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
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Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 52:17 — 47.9MB) Subscribe: This week we invite Jim Geurink of the Baptist Children’s Home in Valparaiso, Indiana to deliver the message that God has given to him for us.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:17 — 45.1MB) Subscribe: Nehemiah 4:1-6
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. If we listed the reasons people get angry at us we would have quite a long list. God’s list isn’t so long! The only reason God gets angry is sin! God never gets mad at people, He gets angry at their sin! Anger causes all sorts of problems in all sorts of ways. Dealing with our own personal anger is hard enough, but dealing with someone else’s anger at us is even harder! Remember, no level of godliness on your part will prevent others from being angry with you at some point. The reason is – it’s easier to pull someone else down, than it is to pull yourself up! Opposition is always ready to ridicule/stop God’s people in doing His work! Let’s consider some reasons angry people tried to discourage Nehemiah.
- THE FEAR OF BEING DISPLACED! Notice DISplaced, not REplaced! Sanballat and his crony Tobias we the local big-shots. They used their titles to intimidate the people, keep them under their thumbs, and run the show! Read Ezra and finish reading Nehemiah and you will learn neither of these men understood true leadership principles. Tobiah should have known godly leadership principles because he was a Jew. The problem – he was a legalist! The intent of these two men was to discourage the people causing them to doubt their own abilities to change for the better. If they could keep the people “down” they could continue their reign of legalism. Notice also
- THE FAITH THAT BRINGS DETERMINATION. Under Zerubbabel the Jews rebuilt the Temple. In that 20 year period God not only led them to rebuild the Temple, He also rebuilt their faith that He had not abandoned them. It is interesting to note that when God led Israel from captivity, the first thing He rebuilt was their place of worship! All hope and determination begins with a life that is centered around worship and fellowship with God! Sanballat and Tobias saw this and knew if the people grew in their faith, their power was short lived. That brings us to
- THE FOCUS THAT BEATS DISDAIN! If you were attacked by an ungodly person that wanted to stop you from doing what you KNEW God was leading you to do, what action would you take? Notice (vs. 4) these people prayed! They asked God to bring judgment on their tormentors. They didn’t seek revenge themselves, they asked God to help them! Notice how powerful corporate prayer can be! When the people had prayed asking God to deal with Sanballat and Tobias, the people were then free to focus on the work to be done! Here is the powerful lesson – when God’s people believe corporately, in harmony that any work or activity should be done, then any attempt to stop that work is a direct attack on God! Dear Christian, if you are on a course that you believe God has set for you, and you have prayed fervently seeking His guidance, and every part of your course is in perfect harmony with Scripture, then rest assured that you will succeed. Jesus promised persecution is one sure way you know you are following Him, read Matt. 5:10-12.
If we can help you with your spiritual questions, call us at (574) 643-9419.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:41 — 36.3MB) Subscribe: Neh. 4 and Eph. 4:1-16
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. Nehemiah is an amazing account of spiritual rebirth and rebuilding. It is also a wonderful account of the sovereignty of God superintending the lives of His people. How did slaves accomplish such an overwhelming task that had been considered impossible for decades? Let’s focus on Nehemiah’s
- LEADERSHIP WITH VISION! He certainly saw the desecrated wall and the discouraged people facing the daunting task of rebuilding. He saw reality, but Nehemiah saw something others didn’t! He saw what could be! What gave Nehemiah X-ray vision? He walked daily with God. His life was characterized by prayer, devotion, study of the Word, and personal quiet time before God! In response to Nehemiah’s devotion to God, God gave Nehemiah a great vision that could restore Israel’s dignity that had been lost in captivity. Every Christian husband ought to be a family leader with vision. He ought to see his wife as a Prov. 31 woman who is priceless. Every Christian father ought to have the vision to see his children and grandchildren as mighty men and women of God, and raise them to be such. We need not get caught up in the rubble, because there will always be rubble to distract us and hide the truth! Every Christian wife ought to see their husband as a mighty man of God or at least, with the potential to become one. She must pray every day for her husband and with her children, teaching them to pray for their dad! Nehemiah was a man of God in his private life as a servant of the king. Nehemiah saw his service to the king as a ministry given to him by God. Nehemiah freely chose to serve with all his heart. In response God gave him the desire of his heart – to rebuild the wall. In order to be a leader for God, a person must first be a follower of God! Then note Nehemiah’s
- LEADERSHIP WITH VALOR! In Scripture “valor” means might, strength, power, virtuous, and able. In the 244 times it is used most of them refer to God. Nehemiah is a man of valor because he was virtuous, strong, and powerful in his character. Notice how Nehemiah’s godly character guided him as he took action to help his people. First, when he was confronted with opposition, he directed the people to God, (see 4:3, 4) not himself. He didn’t let his “hero” status go to his head. Second, Nehemiah established defense at the weakest points in the wall (v. 13). He knew where the people were most vulnerable, so he “beefed” up their defenses at the weak points. You see the lesson here, don’t you! Third, Nehemiah reminded and encouraged the people to let God do the fighting with the enemy (v. 14). The point is that God’s people are to stay focused on those “good works God has planned in advance for us to do.” When we focus on who is after us, we have taken our eyes off God and His ministry for us. God’s work must go on to completion and it requires our deepest concentration. Let us all be leaders with vision and leaders of valor as we daily serve the Lord.
If we can help you with any questions about your spiritual life, call us at (574) 643-9419.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:40 — 45.5MB) Subscribe: Leviticus 17:10-12
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. In preparing for today I read a sermon by Pastor Jerry Shirley with this title. The sermon was powerful and the outline reminds us of some vital doctrinal truths we must keep in focus. I give him the credit for the outline, but the content is mine. In our 21st Century culture we have become desensitized to violence, crime, and murder. We are therefore casual and fearless in our attitude toward sin. We are no longer afraid of God or sin! That is a fatal outlook on life! Our focal verse today is a clear declaration of the truth that life is in the blood and blood makes atonement for sin. All blood has life giving value, but the only blood that has life saving value is the shed blood of Christ. Why?
- IN ANALYSIS: THE BLOOD IS PERFECT. Since Scripture weaves all doctrine together, when we study the doctrine of perfection, it is almost always in conjunction with the doctrine of sanctification. In Scripture “perfection” doesn’t mean without flaw as it means in English. From God’s perspective perfection means to make complete, full, entire, and without blemish. In the NT it means the same thing but goes further to mean to bring to completion or fullness. Our salvation is (eternally) secure because in every way Christ’s life was perfect from God’s perspective. Only His blood was “perfect” to offer for complete satisfaction of all God’s requirements so our sins could be wiped away, not just covered.
- IN APPLICATION: THE BLOOD IS PURE. This idea is also part of the doctrine of sanctification. It means to separate that which is impure or unclean. Because Israel was chosen by a Holy God She was (is) expected to be pure and holy as God says in Lev. 17. In the NT the writers all use it with the idea of cleansing from sing through the shed blood of Christ. The result of such cleansing is to be shown through our “separation” from all ungodliness in all parts of our lives!
- IN ACTION: THE BLOOD IS PERPETUAL. Read Heb. 7:23-28; 9:11-15; 10:8-18. The book of Hebrews is undoubtedly the greatest treatise ever written on the eternity of God. God is always consistent, meaning, He can never contradict Himself at any time in any way! If His salvation isn’t eternal, then He has contradicted His own eternal nature and character! The truth is if one’s salvation can be lost, a person can NOT go back to the same Cross to “be saved again.” In that case we are lost forever, since God has told us there will never be another Calvary!
- IN ACCOMPLISHMENT: THE BLOOD IS POWERFUL! Read Gen. 1; John 1:1-14; and Heb. 12:1-3. All those passages, and many more, teach the power of God. The ultimate power is power over life and death. Both God The Father and God The Son demonstrate their power over death. Christ’s resurrection (by God’s power) proves that Christ’s life, death, and burial were all completely acceptable to God for our salvation. As Christians our responsibility to God other Christians, and all those who have not yet received Christ as Savior – is to demonstrate the perfection, purity, perpetuity, and power of the redeeming blood of Christ.
If we can help you with your questions about salvation or any other spiritual matter call us at (574) 643-9419.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:19 — 34.2MB) Subscribe: This week we invite Abraham Thomas of Agape Royal Ministries in India to deliver the message that God has given to him for us.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:43 — 46.4MB) Subscribe: Nehemiah 3:15-25 and James 5;7-11
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 found this outline as part of a series by a pastor, and it caught my heart! I have “borrowed” his outline and added my thoughts. Last week we learned that working for the Lord can be extreme to say the least. But as the commercials say “but wait, there’s more!” The next five gates offer more insight to working for the Lord.
- THE FOUNTAIN GATE (15-25) shows us extreme example! In 2:14 we learn this gate was completely destroyed and had to be rebuilt from the foundation. The Nehemiah in this passage is not the author of the book. Also notice in verse 20 Eliashib rebuilt the Sheep Gate, which was some distance from his house. We don’t know why he was gone, but we do learn others covered for him while he was ministering elsewhere! There are always those who are anxious to see God’s servants fail at ministry. God knows who they are and keeps perfect records. It is also true that there are always those who are ready to take up the slack and help the work move forward. If you are an Eliashib, keep up the good work!
- THE WATER GATE (26, 27) is an example of extreme effort! Remember these men also rebuilt the Fish Gate. It was their leaders who thought they were too good to work. These people finished their part of the wall, then looked around to see who else they could help – even though their ungodly leaders wouldn’t! Often times God uses such people to pick up the slack when those in leadership positions fail. A “noble” wife often leads her family spiritually because her husband has abdicated his responsibilities. Every local church ought to be thankful for those people like the Tekoaites!
- THE HORSE GATE (28) is an example of extreme appreciation! There is no reason to believe that just because of this major building program worship and ministry ceased while the priests rebuilt their part of the wall. The point? In many local churches today the pastor, and his wife, are expected to be involved up to their necks in every little thing that happens with their church. If it can be dubbed ministry, they are expected to be doing it or be the driving force behind it. All this must happen with a smile on their faces while eking by on pocket change! I am so thankful as the pastor of this local church because that is nowhere near the way we are treated. My wife and I are richly blessed and our people are workers with us and care for us very well!
- THE EAST GATE (29-30) is an example of extreme faithfulness. The Jews had been captives living in rubble for so many years, they had lost sight of exactly who they were! They developed the attitude, “why worry about it, we are slaves and that’s just the way it is!” Sometimes in order to fix what is broken we must remove some “good” to repair the bad. We must have extreme faith in God as He leads us from brokenness to new life in Christ, even if it means touching some of what isn’t messed up.
- THE INSPECTION GATE (31-32) is an example of extreme humility. Many scholars believe this was the “high rent district.” The point here is that even these people got their hands dirty! No Christian should think “help” or “work” are bad four-letter words. Get it!
If we can help you with your spiritual questions call us at (574) 643-9419.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:17 — 42.4MB) Subscribe:
Note: This recording was made outdoors during our annual “Casual Sunday” and Church Family Picnic.
Nehemiah 3:1-14
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 found this outline and thought it was right on, because it speaks to the “extreme” dedication required to serve our Lord! In most any endeavor progress is the result of focus and function on the work assigned to us. In Nehemiah’s case each volunteer did the work in front of them and, as Paul would say, “worked as unto the Lord.” One of the major reasons the Jews were able to rebuild these walls was because Nehemiah showed them how to eat an elephant! This task was so enormous and daunting that it had to be broken down into “edible” portions! Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the apparent enormity of a task in front of you! Of course, we all have at some point. Nehemiah gives us some guidelines to help us get through such times.
- THE SHEEP GATE = Extreme Difficulty (1-3). No one, including the priests, was exempt from the work of the Lord. We live in a culture where the higher up the food chain one is, the less real work they seem to do. The excuse is often “I’m paid for what I know, not what I do.” Often what they actually know about the work is path-etically little! In this case the work of the priests was very exclusive- ministry and worship. When the people saw even the priests get their hands dirty (servant leadership) they were willing to follow. One of the first qualifications for leaders in Christ’s Body is to be a servant, and the title is irrelevant!
- THE FISH GATE = Extreme Dependence on God (3-5). The point here is all these people worked together in harmony to build their part. It is not recorded that anyone tried to build the gate or wall their own way. They saw the bigger picture that the walls and gates needed to be up and working to protect the city. Notice that there were, and always be, some who are not willing to get their hands dirty! Their bad attitude causes them to miss the blessings.
- THE OLD VALLEY GATE = Extreme Cooperation (6-12). The issue here is that the goldsmiths and perfumers were people with a skill that was delicate and very specialized. Usually their work was very precise and ornate. Their specialized work did not prevent them from doing the hard work of rebuilding the wall. There will always be those who think they are too special to help anyone do anything. They always have an excuse for why they can’t help! Do you?
- THE VALLEY GATE = Extreme Dedication (13). Notice how much these people built. One thousand cubits is about 500 yards or .3 mile. In those days without our machinery that would have taken a serious stick-to-it attitude. Sometimes we get so over-whelmed by the size of the task we give up or never start! We forget the God Who called us to the task is extremely more able than we!
- THE DUNG GATE = Extreme Commitment (14). This little verse is a huge memorial to those willing to do the less desirable, but more gruesome tasks. Would you be as willing to work on the dung gate as on the Glory Gate? Sometimes we Christians think because we are “royal priests” we are exempt from all work that isn’t royal! In God’s eyes royalty is not identified by a crown on a head, but by the commitment in a heart. If we can help you with answers to your spiritual questions call us at (574) 643-9419.
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