19
Jul '20
Here Comes the King!
19
Jul '20
Jerusalem was jumping. Always was at Passover. Those from the region and from far away, journeyed to the city on a hill. It was time to observe the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. This year, however, was unordinary. That was due to Jesus of Nazareth. This man spoke like no one else. He did things no one else could do. And He was on His way.
Recently, Jesus had been nearby in Bethany. There He called Lazarus, a man who had been dead for four days, back to life. More recently, in Jericho, He had given sight to blind Bartimaeus. But the people of Jericho did not know what was more amazing: blind Bartimaeus seeing or tax collector Zacchaeus repaying four-fold all the people whom he had cheated, and also giving half his goods to the poor. The air in Jerusalem was also electric because people were aware that the chief priests and Pharisees wanted to arrest Jesus. All of this conspired together to create a sensation as people watched the road, wondered to themselves and asked one another: “Do you think He will show?” (John 11:55-57).
Prophetically. Publicly. But NOT Pompously.
The Lord Jesus did show, and His public arrival not only frustrated the chief priests and Pharisees who wanted to stealthily swipe Jesus off the street so as to destroy Him after the feast, but it also fulfilled Messianic prophecies (Jeremiah 9:9; Psalm 113-118). While nothing was transpiring according to their plan, all of it was according to God’s plan. Everything about Jesus, from His birth to His death to His resurrection and all points in between, all happened according to the divine timetable. Obviously, that includes everything from His coming on the colt, to His cursing the fig tree, and to His cleansing the temple.
Mark 11:1-11 is this morning’s text. Come be with us!
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12
Jul '20
Missionary to Suriname Michael Kelley
12
Jul '20
Acts 1:8, “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.”
We are blessed to have Michael Kelley with us for this morning’s service. Bro. Kelley has been called by God to take the gospel to Suriname out of the Calvary Road Baptist Church of New Albany, IN. He and his wife Danielle were married in 2015, and have been blessed with a son, Donovan, and a little baby girl, Lael.
Bro. Kelley will preach and present his work this morning. He will also take your questions. Following this morning’s service we will receive a love offering for the Kelley’s.
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08
Jul '20
The King is Coming!
08
Jul '20
Daniel 7:13-14, “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”
On Wednesday evenings we have steadily walked through the book of Daniel. The first six chapters of that Old Testament prophecy have either taught or reminded us to cooperate with the culture without compromising on God’s Word. Daniel and his friends demonstrate the need to stand…
- …out from the world.
- …up for God.
- …still for the solution He will provide.
A Prophetic Voice
In chapter seven the prophetic visions of Daniel begin, and they continue through the end of the book. Like last week, we will be in chapter seven again tonight. This chapter is pure prophecy. We learn that history will culminate with Christ receiving His kingdom. The Ancient of Days will grant to the Son of Man the Kingdom.
Daniel seven presents the history of man from Daniel’s time (in our past) to the time when Christ Jesus the Lord will receive and establish His Kingdom (in our future). This is a monumental sweep of prophetic history from Daniel’s day forward. So, we’ve been taking our time. Here is our outline for this evening.
- The King is Crowned
- The Kingdom’s Character
- When is the Kingdom?
Join Us!
We hope that you will be with us at 7pm this evening. Our G.O.E. Teens (6th-12th) and SHinE Kids (K-5th) will be meeting in our Family Life Center at 7pm also. There is plenty of room for them to be responsibly distanced. We will meet in our sanctuary. If you have not felt comfortable returning to our in-person Sunday morning services, Wednesday night is a great option for you. There will be enough space to spread out. We hope you will be with us tonight as we sing, pray, and open God’s Word together.
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Back to Sunday School!
We hope that today is a 
Happy Independence Day! Our nation has been truly blessed, and ALL those who are citizens of and residents in this land are privileged.
Happy Independence Day! Our nation has been truly blessed, and ALL those who are citizens of and residents in this land are privileged.This by no means suggests that the USA is now, ever has, or could possibly be perfect. The high ideals which undergird our nation and are codified in our founding documents have never been perfectly fulfilled.
Despite our many shortcomings, we have been a nation that provides freedom and opportunity for all like no other. Compare this nation with other nations instead of utopian notions. Actively and consistently treat all people with dignity and respect. I cannot undue my past, let alone my nation’s. I can act now and lay a precedent for the future that is one of honor and respect for others, including the rule of law.
As believers in America, let’s be thankful for our freedoms, and, most importantly, take advantage of our liberty for the cause of the gospel locally, nationally, and globally. Only the gospel is able to truly make men and women free. Let’s hold true to that faith, and be courageously committed to that cause.
Sunday school, Children’s Church, and SHinE are back!
Don’t forget as you celebrate the USA’s birthday that tomorrow is the Lord’s Day. He is the One from whom all blessings flow, and He is worthy of our worship. Don’t miss out, using the holiday as an excuse!
Tomorrow, July 5, also marks the return of our Sunday school classes, Children’s Church (pre-school ages), and SHinE (K-5th) ministries. The teens and kids will have their classes at 10am in the Family Life Center, and that is where Children’s Church and SHinE will meet at 11am.
Since tomorrow is the first Sunday back to Sunday school since the middle of March, as well as the Sunday following Independence Day, Pastor Travis will teach all the adults combined in the Fellowship Hall. That class will begin at 10am. We hope to see you there!
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Sacrificial Service
Our text this morning will be Mark 10:32-45. That passage reminds me, in a slight way, of a childhood visit to Clifty Falls State Park in Madison, IN. As the Clifty Creek runs into the Ohio River there are several waterfalls along its stretch. The two I remember are not cleverly named – Big Clifty and Little Clifty. Both are basically the same size, being right around 60’, but their beauty compensated for their lack of cleverness. More than that natural beauty, I remember the creek’s velocity as it accelerated towards each falls.
Likewise, as the earthly ministry of Jesus nears its climatic conclusion (the Passion Week is just around the corner) there is a frightening resolution about Jesus. Unique to Mark’s account is the vividly detailed snapshot of this event. Mark 10:32 does not simply tell us that Jesus and the Twelve went up to Jerusalem. Instead we read that “Jesus went before them.”
Going on Before
This is no leisurely stroll up to the holy city. Jesus purposefully strides ahead of His followers with an unwavering determination. His resolve intimidated the disciples; not because Jesus normally vacillated. Not at all! His followers were “amazed” and “afraid.” They were unnerved by His unswerving commitment. They did not fully understand what was happening. We normally fear what we cannot fully explain it. But they sensed His commitment, and they could grasp that it required their commitment.
Jesus came down from heaven to do the will of the Father that sent Him. The “hour” that had been appointed in eternity past was fast approaching, and Jesus had set His face like a flint towards Jerusalem so that He might accomplish His Father’s will. As Jesus marched towards Jerusalem “He took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him.” Our Lord described for them, now for the third time, exactly what it meant for the Son of Man to be lifted up.
Join Us!
That will be the focus of our time together in worship. Join us at 11am. You may also follow along online.
Just a reminder that next week we will resume our Sunday school classes at 10am and SHinE schedule (10am-Noon on Sunday morning, 7pm on Wednesday night). The vans will return for runs on Sunday morning and Wednesday night, but for children only. No adults on the vans for a little while longer. We apologize for the inconvenience, but are being purposefully gradual as we re-establish our usual routine.
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14
Jun '20
Now, That’s a Good Question!
14
Jun '20
This question was put to Jesus by a man who was eager, humble, respectful, sincere, and, oh yeah, rich, young, and a ruler. He rushed up to Jesus, kneeled, and inquired: “Good master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
Some might squabble with his question. But there is nothing wrong with it. Salvation cannot be earned, nor is it deserved. Equally true is this. You must do something to be saved. Repent and believe. Repentance and faith are necessary for one to gain eternal life. Jesus said this from the beginning of His public ministry (Mark 1:14-15). Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. To be rescued from your sins, you must receive God’s grace through repentance from sin and faith in Christ alone.
So, this fellow asked a good question, and he asked the right Person. Too many people chase the right things down the wrong paths. There are so many counterfeit religions and so many devout followers of the same. This is because all of humanity, as beings made in God’s image, are hard-wired with an innate longing for that which is beyond us; that which is transcendent. A vast variety of methods (religious, moral, professional, carnal, even criminal) are employed in an attempt to satisfy that intrinsic longing apart from God’s way.
In spite of his status, wealth, and youth this man was unfulfilled. His was an anxious, restless heart. He knew that something was missing, and he understood that something was eternal life.
Service at 11am (Livestream also)
Join us this morning at 11am up on the hill as we see how Jesus answered this sincere man’s eternally important question. This will help you to answer the question for yourself, and help you provide an answer to any who ask.
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Starting Back on Wednesday Night Services
Remember, tomorrow night, Wednesday, June 3 we will be “open” for corporate worship. Until now we have only gathered for Sunday morning worship. We are in the process of slowly transitioning back to our usual schedule.
As of right now, there will be no SHinE or G.O.E. Teens on Wednesday, and we are still not running the vans, but we will be open for our mid-week prayer time and Bible study. That’s tomorrow night – Wednesday, June 3 – at 7pm.
We need to spend time together in prayer. Do we ever. We will also spend time in Daniel 5. In that chapter the hand-writing was on the wall for a mighty and majestic empire.
We will still be live-streaming, but be prepared and plan to get back into the right routine of gathering together on Wednesday evenings.
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31
May '20
Worship on the Lord’s Day
31
May '20
Psalm 122:1, “I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the Lord.”
This morning at 11am we will gather up on the hill to fellowship, to sing praises to our God, to open His Word, and to pray together. This morning as we pray to our Lord and in His name, we will also specifically pray for our troubled nation. Please join us this morning as we magnify the name of Jesus, encourage one another, and pray for the courage to speak and model grace and truth with clarity and charity in our hurting and divided land.
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24
May '20
Look Higher
24
May '20
“I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” – Psalm 121
Psalm 121 does not promise believers the absence of troubles, but rather assumes them. From the first verse it acknowledges our need of help: “Where does my help come from?” Life is difficult and dangerous. This doesn’t mean we take unnecessary risks or act carelessly. This does mean that life is not safe and cannot be made safe. Believers cannot bypass the troubles endemic to a fallen world.
Trusting Psalm 121 does not mean that you should shun earthly helps. Go to the doctor when you’re sick. Plan wisely for retirement and work your plan. Pray for your civil leaders and be a good citizen. Be helpful to others. Just do not forget, all of these are created means of help. They are finite and therefore limited. But God is the Creator. He is infinite and His power is unlimited. So, when you’re looking up to the hills for your help, LOOK HIGHER!
Psalm 121 is our text this morning. We look forward to gathering together at 11am. The service will also be live-streamed.
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17
May '20
Bless the Lord
17
May '20
Psalm 103:1, “Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”
What does “Bless the Lord” mean? It means to speak well of His greatness and goodness. It is synonymous with praise. Psalm 34:1 puts them together like this: “I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth.” Notice the word mouth. To “Bless the Lord” is to speak, sing, and live according to His goodness and greatness. Psalm 103 is a personal, public, and pervasive exhortation to bless God. The psalm is stuffed with reason after reason why God should be blessed, honored, praised, and treasured.
Call to and Inspiration for Praise!
Psalm 103 is the wellspring for so many hymns and songs of praise from far back in the past right up to the present because the psalm is pure praise and worship from start to finish. These twenty-two verses are focused on one person: Yahweh. That is the tetragrammaton, the covenant making and never breaking name of God. This is the only name of God used in the 103rd and it is not a descriptive name like Jehovah-jireh (Genesis 22:14) or Jehovah-shalom (Judges 6:23-24, “Peace be unto thee, fear not). Yahweh is His own name – the I AM. The One who eternally exists. No beginning. No ending. He is constant and independent and sovereign. God is truth, love, light, life, beauty, perfection, holiness, and joy. He is everything, and He alone is worthy of worship. All praise is riveted on the Eternal God and His gospel truth.
Together Again!
The 103rd Psalm will be our text this morning, our first one back since March 15. Follow this link for information about today’s service. We look forward to worshipping together, up on the hill once again. If you do not feel comfortable gathering, or if you do not feel well, please remain at home and follow along on the live-steam.
Following the time of worship we will honor our 2020 graduates: Bailee Allen, Kylee Fain, Jesse Eaton, and Will Isaacs. That will also be live-streamed.
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