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I am committed to preaching God’s Word “Book by Book” and “Doctrine by Doctrine.” A few days ago, a dear and very helpful friend asked about my current series, “Understanding Acts – Body #2 Takes Over!” They asked me if I might consider preaching some topical messages soon. I am fully aware of how much people need a break from time to time in the midst of a long series of messages; and, Acts has already taken sixty sermons with several more to go!

As you know, last Sunday I began a break in the series and we are doing six sermons from Mother’s to Father’s Day on “Marriage and the Family.” I hope that you will be blessed by this timely much-needed series! As the Lord allows, I hope to have the series of sermons on Acts completed by mid-November.

As I thought about my preaching pattern, I have done some “home work” and have discovered the following facts:

1. Since coming here (first as “Interim Pastor” in June of 2006, and as “Pastor-Teacher” since May of 2007) I have preached sixteen different series of messages!

2. Eight of them (50%) have been verse-by-verse through Books of the Bible: Psalms 1-16; Philippians; Malachi; Mark; Revelation; Daniel; Minor Prophets; and Acts. Note that four of them are from the Old Testament and four of them are from the New Testament.

3. Eight of them (50%) have been on various Biblical Topics: Doctrine of Scripture; Heaven; Prophecy; Lord’s Supper; The Holy Spirit and Spiritual Gifts; The Gospel; Overview of Systematic Theology; and Marriage and the Family!

4. WOW! I am doing better at balance than I thought… 8 Bible Books, (4 O.T. and 4 N.T.); and 8 Topical Series.

5. But, the three very long series, “Mark” (66 Sermons), “Revelation” (30 Sermons), and “Acts” (likely to be 72 Sermons) demonstrate the reality that I am most often preaching through a Book of the Bible.

6. So, what is coming up after Acts? While I am always trying to be sensitive to the leading of the Lord – and sometimes my perception of His will changes with little notice – I believe that I will do two doctrinal series from January to June of 2013 on the subjects, “Why Should Christians be Baptists?” and “What do Baptist Christians Believe?”

7. As the Lord allows, from July through mid-November of 2013, I am planning to do a verse-by-verse study of “The First Eleven Chapters of Genesis” including several sermons on the Creation versus Evolution controversy. These three series in 2013 should take about forty weeks, which will leave twelve weeks open for messages on various subjects!

I deeply need and appreciate your prayers and helpful input about my preaching! Please feel free to share your thoughts and ideas with me. I hope this post is helpful to you as you read, pray, and prepare to hear God’s Word each week.

Serving Jesus, serving you, study for preaching, and preaching are obviously four of the great loves of my life. I thank God and you for the opportunity to preach to you in this beautiful place!

As the Lord allows, this coming Lord’s Day I will bring the second in a series of six messages on the subject of Christian Marriage. Obviously, not every Christian is married or will be married, so I believe it is wise to consider some of the many verses in Scripture which deal with living single to the glory of God!

And, YES, every Christian needs to hear this sermon! If you are not single and are wondering how this will apply to you, consider the fact that you may have children or grandchildren whom you will need to advise about these issues (as well as other family and friends); and, do not overlook the unhappy possibility that someday you may be single again.

YES, you do need this. Your family and friends need to hear this message as well!

1^st Corinthians 7 is a passage that was written during a time of great persecution of Christians and it is helpful to understand it in that context. Paul, who was clearly single at the time he wrote 1^st Corinthians, has great instruction for those who are single as well as those who are married.

Let me encourage you to read over, pray over, and meditate especially on verses 7-9, and 32-35. I want you to think about the following questions…

What is the most important thing in the life of a single Christian?

What tends to be the most important thing in the life of a married Christian?

Should every Christian seek to remain single?

Should every Christian seek to be married?

Which is better for the Christian, being single or being married?

What about divorcees?

What about widows and widowers?

What does Paul mean when he talks about God giving some Christians the “gift” of singleness?

By the grace of God, I plan to apply these verses to all of these questions. I hope to see you Sunday with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side!

As the Lord allows, this coming Lord’s Day morning, I will begin a six-week series entitled “Marriage Matters” with an introductory sermon covering the primary issues about marriage. Please read the following verses and think about these key questions…

Genesis 2:18-24; 1st Peter 1:20-21; Hebrews 4:1-2; 1st Thessalonians 2:13 (KJV); Mark 10:6-9; Ephesians 6:4; and 1st Corinthians 6:9-11

Would not the One Who conceived, created, and sustains an institution be the logical source of instructions about how that institution will best function?

As important as marriage is to humans as individuals, couples, and a society, should we not expect the Creator of marriage to prepare, provide, and preserve a “perfect operations manual” for it?

If we ignore such an “operations manual” should we not expect problems?

What if the instructions are really, really simple? Should we assume them to be sufficient, or should we continually reinterpret and reapply them?

What do these instructions say about the children?

If the Creator of marriage has provided a perfect guide whereby to maintain a marriage, why do so many people hate the very idea of “Biblical Marriage” and those who espouse it?

Finally, what happens to the individuals, families, and society if God-haters succeed in their efforts to redefine and ultimately remove the entire concept and practice of Biblical Marriage?

I hope to see you Sunday with a smile on your face, your Bible in your hand, and your family and friends by your side!

If we are going to carry out the Great Commission, we are going to reach people from every country and culture! These cultural differences caused difficulties in the first century church – and in every church since then…

We are going to work through all that Paul was willing to do to not offend new believers from a different culture without compromising doctrine.

We will also cover issues about Spiritual Gifts including “prophesying”  and the “Office of Prophet” – and the issue of Philip’s daughters who prophesied!

I hope to see you in the morning with your Bible in your hand, a smile on your face, and family and friends by your side!

As the Lord allows, from Mother’s Day to Father’s Day this year, I am going to preach a six-week series of sermons on the subject of Marriage and Family.

Topics will include:

5/13 “Marriage Matters”

5/20 “Singleness”

5/27 “Make the Right Match”

6/3 “Who’s the Boss?”

6/10 “Making and Managing Money”

6/17 “The Perils and Pleasures of Parenting”

Every one of us is either single or married, and therefore we need this; many of us have children who need this; and some of us have children and grandchildren who need to hear this; so, I am sure that there will be a blessing and biblical instruction for everyone in each message!

I hope to see you each Sunday with your Bible in your hand, a smile on your face, and your family and friends by your side!

I believe that Brother Bobby, as usual, was faithful to hear the Holy Spirit and to tell us what he truly believed the Holy Spirit was leading him to say to us.

I believe that Brother Bobby has a very good insight into the condition of our happy Church.

I agree with Brother Bobby that this is a wonderful Church!

But, I also agree with Brother Bobby that while none of us actually think we are better than anyone else in the area, many of them very likely believe that we think we are better than them because of the way we live.

I also agree with Brother Bobby that while we must never compromise with sin we need to demonstrate compassion for those who do not yet know Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

Further, I think that we are going to have to be both “intentional” and “proactive” in the ways we reach out to them.

– By “intentional” I mean that it must be our purpose to seek ways to show them the love of God in Jesus Christ!

– By “proactive” I mean that we have to act first. We cannot sit around passively waiting for an opportunity to fall in our lap, we are going to have to pray and seek out opportunities to show them the love of God in Jesus Christ!

I believe there is a simple biblical formula to do three simple things: “Love God” “Love People” and “Share the Good News.”

– If a person is our brother or sister in Christ, we are commanded to love them!                    (John 13:34-35)

– If a person is our neighbor, we are commanded to love them! (Mark 12:31)

– If a person is our enemy, we are commanded to love them! (Luke 6:27-31)

According to the 2010 US Census, there are about 1,250 people who live in Atwood…

If the North American Missions Board statistics are accurate, that means there are about 125 people in Atwood who know and love Jesus and who are attending Church somewhere every week…

If the North American Missions Board statistics are accurate, that means there are about 125 people in Atwood who do not know the Lord Jesus, but are attending Church somewhere anyway…

If the North American Missions Board statistics are accurate, that means there are about 125 people in Atwood who know and love Jesus, but are not attending Church anywhere…

If the North American Missions Board statistics are accurate, that means that about 875 people who live in Atwood do not know the Lord Jesus and are not attending Church anywhere…

And, these last two groups – those who know the Lord, but are not attending Church; and, those who do not know the Lord and are not attending Church – (1,000 people) these are the people on whom we need to focus our outreach efforts!

If you add Arthur, Bement, Bourbon, Garrett, Hammond, Ivesdale, Pierson, and Tuscola, the number of people who do not know the Lord Jesus and do not attend church jumps to 7,700 (within 15 miles of this Church)!

As the Lord allows, next Sunday morning we will look at these verses and I will teach on the issues in great detail. Dig in to God’s Word. I hope you will read over this exciting portion of God’s Word and ask HIM to prepare your heart for the message this week. I hope you will get studied up, prayed up, and fired up over the opportunity to worship God together with your Church Family.!

I hope to see you Sunday Morning with a Bible in your hand, a smile on your face, and your family and friends by your side!!

“Will you not revive us again that Your people may rejoice in You?”         Psalm 85:6 (ESV)

Saturday and Sunday, April 21^st and 22^nd, are the dates for our “Spiritual Renewal Weekend” with Evangelist Bobby Boyles of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma!

This is a different approach to our Spring Revival.

We will begin on Saturday evening, April 21^st, with a Banquet at 6pm. We will enjoy a great meal together and following the meal we will move over to the Sanctuary for Special Music and a Message from Bro. Bobby.

On Sunday morning, April 22^nd, at 9am we will have a “Combined Adult” Sunday School time with a second Message from Bro. Bobby.

At 10am, we will have a great “Revival Service” with lots of singing and another Message from our Speaker.

At 6pm on Sunday, we will conclude this special “Spiritual Renewal Weekend” with a time of great music, singing, and a closing Message from Brother Bobby!

So, what I am asking you for is your prayers, your attendance, a very generous love-offering, and that you will pray and work hard to bring family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers to all four of these “Special Services!”

Hopefully, we will experience a time of real SPIRITUAL RENEWAL and all of us will witness the manifest blessing of God upon our Church!

As the Lord allows, this coming Lord’s Day morning I will continue my series on The Book of Acts with a sermon on the subject “Why are we here?” It is easy to get lost in the details of The Book of Acts and forget why Paul was called and sent in the first place… We are here today for the very same reasons for which he was there: to reach lost people with the gospel and enable them to become fully-devoted followers of Jesus!

Paul tells us in 1^st Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” He was there to imitate Christ and we are here to imitate Paul! If we are committed to doing that, we must understand Paul’s reasons for where he went and what he did while he was there:

What does it mean to serve the Lord, and what does that look like in the context of our daily lives?

What is the ONE THING (more than any other) that we are supposed to be doing?

As we consider both the “Context” and “Content” of Paul’s ministry, what impact will that have on the ministry that God has given each of us to do in our homes, at work, and through the life and work of our Church?

Is it always God’s will for His people to prosper? Is there not a price to be paid for obeying the Great Commission? Can we truly expect to be loved and honored by a culture that is more and more adamant and vocal in their hatred of Jesus and His authority over them?

While it is interesting to think about these things now, what will we say to Jesus when we stand before Him at the Judgment Seat?

We not only have a responsibility to lost people, we have at least two great responsibilities to God’s people. In the context of Acts 20:28-32, what do you believe are those responsibilities?

And, by the way, how has God “ordered” that we pay for the work and ministries of our Church?

Finally, Paul goes back to one of the most basic of Christian characteristics. His broken heart at the thought of not seeing the Ephesian believers again in this life reminds us of the depth of his relationships with them; and, how deep our love and care ought to be for one another.

Dig in to God’s Word! I hope you will read over this exciting portion of God’s Word and ask HIM to prepare your heart for the message this week.! I hope you will get studied up, prayed up, and fired up over the opportunity to worship God together with your Church Family!

I hope to see you Sunday Morning with a Bible in your hand, a smile on your face, and your family and friends by your side!

REMEMBER: Saturday and Sunday, April 21^st and 22^nd, we will host our “Spiritual Renewal Weekend” with Dr. Bobby Boyles of Oklahoma City. We will begin with a Banquet at 6pm on Saturday (4/21) after which Bobby will preach; and then we will give the Lord all day Sunday (4/22) to speak to our hearts through His man as he preaches His Word!

Bobby will also speak to the Combined Adult SS Classes on Sunday (4/22) at 9am and at the morning service at 10am and also at 6pm. This is something new we are trying this year – a two day meeting instead of a four day meeting… I hope you will set aside these two days to attend these meeting, focus on God and His Word, and seek a true time of transformation in your own walk with God.

How can Christians call “Good” the day upon which this took place?                          http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCwKOG727e4&feature=related

10. Good Friday was a good day because it was a day that the Lord had made! Psalm118:24

9. Good Friday was a good day because we could not have Easter without Good Friday! Luke 24:46

8. Good Friday was a good day because 1,980 years later, it is still the one day each year that most lost people think about God’s plan of salvation! John 3:16

7. Good Friday was a good day because the veil of the Temple was rent and God now dwells in His people rather than in the Ark of the Covenant! Matthew 27:51

6. Good Friday was a good day because the Law, the types, anti-types, feasts, ceremonies, and sacrifices of the Old Testament were fulfilled in Jesus and we are free! Galatians 2:15-16

5. Good Friday was a good day because it was the day that Jesus crushed the head of Satan! Genesis 3:15

4. Good Friday was a good day because it was the fulfillment of why Jesus came! Cf. Luke 19:10

3. Good Friday was a good day because the holiness and justice of God was satisfied by the atonement offered by Jesus! Isaiah 53

2. Good Friday was a good day because the pre-determined and decreed will of God was done! Acts 2:22-23

1. Good Friday was a good day because on that day we were saved! John 10:11

Beloved Ones, more people will respond to your personal invitation to join you in church this Sunday than will on any other Sunday this year!

I hope to see you Easter Sunday Morning with a Bible in your hand, a smile on your face, and your family and friends by your side…

This coming Lord’s Day morning our text will be Revelation 1:1-18. I hope you will take time this week to read over these verses several times and ask the Lord to speak to your spirit as you prepare to listen to the sermon!

Jesus told us that, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” I am thankful to belong to an “every word” Church – and I hope you are as well… With that being said, there are some words in the Bible that grab us and speak to us in unusually powerful ways!

Think of these…

The 5 most powerful words in the Bible: “You must be born again!”

The 4 most powerful words in the Bible: “I shall come again!”

The 2 most powerful words in the Bible: “Christ Jesus!”

The 1 most powerful word in the Bible: “Jesus!”

And, what are the 3 most powerful words in the Bible… well, you’ll just have to show up this Sunday and find out for yourself!

As you read the above-listed verses in Revelation, and think about the events of that first Easter, think about the answers for the following questions:

What is the most important single event that ever took place on earth?

Why is Jesus of Nazareth the single most important Person Who ever lived on earth?

Why is it so hard to believe that a man was crucified and buried and then raised Himself back to life three days later?

If this really happened, what difference does it make?

What if it did not happen?

Why would Jesus choose to appear to the Apostle John rather than someone else?

How do you think you would react if Jesus appeared to you in His glorified Body?

So, what are the three most important words ever spoken on earth, and since you will know what they are – who are you going to tell about them?

REMEMBER: On Thursday, April 5th at 7pm, we will meet in the Old Sanctuary for a Maundy Thursday Service! Maundy Thursday celebrates the first Lord’s Supper that Jesus kept on the night before His betrayal. We will pray, sing hymns, read John 13, and then celebrate the Lord’s Supper together.

Dig in to God’s Word! I hope you will read over this exciting portion of God’s Word and ask HIM to prepare your heart for the message this week! I hope you will get studied up, prayed up, and fired up over the opportunity to worship God together with your Church Family!

I hope to see you Easter Morning with a Bible in your hand, a smile on your face, and your family and friends by your side… Remember, more people will respond positively to an invitation to worship with you on Easter than on any other day of the year!