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?

Playing Catch Up...

So much has happened over the last few months that I don't really know where to begin. I guess I'll just start in order and try to hit the high points...

In November, a group of ladies from our WAC group went to the Southern Ladies Retreat at Red Bay Free Will Baptist Church. The theme for the weekend retreat was "Vessels for the Master's Use." Our speakers were Mrs. Becky Derby and Mrs. Sandy Atwood.

Mrs. Becky shared with us about her battle with breast cancer. She shared from Psalm 103:1-5:

"Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Who satisfieth they mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."

She urged us to focus on the blessings of life and to live in joy.

Mrs. Sandy shared from 2 Timothy 2:20-21:

"But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared for every good work."

There are three things that God gives us to help us become vessels of honor:

1. His Holy Spirit - God starts working on us from the inside out. Holiness is a lifelong process. The Holy Spirit shapes and refines us daily.

2. The Bible - God's Word helps teach us how to live and how to honor God with our lives.

3. Problems - Our problems, big and small, make us better so we can be used as vessels in the future. The hard times and trials we go through give us a testimony that helps us witness to others about trusting in God.

"A vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work." 2 Timothy 2:21

On the first Saturday of December, we got to attend the Eldridge Toy Run at the Free Will Baptist Children's Home in Eldridge, AL.

Our Junior Youth Group (with the help of our church members) sponsored a little boy named Luke for Christmas. We were able to attend the Toy Run and see Luke get his Christmas presents. We had a great time of fellowship. I have included some pictures below...

Our Christmas play, "It All Happened in the Country," went wonderfully. We had a full kids choir and an adult choir, as well as actors from the youth group.

(Photo taken by Mrs. Renae Summerlin)

Well... maybe we're caught up for now.

Happy New Year!