doesn't come about as fast as we wanted or it doesn't happen like we planned, we start asking God why.

What if we had a "no questions asked" kind of faith? What if we spent less time asking questions and more time listening for direction? How much more could we accomplish for God that way?

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:6

Which Group Are You In?

Sermon by Bro. Roger Lucas

Read Matthew 26:36-75. In these verses, Jesus goes to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane. He is later betrayed, arrested, tried and crucified. In this story, we see three groups of people:

1. The Group of Eight - These eight disciples were left at the garden gate. They represent the people in the church today that don't get involved. They attend, maybe even every Sunday, but they just want to sit in a pew for an hour or so and go home. They don't take on responsibility for the work of the church.

2. The Group of Three - These three disciples (Peter, James and John) went into the garden with Jesus. Jesus asked them to watch and pray with Him while He was in the garden, but they fell asleep. They represent the people of the church that take on the bulk of the load. They get involved - they teach Sunday school, they knock on doors, they sing in the choir, they organize pot lucks, they visit the sick... they work for Christ! And they get tired and weary, just like Peter, James and John did.

3. The Group of One - Judas, the one that betrayed Jesus, was missing from these activities. He gave up. He quit on Jesus. He represents the people that have just quit the church. They don't want anything to do with Jesus or His people. Maybe they got tired (like the people in the Group of Three), maybe they were discouraged... whatever happened, it caused them to give up.

Which group do you find yourself in?

Now look at Peter. He was in the Group of Three. He was member of the inner circle. If Jesus was the pastor, Peter was the head deacon.

But when Jesus was captured and tried, Peter followed from "afar off" (verse 58).

Because of fear, Peter denied Jesus three times. At that moment, what group was Peter in?

The greatest thing about God is that He gives us second (and third, and fourth, and fifth...) chances. Peter denied Christ, and it looked like he had given up, but he repented!

When Jesus rose from the dead, He told the women at His grave to "go tell Peter." He gave Peter a second chance - because Peter repented! He even chose Peter to be the one that preached on the Day of the Pentecost.

So....

If you're in the Group of Eight... get involved! God has blessed you with a talent (weather it's singing, cooking, or just being friendly) that you can use for Him!

If you're in the Group of Three... take heart! God provides rest for the weary (Matthew 11:28). Remember, "you can't out give God!"

If you're in the Group on One... don't give up. Jesus will never give up on you. He loves you and wants you to come back to Him!

My brain is sore!

When I logged on to my blog a few days ago, my blog list showed that one of my friends had updated her blog. The title of her post was "My toes are SORE!" which peaked my interest, so I clicked on the link to check it out.

Her post was great - she talked about the Missions Conference we had at church and told about a sermon that one of the missionaries had given. He had talked about our duty as Christians and about being a missionary right where you are.

Well, I read the entire post and there was no mention about toes being sore. So I'm thinking this is an inside joke or something, and it's really bothering me. My mom walked into the kitchen and I said, "You know, it really aggravates me when I don't know what people are talking about."

She looks over my shoulder at the blog post. "What do you mean?"

"The title doesn't go with the post," I said. "And I can't figure it out."

"Well, what's the post about?" Mom asked.

"A sermon that one of the missionaries gave this week."

My mom laughed. "Did she say that she felt convicted during the sermon?" she asked.

"Well, yeah," I say. "So?"

"So... haven't you ever heard people say the preacher is stepping on their toes? She means that the preacher stepped on her toes all night, so now they're sore."

DUH!

Since I refuse to believe that I'm that stupid, I'm chalking this one up to being young. That's what it is, right? Right?

Missions Conference 2010

Our Missions Conference at Sulphur Springs has been great so far!

We had Bro. Davis, missionary to China, in our morning service on Sunday. He shared with us about the work he and his wife are doing in China and read from 1 Kings 17:7-16. Bro. Davis encouraged us to just believe in God and to focus on God.

• If you just believe God, He will do things beyond what you imagine!
• Sometimes we feel like we don't have anything to give, but we have to see God instead of focusing on what we don't have.
• If you trust God and walk by faith, He will provide your needs.
• We more often find God in the bad times than we do in the good times.
• Ministry not only changes the people you minister to. It changes you, too.

Check out his blog at http://davis-adventures.blogspot.com/ for more information about the ministry in China.

On Monday night, I wasn't able to attend, but I heard that the service was great! The missionaries that attended were Bro. Jeff Goodman and Bro. Josh Bennett. They are going as a team to plant a church in Marana, AZ. Check out more about their ministry at www.themaranaproject.com/pastors-blogs.

Bro. Josh and Ashley Bennett

Bro. Jeff Goodman Family

Tonight, Bro. Dexter Guin was in our evening service. He is a missionary to Colorado Springs, CO. He shared with us about the growth in Colorado Springs and about the new building project that has just begun there.

Bro. Dexter Guin Family

For more information about Bro. Dexter and his ministry in Colorado, visit http://www.homemissions.net/ and click on the Missionaries tab or go to http://www.woodmenroadfwb.com/.

Please keep all of these missionaries and their families in your prayers as they "go...and teach all nations..." (Matthew 28:19).

NEW WNAC Bible Study for Teen Girls

A few months ago, I was contacted and asked to take the Women Nationally Active for Christ Bible Studies that we use in our meetings each month and adapt them for teen girls. This was a very exciting offer for me, and I was happy to accept.

The first of these monthly studies is now available on the WNAC website. Visit www.wnac.org/2010/01/new-bible-study-for-young-women-active-for-christ/ and check it out!

Thanks so much for your prayers and support as I continue this ministry.

Missions Banquet and Missions Conference

Tonight I was blessed to be able to attend the 18th Annual Free Will Baptist Area Wide Missions Banquet in Northport. The Missions Banquet is a time when pastors and members of our area churches can get together and fellowship with the missionaries that we support.

After a great meal and music by the Fields Family Trio, Bro. Dexter Guin (Missionary to Colorado Springs, CO) spoke.

He read from Ezekiel 22:30: "And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none."

1. God has a place

• God has a specific place of service for each believer.
• "Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few: Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." Matthew 9:37-38
• God is still calling people into the ministry!
• When God opens a door for a ministry opportunity, no man can shut it. (Colossians 4:3 and Revelation 3:7-8)
• You have to take the opportunity when God gives it to you - don't miss it!
• Are you doing all that you can do where God has placed you?

2. Jesus has the plan and the program

• The plan is to GO, the program is to PREACH!
• "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matthew 28:19-20
• "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15
• "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Luke 24:47
• "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine." 2 Timothy 4:2

3. The Holy Spirit has the power

• "But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts 1:8
• "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6
• "And behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high." Luke 24:49
• It doesn't matter where or in what capacity you serve God - you are powerless without Him!

Don't forget that our Missions Conference begins tomorrow during the morning service! We will have a guest speaker tomorrow in the 8:00 a.m. and the 10:30 a.m. services. Also join us Monday - Thursday at 7:00 p.m. each night as we host missionaries in our services.

Using Your Talents for God - Great Sports Role Models

On Wednesday night, I talked to the Junior Youth Group about using their talents for God. We read from Matthew 25:14-29 (the parable of the talents). During the lesson, we talked about famous people that have used their talents for God. Of course, since it was the night before the big game, we ended up talking about college football.

The group of kids that I teach is mostly boys, but all of them (girls included) love sports, so we end up talking about football, basketball and baseball a lot. You might think that talking about sports takes away from our lesson time, but I've actually been able to use some of their favorite players as examples in our lessons.

I am so thankful for all the great players that are not ashamed to share their faith!

Mark Ingram - University of Alabama - Running Back #22

Mark Ingram is one of the kids' favorite players. (With a room full of Bama fans, the conversation is bound to tun to Alabama Football and Mark Ingram at some point.) I usually begin their lesson each week by asking for prayer requests and praise items. Great games, another Bama win, and a Heisman Trophy were all part of that process (both prayer requests and praises).

I am so thankful that Mark Ingram is a good role model for these kids, because they watch his every move. They wear his jersey, they know his stats, and they join his fan groups on Facebook.

They love him because he's an Alabama player, because he's a winner and because they know he's a good guy.

One of my kids told me after he won the Heisman that before the program, Ingram went into a back room with Tim Tebow for prayer.

Colt McCoy - University of Texas - Quarterback #12

Another sports figure that my class loves is Colt McCoy. He was also a Heisman contender (and for the last month has been our biggest rival).

I felt sorry for him after the game last night when he was interviewed on the field after getting knocked out of the game with an injury. But what he said was a great lesson for my class (and for all of us). He said, "I always give God the glory. I never question why things happen the way they do. God is in control of my life. And I know that if nothing else, I'm standing on the Rock."

After a crushing loss, which I am sure frustrated and disappointed McCoy, he still gave God the glory. It would have been easy to say that after a win, but in the midst of defeat and disappointment... that's a great testimony of trusting in God.

Tim Tebow - University of Florida - Quarterback #15

Of course, I can't talk about great Christian role models in college football without talking about Tim Tebow. No matter how much I dislike Gator fooball (We stomped the Chomp! Roll Tide!), I can't help but to like Tim Tebow.

He has used his position as quarterback of the Florida Gators team to reach millions. He always gives God the glory for his accomplishments in interviews, and during each game he wears Bible verses on his eye-blacks.

One of the questions in our lesson on Wednesday night was, "Is there any talent that CAN NOT be used to glorify God?"

As the kids struggled to think of a talent that you couldn't use, I pointed out to them that most people wouldn't think of sports as a normal place for ministry. We talked about Tebow, and how after his games, whatever verse he had written on his eye-blacks that day instantly became one of the most searched phrases on Google. He has truly taken ministry through sports to a new level.

I am so glad that these great athletes remember that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father..." (James 1:17). And I am thankful that they use their gifts to bring glory to God.

What is your gift? What ability has God blessed you with? If He gave you a talent, He means for you to use it. How will you use your talents for God?