Service Times
Worship Service
Sun. 9:30am – 10:30am
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Sun. 10:45am – 11:20am
Prayer Meeting & Bible Study
Wed. 6:30pm – 7:30pm
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Thurs. 3:00pm – 5:30pm
Crusaders Teens (Seasonal)
Thurs. 6:00pm – 8:00pm
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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:54 — 44.0MB) Subscribe: 1 Corinthians 10:23-33
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can also download our service at Baptist-Christian at iTunes. When I was a teen I was reading the Farmer’s Almanac and read in the quips section “if your outgo exceeds your income, your upkeep is your downfall.” I thought it was just funny then, but now I understand it is profoundly true! Dave Ramsey is a renown Christian financial “councilor” who says the key to financial success is “make more than you spend!” That’s deep isn’t it! Contrary to what many Christians believe the Bible does NOT teach money is the root of all evil. Scripture teaches us the love of money is a root of evil, not the root! See 1 Timothy 6:10. Throughout Scripture God teaches us how to acquire and distribute money in a Godly manner.
- ACQUIRING MONEY! Working is not the result of sin. God created Man to work. In Gen. 2:15 we learn God created a Garden and put man in the Garden to work it and care for it. That was before the Fall! Nowhere does Scripture ever teach it is a sin for Christians to acquire (much) money. We need the stuff to live! Sin enters into the picture when a Christian begins to focus on and accumulate wealth more than focusing on God and accumulating His wisdom from His Book! When a Christian delights himself in the Lord, the Lord then gives that person the desires of his/her heart. We learn from Scripture that a Christian’s first pursuit must be for righteousness, loyalty, wisdom and understanding. Those principles teach a person how to properly acquire and manage money. There are four truths that govern our quest for wealth. A= God owns everything, B= we own nothing. Read Job 41:11; Ps. 24:1, 2; 1 Tim. 6:1-10; and most importantly 1 Cor. 6;19, 20 which tells us God owns us! C= we are stewards of all we have; D= we are accountable to God for our stewardship. A Godly person “gets it” because they understand all they have is from God. What that means to us is everything we have is on loan 2 us, and one day we have to “settle” with God. Are you making plans that will cause that to be a fun time? We also
- APPORTION MONEY! Read 2 Cor. 9:6-11. When we live as God teaches us, the Holy Spirit’s direction over our lives extends to how we spend our money. The first responsibility in distributing our money is that it be done with desire that begins in a cheerful heart, not out of compulsion! The second responsibility is that we do it as God directs. Read 1Cor. 10:13. When we apply “tempt beyond what you are able” to our finances it means God will never direct us into debt! From a Biblical viewpoint debt is “frivolous, unnecessary spending beyond your needs.” The old saying fits– “if you have too much month left at the end of your money” you are probably not spending wisely. The best plan I’ve heard for budgeting is 10% of gross to The Lord, 10% of gross to savings, and live off the remaining 80%. No matter where you are financially, consider working toward that principle. IF you are in debt, only God can help you out, but in order to do that you must first give all of you to Him, including all of your finances.
If we can help you answer your spiritual questions, call us at (574) 643-9419.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:31 — 46.7MB) Subscribe: 2 Corinthians 8:1-12
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can also download our service at Baptist-Christian at iTunes. Several Biblical theologians believe 2 Cor. 8, 9 are key chapters for learning fundamental principles of NT giving from a salvation perspective. People often ask, “Are Christians required to tithe?” What do you think? Can you follow the doctrine of tithing through the NT? Paul gives us several principles for NT giving here in these two chapters. I want to share just two of them with you now. In 8:5 notice the Macedonian Christians
- GAVE THEMSELVES TO THE LORD! This is vital because all NT giving starts here. Paul teaches us that in view of God’s great mercy and His amazing salvation grace we are to present ourselves to Him, holy, or set apart from all evil. That separation from all evil makes us pleasing to God. “But wait, there’s more…” We are to see that separation and presentation as reasonable service to God. Read that in Rom. 12:1. Until you give God all your heart, mind, soul, and strength, you can’t give as God intends for Christians to give. Someone will say, “but God told us to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, not give that way. Do a study of agape love and you will find it is totally others centered, beginning with God. Agape love gives, because it has no reason to receive. Why? Because agape love recognizes God supplies all! Because God supplies all and has already given all, He can ask of us to give all to Him. Take a close look at your heart and see of you are withholding something that should be given to God. Notice also the Macedonian Christians
- GAVE LIBERALLY. See 8:3. I believe these Macedonian Christians are immortalized in Scripture because they gave liberally. The concept of the word liberally is best described by “the widow’s mite.” Paul is the only NT writer that uses this term meaning “glad, gracious giving to the limit.” They gladly, graciously gave all they had to give! Their liberal giving is their legacy, but it is not the focal point. Notice verse 2 that describes their living conditions. These people were slaves to the Roman Empire and were extremely poor slaves. These Macedonians had literally nothing extra; they had only what the Romans gave them to live each day. Keep that in mind as you read John 16:33; Acts 14:22; and 1 Thess. 3:2. Did you catch the truth of Christian living? Jesus, Luke and Paul are all teaching that suffering, trials, persecution and tribulation are all necessary in the life of the Christian. Those spiritual forces of evil don’t care if a Christian lives in America, or Iran; Beverly Hills or the projects, on the French Riviera or in the Sahara Desert; their only concern is to destroy any testimony or love for Christ. These Macedonians gave all they had to live in an already deplorable situation. In fact, they begged Paul to let them give. That is how much they wanted to see the lost come to Christ. Is that how it is with you? We in America have no idea what hardship or poverty is, yet! We are so blessed with everything we have no idea what severe trials and persecution is. It is high time we stopped basking in our ease and face the truth that people here and around the world are daily dying and going to a Christless hell for eternity! We must give ourselves totally to the Lord, and understand true Christians living is not easy here.
If we can help you answer your spiritual questions, call us at (574) 643-9419.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:28 — 44.9MB) Subscribe: Galatians 3:15-25
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can also download our service at Baptist-Christian at -Tunes. Often today people use the terms “stewardship” and “tithing” interchangeably. Lewis Sperry Chafer defines stewardship directs the Christian in matters of receiving, earning and spending.” The fundamental difference between OT tithing and NT principles are grace. Law in its simplest form says, “do/don’t do this or die.” Grace says, “all activity in the life of the redeemed originates from agape love out of desire to obey the God Who saves.” The NT uses three words that explain stewardship.
- TRAINING AND DISCIPLINE. Read Gal. 5;21-25. In verse 24 Paul used the Greek word for “ trainer.” A slave was often put in charge of training and disciplining the master’s children. The salve didn’t educate the children, he taught them how to apply their education to life. In Galatians, Paul is telling us the Law was the “authority” over us to teach us we had no hope of a right relationship with God because of our sin. Because Christ had no sin nature He (alone) was able to live a life of sinless perfection that met all God’s requirements for redemption. One important truth here is He did it out of desire, not demand. The life truth for us as Christians is that now we are the “trainers” to the lost to teach them salvation through Christ is the only way for them to have that same right relationship with God. NT stewardship also involves
- TRUSTEES AND DIRECTORS! Read Gal. 4:2. The “tutors, or stewards, or trustees” were usually responsible for oversight of the master’s estate. The application of the word is explained in Gal. 4:1-7. As God’s redeemed children we are now responsible for the care and oversight of God’s “salvation estate.” In this life we are to grow into spiritual adults that oversee/manage God’s estate in such a way as to make it prosper. The primary part of that estate is the salvation message and lifestyle! NT stewardship also requires we are
- TREASURERS AND DEPUTIES. Read 1 Peter 4:7-11. In our language the “ultimate honor” for a slave was to be recognized by his master as worthy to be given charge over everything about his master’s estate including all financial matters. Joseph would have held such a position in Potifer’s house. One important truth to note is that will all the trust, freedom to act, and responsibility the slave had, he remained a slave and owned nothing! Peter is telling us we are God’s trustees and directors of not only physical and fiduciary matters, but administrators and deputies of His amazing, salvation grace. Notice in verse 7 Peter tells us we must be clear minded (think straight) and self-controlled to hold our high position. So the question is: how do you see your daily life as a Christian? Have you grown in your spiritual life to the point you understand you are a bond-slave (willingly a slave to Christ) serving in God’s house (Church)? Do you have the awareness that as such you are also His steward over His estate? You are aware, aren’t you, that with such awesome freedom and honor comes accountability and responsibility for which we will all give account! Think about all that!
If we can help you answer your spiritual questions, call us at (574) 643-9419.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:14 — 46.6MB) Subscribe: THE CLARITY OF SCRIPTURE Part 2
1 Corinthians 2:1-16
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can also download our service at Baptist-Christian at iTunes. Last week we discovered God has designed His Bible so we can understand it. When we meet the demands of God by wanting what He wants the way He wants it, we then discover the Bible has a
III. DELIGHT SO WE CAN UNDERSTAND IT. Wayne Grudem says the clarity of Scripture means “ the Bible is written in such a way that its teachings are able to be understood by all who will read it seeking God’s help and being willing to follow it.” He states three important truths that teach us there is a delight in
- Reading the Bible. There is an old saying among men, “when all else fails, read the directions.” We have become so “advanced” in our assembly skills, we often think we don’t even need directions any more. Here is another thought. Do you know of anyone who ever sat down to write a letter to a loved one knowing the recipient wouldn’t read the letter? God did! And we should be thankful He did. He wrote His Bible so it reaches the motive and intents of our hearts telling us He died for our sins so we could be free of the penalty of sin! There is delight in reading that God wants to draw us so close to His heart nothing in all creation can separate us from His love. We also find delight in reading the Bible when we
- Request God’s help. Read Heb. 11:6. A person must not only believe God exists, but they must diligently seek Him. Believing He exists isn’t the problem with Christians. It is the diligently seek Him part that causes trouble. Because we live in an instant society, we come to believe if we glance at Scripture once, we should have it as good as we need it. Read Deut. 4:28; Jer. 29:13; Mt. 18:12 and Luke 15:8 and you discover God means for us to seek Him with ALL our heart, mind, soul, and strength. When we read seeking with “all” God rewards us with a desire to want to learn more and more about Him. Read 2 Timothy 2:15. The word “work” there carries the idea of doing something that requires all our effort, but at the same time is exciting and delightful for us to do. One historian says the verse can be interpreted “a workman who has no cause for shame when his work is being inspected.” Any reason you would be ashamed if someone (God) inspected the work of your heart? Finally, we find delight in
- Responding to what God says. One of the rubs in doing what God says is the all part of God telling us to obey with all! Do you honestly think God would ask us for all if He knew we couldn’t give Him all? Where would be the delight in that? When we put all this into action in our lives and desire to be what God wants us to be the way He wants us to be, all the barriers that would stop us, become non-issues. Why? Because we know God is Faithful and True to His Word and will absolutely reward them who diligently seek Him. Henry Blackaby would say they have Experienced God. They have tasted the Word of Life and found it to be delightful. It is not too late for you to experience Him and all He has for you.
If we can help you answer your spiritual questions, call us at (574) 643-9419.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:05 — 44.7MB) Subscribe: 1 Cor. 2:6-16
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can also download our service at Baptist-Christian at iTunes. I often have people ask me, “why can’t I understand the Bible, better?” or “I read the Bible, but I don’t understand it. It doesn’t seem clear to me.” A person must come to Scripture wanting to understand it as much as God Himself wants us to understand His inspired, infallible, inerrant Word. Let’s consider:
- THE DESIGN OF THE BIBLE. Would you agree that a perfectly holy and good God would want to reveal Himself and His Laws in such a way so that anyone who wanted to, could understand what such a wonderful God is telling them? All through His Word God tells people to read, study, discuss, meditate on, and memorize His Word. He uses words like those just mentioned to teach us getting to know Him is a lifetime process, not a once in a lifetime event! Jesus said, “You are wrong because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” Both those life needs are learned from careful study. The truth is God wants us to know, learn, and understand His Book so we can enjoy a right relationship with Him, and be in a position for Him to bless us. Living in harmony with God and His Laws reflect His redeeming grace, encourages other, lost and saved, to follow Him. Now consider
- THE DEMAND TO UNDERSTAND SCRIPTURE! Read Romans 8:5-11. Notice in verses 5 and 9 the Holy Spirit teaches us that we must desire to know the things of God from a heart that is controlled by the Holy Spirit. Practically, in daily living as a Christian, that means your life must begin and end with the idea, “how does what I am doing, thinking, living, and taking about represent a true picture of God to all those around me?” Read Mark 4:10-12; Rom. 8:5-11; and James 1:5,6. Now go to 1 Cor. 2:1-16. One of the major problems with sin is it makes a person think they can please God legally, or through works of their own, done their own way. Isa. 64:6 tells us that can’t happen. All works that begin in “us” begin with a sin-tainted view. God tell us that to understand His Scriptures we must accept and obey the truth as He gives it to us; and we are to live according to His inspired, infallible Word as He directs, not as we choose. When we read Scripture with the right heart it draws us to God. Sin drives us from Him. All of us know the degree to which we control our own lives! We know what part(s) God controls and what parts we control. If we are walking with the Lord and we come to something we don’t understand, our (super) natural reaction is to “lean not on our own understanding, but trust in the Lord.” Lack of understanding on our part doesn’t necessarily mean we’ve fallen into sin. It probably means God is getting ready to do something different, and need us to pay close attention through intensified study. To someone who doesn’t know Christ as Savior, lack of understanding is the normal result of not being redeemed. The unsaved can read the Scripture and clearly understand that the only starting point is asking Christ to redeem them.
If we can help you answer your spiritual questions, call us a (574) 643-9419.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:51 — 40.8MB) Subscribe: Deuteronomy 18:18-20 and 2 Peter 1:20, 21
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can also download our service at Baptist-Christian at iTunes. Many Christians claim the Bible to be their highest and final authority in all matters of faith and practice. The sad truth is few of them actually practice that statement. Today Christians are being challenged more on why they believe Scripture than what they believe from it. Peter tells us we are to “be ready to give a reason for the hope within us.” That reason must be as sound as the Scriptures if we are to plant good seed in fertile ground so it grows productively. To a person with a spiritual background or point of view, the Scriptures are the Word of God. To those without a spiritual understanding or background, it is most often just another religious book. So how do we know the Scriptures are God’s Word? Let’s consider first
- AUTHORITY DEFINED. Wayne Grudem defines the authority of Scripture as “all the Words in Scripture are God’s Words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God.” Lewis Sperry Chafer says, “authority (of Scripture) is a necessary requirement of and inspired Bible.” Ian Pasley says “the Bible claims its authority from the God Who breathed it.” As true Christians we accept the authority of the Bible because to us, there is no higher Authority than God Himself. When a person believes God exists, it is possible to establish the authority of the Word, from the Word. Because God is, He is then the Final Authority and all He speaks is authoritative! Let’s consider
- AUTHORITY DECLARED. The OT uses the phrases “thus saith the Lord,” or “this is what the Lord says,” or “the Lord spoke to…” From an ancient cultural perspective such phrases meant whatever was said by an authority could not be challenged, just obeyed. When God’s writers used such phrases, the people understood it was God speaking to/thru His messenger. The NT also verifies Scripture as God’s words. Read 2 Timothy 3:16 where Paul tells us all Scripture is God breathed. In all 50+ times the word “Scripture” is used in the NT is includes or refers to the OT writings as well. 1 Tim. 5:8 and 2 Peter 3:16 include OT and NT writings. 2 Peter 1:21 tells us holy men were “carried along” as they wrote. We would say God put into their hearts the words He wanted them to write. Biblical writers were not “human keyboards” through whom God pecked out His Word. They were all intelligent, mature, spiritual people through whom God authored His Bible. Now consider
- AUTHORITY DEMONSTRATED. The most powerful proof of the inspired, infallible, inerrant authority of the Word of God is a changed life that has turned from being God’s enemy to being His adopted child. Visible, physical evidences of a life changed from using profane words, demonstrating a self-centered, hard-hearted, me first way of life, into a well-spoken, others “first”, gentle loving life are all real life evidences that the Word of God really is alive and powerful that not only discerns the motive and intents of the heart, but actually changes them to have a desire that originates deep within the personal, private realms of the individual to serve the Living and True God. This is by no means a full study of the Authority of Scripture, but an introduction to get you started.
If we can help you answer your spiritual questions, call us at (574) 643-9419.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:14 — 40.3MB) Subscribe: Mark 10:28-31
We invite you to join us for worship each Sunday morning at 9:30. You can also download our service at Baptist-Christian at iTunes. Last week we learned that the study of Biblical doctrines helps us know what God says throughout His entire Word about any given subject. Once we have a general knowledge of the definition and development of God’s Word then we can also get a handle on the
III. DESIGN OF BIBLICAL DOCTRINE! God has designed His doctrines so they (1) declare the will of God and their demands. Read Ps. 94:10-15. Through His doctrines God tells us how we are to behave toward Him and all other people. God begins with the Ten Commandments and continues through the laws of worship (how we interact with God); and the moral laws which teach us how to interact with people. God has designed His doctrines to (2) direct His people to do His will. Read Eccl. 12:12, 13, then Mark 10:28-31. When God directs us He often begins with “thou shall or shall not.” In the NT Jesus further explains “thou shall or shall not” in His Sermon on the Mount and His parables teaching us how to do God’s will! God also designed His doctrines to (2) develop God’s people by subjecting them to His revealed will so they become what He intends for them to become. Read Deut. 4 and Matt. 5- 7. Notice how the doctrines of God lay claim to the whole person, not just parts! When we begin to pick and choose what parts of us God gets it is both blasphemous and heretical because we are acting contrary to God’s revealed will. When we act contrary to His will, we also arrest His plan for us. However, when we submit fully to His design, we experience
IV. THE DIVIDENDS OF BIBLICAL DOCTRINE! In one way we might say the development and design are the “what” of Biblical doctrine. The dividends are the “so what,” or as some might say, the “what’s in it for me” of doctrine. When we obey God’s perfect plan, He provides (1) prosperity. Scripture tells us we must obey, be strong, be consistent, and totally devoted to God to prosper. God always gives us very clear instructions so we can do as He commands, and enjoy the prosperity He wants to provide. Another dividend of doctrine is (2) production. In Matt. 13:8; John 12:42 and a host of other verses, God tells us we must be ready to receive what God says, the way He says it-without any editing, rewording, or censoring in any way. Jesus says we must “die to ourselves” to prosper. Finally, doctrine brings (3) prolonged life. Read Ps. 1:3 and Prov. 12:38 for starters. God is continually telling us that His desire is to “prosper us, not to harm us…” We can only receive the prosperity if we are obedient to all God commands. The wonderful truth about all this is that God never asks us to do anything we can’t!! It may at times be hard, but it’s never impossible for us to do our part. As one allows the Holy Spirit to lead them through the doctrines of Scripture, He opens our minds to see how beneficent and personal our God really is. IF you have never committed to a study of Biblical doctrine, I trust you will go before God and ask Him to help you do so now. Then study with us as we learn about the Great God that called us to Himself in redemption. If we can help you answer your spiritual questions, call us at (574) 643-9419.
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