Service Times
Worship Service
Sun. 9:30am – 10:30am
Sunday School
Sun. 10:45am – 11:20am
Prayer Meeting & Bible Study
Wed. 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Crusaders Club (Seasonal)
Thurs. 3:00pm – 5:30pm
Crusaders Teens (Seasonal)
Thurs. 6:00pm – 8:00pm
|
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 54:10 — 49.6MB) Subscribe: 1 Corinthians 10:14-21
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. Did you ever wonder why we call The Lord’s Supper Communion? It was the Apostle Paul who first used the term in his first letter to the Corinthian Church. Simply stated communion means “to share something with someone.” Paul is really discussing two doctrinal truths here.
- SHARING WITH CHRIST! 14-17. The doctrine of communion, fellowship, sharing is seen throughout Scripture everywhere God interacts with His creation. Remember, God is a God of eternal relationships. Relationship implies (even demands) fellowship. Paul teaches us at least five ways we share with Christ. We share in His: 1 = burial and resurrection, Rom. 6:4 and others. We are crucified with Christ, Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20. We suffer and are glorified with Christ, Rom. 8:17. We are raised and seated with Christ in heaven, Eph. 2:6; Col. 2;12; 3;1. We will reign with Christ, 2 Tim. 2:12. You can use your concordance or chain reference in your study Bible and find many more verses that teach each of these wonderful truths. The point Paul makes is that because we share with Christ, we are to experience in our earthly lives what He experienced in His earthly life. That happens many times whether we like it or not. We share the good and the bad, don’t we! The principle of NT sharing is simple – to receive-give first! Sharing with Christ as He wants we learn it leads to the
- SANCTIFIED WALK OF THE CHRISTIAN! 15-21. We see a two-fold meaning here; First, identification through participation. Paul addresses this in verses 18-20. Remember how the OT sacrificial system demanded the one making the offering sometimes had to kill the animal? In that act they were participating in the sacrificial rite and identifying themselves as people of God. In our focal passage Paul is reminding the people that to participate in pagan rituals/activities identifies them as pagans. Paul is reminding them (and us) that to participate in worldly activities we must first turn our backs to God. When we do such we lose our favor with God and our opportunity to present a proper witness for Him. The second meaning here is identification through association. V.21. Matthew recorded the words of Jesus in 6:24 where we learn we can’t serve God and the world. It is a fact that a person can’t successfully live two lives! It might work for a short while, but it won’t last! Joshua challenged the Israelites to “choose this day who you will serve.” What we forget is that choice must be made daily, often many times each day. The reality of our sanctification means that we are freed from the bondage of sin where we are forced to live in sin; and we are placed in Christ where we are free to choose to live as God desires. Communion or The Lord’s Supper is a personal and private time of sharing with God. It is all about our own hearts and the sincerity and allegiance we show to Him every day because of our salvation. It’s called communion because we have been set apart (sanctified, made holy) to God and given the high and holy privilege of sharing with Him in our daily lives.
If we can help you with any spiritual question please call us at (574) 643-9419.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:55 — 49.4MB) Subscribe: Nehemiah 7:1-3
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. Chapter seven is a turning point in the book. Just because the wall was finished, the people could not live happily ever after. They still had a long way to spiritual maturity and worship as a way of life, which was the real reason Nehemiah wanted them to return to Jerusalem. Satan wasn’t about to let Israel enjoy any peace just because the building project was finished. He always stays on task to keep us from growing spiritually, no matter how much we accomplish physically. Notice that Nehemiah made
- PROVISION FOR PROTECTION! If we are not careful we rush right past the first three offices appointed. Nehemiah appointed gatekeepers who were more than just MP’s. They were devout men of God who guarded the city from terrorists and thieves. More importantly they guarded the Temple doors. Those allowed in were those who were known to come for worship! The singers were gifted musicians whose love for God was evident in their lives. Hypocrites being in the Temple choir was a severe no-no! Nehemiah set his brother as commander because he was a man of integrity that feared God more than most. The point here is that the wall and the city were being protected because Nehemiah understood the high cost monetarily, and in human sacrifice that was paid to rebuild it. God understands what it cost to reclaim and rebuild you! He has set in place protection for us as His children. Our protection is the “full armor of God, which includes the shield of faith and the Sword of the Lord which is the Word of God! Our protection also comes by being part of the body of Christ. We are all charged with guarding the body, which is each other, from the strongest to the weakest until we all come to maturity in the faith. There is also
- THE PLAN FOR THE POPULATION! What purpose would just building a wall around a dump serve? Whoever builds/creates/reconditions anything without intending to use it? God never does anything just for the fun of it! God is a God of purpose and organization and direction. He called Abraham with the purpose of creating a Nation through which the Savior would come. The Savior came with the intention of reestablishing and rebuilding the relationship and fellowship between God and Man. God saves us with the intention of remaking us into the image of Christ. Once established God’s relationships are eternal. Relationships suggest fellowship, and fellowship with God begins with worship. The only worship worth offering to God is from a pure heart. Satan wants us to think God’s plans for us have failed because sin still torments us. When we think we have let God down, we often quit! Nothing makes the devil happier, or God sadder. Much of our protection comes from the indwelling Holy Spirit, and much of the plan for our life is found in Scripture. God has designed the only perfect witness protection plan. He places all true Christians in it at our salvation because we are His people. God rebuild us to serve, not to sit and sour!
If we can help you with any spiritual matter, call us at (574) 643-9419.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:42 — 47.4MB) Subscribe: Hebrews 12:3-15
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. Louis Sperry Chafer is one of my favorite theologians. I like his outline for today’s lesson and thank him for it. We often ask why bad things happen to good people; or why good things happen to bad people. Jesus gives the answer to both questions in Matt. 5:45. Today we want to look at a few reasons why Christians suffer. God always know exactly how much to allow to accomplish His perfect plan for us. Christians often suffer
- AS A MEANS OF PREVENTION. Read 1 Cor. 12:1-10. Suffering can keep us from becoming conceited. In its simplest form conceited means self exaltation. Many times we become “proud” of ourselves for things God accomplishes in/through us. Suffering often reminds us to remain humble so we don’t “think more of ourselves than we ought.” Suffering can also keep us from condemnation. In Gal. 2:11-13 Peter was being a hypocrite when Paul called him on it. The embarrassment he “suffered” was a reminder that we must treat others as we want to be treated. In Titus 3:9-11 we are reminded not to do those things we condemn others for doing. It’s not that God enjoys seeing us suffer, it is just that He knows suffering is most effective as a tool of prevention. We also suffer sometimes as a
- MEANS OF CORRECTION! Our focal passage deals with correction. Three words help us understand: 1= Discipline which deals with the activities of raising a child to maturity. It is a way of education and cultivation, as well as a goal. For the Christian the goal is being transformed into the image of Christ, by way of God’s Law. Correction can also be 2= rebuke! Rebuke means to show someone their sin, and summons them to repentance. As Christians we must remember true repentance is turning completely from sin and sinfulness completely to God. We must then replace the sinful act or attitude with one that is Godly; otherwise we have just turned from one sin to another! Correction can also be punishment. God does NOT punish us for what we do not know, He punishes us for what we know but ignore! God takes great care to help us know all we are expected to learn without overloading us. He is also very patient, but will not tolerate constant refusal on our part. He is a perfect Father! Finally suffering can be used
- AS A MEANS OF EDUCATION. Read John 15. The word pruning can also mean cleansing. Orchards were “cleansed” by handpicking the bugs off the trees. Then, as now, diseased parts were cut off and burned. From a Scriptural perspective pruning always has to do with moral purity which is received through cleansing/suffering within our souls. God is always willing to use the least hurtful method of prevention, correction or education. However, if we force His hand, He will steadily increase the degree of suffering until we respond as He desires. Our suffering is always guided and controlled by God’s perfect will and reasoning. We can rest assured there is always a reason!
If we can help you with this or any other spiritual matter, please call us at (574) 643-9419.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:33 — 33.5MB) Subscribe: We’ve posted the audio from the sermon given to us by our guest speaker Pastor Herb Bruss along with his outline on Mark 16:1-13.
I. ________________ of the Disciples.
II. ________________ by the Savior.
III. ________________ the Jesus Christ is Lord.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 51:40 — 47.4MB) Subscribe: Luke 24:36-49
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. The magnificent doctrine of the resurrection permeates Scripture in both the Old and New Testaments. In addition to the resurrection of Christ which has already happened, and Christians celebrate today, there are two more resurrections to come. The resurrection of the saved to be reunited forever with Christ, and the resurrection of the unsaved where they will meet God face to face at the Great White Throne Judgment! Because the empty tomb stands as a testimony to the risen Savior the resurrection is a true, historical reality! Let’s consider just three of the many reasons the resurrection of Christ is real!
I. CHRIST’S PREDICTIONS! One of the many titles The Lord Jesus wore perfectly is “Prophet.” One of the most demanding requirements for a true Scriptural prophet was that all they predicted had to come true just as they predicted it would. Of course the truth that Jesus Christ is God in the flesh, and the One controlling all world history and events, doing only as the Father instructed Him, could not be wrong ever! Read Heb. 12:2 and John 11:25, 26. Jesus is the Lord of the living, not the dead. As sure as Christ was raised from the dead, so will every human being who was ever conceived. The question is then, where will you spend eternity?
II. CONSUMMATE PROOF! Read 1 Cor. 15:5-9. From Genesis to Revelation the Scriptures offer consummate proof that God is, and that He alone in His sovereignty directs all history. God has revealed Himself in Scripture, throughout history, in creation, eye-witness testimony, even extra-Biblical records and accounts many people still choose to reject His existence. Just as the people in Jesus’ day kept asking for signs, so they could believe, when He did offer “proof” they still rejected it. The question is “what proof might you be demanding of God that the resurrection will work for you? If the empty tomb isn’t enough, perhaps it’s not a matter of needing proof, but seeing the proof already given! Finally, let’s consider
III. COMMEMORATION PRACTICED! Most all who practice the Judeo-Christian religion consider the first day of the week, Sunday, to be a day of worship. The empty tomb was the reason the disciples, and those with them worshipped the Risen Savior. Sunday was the first day of the week and for the early Christians it was sacred, because all firsts were sacred to God. Paul tells Timothy in both letters to him to keep the hold of the faith and don’t quit preaching the gospel which Christ brought to life because of His resurrection. It’s a shame that the national symbol for Easter is now a rabbit or egg, instead of an empty Cross! We are in that time Christ predicted when people will turn from the truth of the Gospel and fall away into sin! How we are different from those first century Christians who were as anxious to go to church and worship as most are today to get out of church and go play!
If you are one who believes and holds to the resurrection of Christ as the consummate proof of a living Savior, and He is your Savior, then you have a proper view of Easter! If you however, don’t understand the true “heart” meaning of the resurrection, call us at (574) 643-9419 and let us introduce you to the Lord Jesus Christ and show you what new life in Him is like!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 47:42 — 43.7MB) Subscribe: 1 Peter 4:12-16
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. The NT gives us definite reasons why Christians suffer. It might be said suffering helps a good person become a better person. We are going to look at how we suffer as Christians, then down the road a few weeks we will consider why we suffer. Let’s consider:
I. THE INFINITE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST! No other human will ever suffer as did Christ when He freed us from our sins. FIRST, Christ suffered from the Father. In 2 Cor. 5:16-21, and especially verses 19 and 21. We can never fully understand just how much and exactly what Christ suffered from the Father because of our sins. It is hard for us to comprehend the concept/idea “all God’s wrath toward sin.” We ought to thank Him daily that He suffered like that for us. SECOND, Christ suffered from men or the human race. In these sufferings Christians most certainly do share with Christ. That is where we want to focus today.
II. THE INHERENT SUFFERINGS OF CHRISTIANS. Read John 15:18-20. All true Christians suffer. No matter how godly, how spiritually mature, how Christlike you are, in this life you are going to suffer. We all suffer the same things, just at different times and in varying degrees. FIRST consider that to be a child of God makes us an enemy of the world. A person can be a tenant of almost any other “religion” and not suffer in the way Christians suffer. Notice how all the passage in John 15 is in the present tense! The world now constantly hates Christians. Since all people are born dead in trespass and sin, they are enemies of God. When a person becomes a child of God, they become an enemy of the world. When a person is truly saved, those spiritual forces of evil know it as soon as it happens, and they declare war on the person. We don’t even have to tell anyone we got saved, the devil knows it and makes sure we suffer. SECOND our daily sanctification makes us enemies. Satan used every possible means to get Jesus to sin just once. If that happened, salvation would be forever lost. The Scriptures clearly teach Jesus was without sin! Satan’s battle with us is to keep us from being transformed into the image of Christ and thereby destroy our testimony. Satan has also convinced many unsaved people that Christians are perfect and if we mess up, we are hypocrites. Christians are not perfect (yet) we are just forgiven. THIRD, when we suffer now, we will be glorified in heaven. Read Rom. 8:12-17 and 1 Peter 4:12, 13. We learn from these and other passages that suffering here is the only means to being glorified with Christ in heaven. That is God’s program of delayed gratification. When a Christians really makes a concerted effort to live as God directs, they are a witness to the lost world, and at the same time a witness against the lost. For us to suffer as Christians, all we have to do is be Christians. Paul well says in Rom. 8:18 “that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. Remember, you are not suffering just because you are alive, you are suffering because you are alive as a Christian!
If we can help you with your spiritual questions call us at (574) 643-9419.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 53:27 — 49.0MB) Subscribe: 1 John 1:8-2:2 and 4:7-12
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. We have been studying this great doctrine of reconciliation and how it changes us from being in a position as God’s enemies into being His adopted children. This week we are considering how propitiationchanges us before God. Let’s start with:
I. THE INTERPRETATION OF THE WORD! In its earliest, simplest form it mean “cheerful/ happy, then friendly/favorable; then it meant to accept while hurt.” It is easiest to remember it meaning “turning away wrath by an offering.” Propitiation is presented in at least three ways in Scripture. In the OT propitiation is pictured in the mercy seat. Ex. 25:1-22, especially verse 22 explains this. Use your chain reference to follow this teaching through Scripture. The blood of the animal was put on the Ark where the presence of God was found demonstrating God’s mercy in place of His wrath. L. S. Chaffer explains in part that” …the blood was effective only to the extent it provided a just and proper way so God could Passover sin until Christ would shed His own blood for all people.” In the NT Christ became the offering that turned away God wrath, because He met all the requirements necessary to satisfy God’s wrath toward sin. The Cross was the place of propitiation. Read Heb. 9:16-28, then Rom. 3:19-26. The Cross was the altar, Christ was the Sacrifice and His blood was “sprinkled” on the Cross, and His body was the offering for sin. Christ could be the offering because He was sinless and volunteered to be the offering. The NT also teaches that propitiation reveals God’s character of mercy. Read Luke 18:13; Heb. 2:10-18; 8:7-12. Let’s consider
II. THE IMPLICATIONS OF THE WORD! 1= Because God’s wrath has been satisfied He can act differently toward you. He always sees you as His adopted child – never as His enemy. John 17:2—24; Rom. 8:28-39 and many others. 2= God no longer has any reason to destroy you because of your sin. Read Rom. 8:1, and the entire book of Galatians. 3= All God’s anger towards ins has been dealt with on the Cross through Christ. 4= God is now free to bestow all benefits of salvation on you; BUT He will do that only when you are in a right position to receive them.5= Adversity is no longer punishment for sin, but is a process for sanctification. God can’t be the originator of sin or the author of anything that will hurt you. God doesn’t cause adversity, but He will allow it! Because propitiation has occurred, He is now free to use that adversity to teach you how to let God use His power in you to change whatever caused the adversity into blessings of salvation. The longer you resist God’s desire to change you, the more intense the adversity becomes, not because God is turning up the heat, but because Satan has more influence because you are moving away from God in your resistance!!! If you offer yourself to God as His instrument of righteousness, you will begin to see how His power changes your resistance into desire and submission to Him where you experience more of His great redemption grace.
If we can help you with this or any other spiritual question, call us at (574) 643-9419. Come join us Easter Sunday morning. Sunrise Service @ 7:00 a.m. and morning worship @ 9:30 a.m.
|
|
