Baptist Christian Church

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Luke 9:57-62

We invite you to join us at 9:30 for worship each Sunday morning. We preach and teach the truths of the inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word of God. In our study of Biblical discipleship we have learned the first step is to decide to follow Christ. Then we must deny self and live under the condemnation of the world. Our passage this week teaches us some truths of discipleship to help warn us to make sure God is the only One leading us. Like most people, you have probably done something on the spur of the moment. Have you ever made such a decision for/with God and later wished you hadn’t? Notice in verse 57 that the man made:

• 1. AN IMPULSIVE DECISION. Scripture doesn’t tell us any more than the fact this man makes an unconditional commitment to follow Christ wherever He would go. He probably heard Jesus teaching and saw the crowds then thought it would be good to be seen in Jesus’ company. Maybe he thought being seen with Jesus would be good for business, would help his reputation, or would solve all his problems. Perhaps you find yourself somewhere in those thoughts! There are at least two possible reasons this man, and us, find ourselves in predicaments like this wondering is God leading me to do this or is this of the Devil? FIRST we speak because we are naïve. I didn’t say stupid or ignorant, I said naïve or uninformed of all the facts. This man made a commitment before He knew what would be expected or required of his as a follower of Christ. The same thing happened to Peter until it came time to live up to the commitment. Does this kind of thing happen in NT churches today? Absolutely! It often happens when we begin to attach titles like pastor, elder, deacon, teacher, officer, committee member and so on. Sadly, many “Christians” see positions of service as positions of power and selfish ambition. Not all, just some! The sad truth is more often than not an invitation to serve in a particular position is viewed from the physical recognition aspect rather than the spiritual responsibility aspect. The SECOND reason people get into trouble with impulsive decisions is because they probably aren’t aware of their own weaknesses and instability. Many people don’t stop to think about the hardships, hard work, effort, and demands that come with spiritual leadership at any level! People have a tendency to focus on prestige and try to avoid the persecution that is promised in discipleship for Christ. To this man’s impulsive decision Jesus makes an:
  2. IMPOSING DECLARATION! Read verse 58 carefully and it is halting to say the least. One writer paraphrases Jesus’ response by saying “to follow Me requires a life of extreme inconvenience. I have none of the amenities and comforts others have. Even the animals have it better than I do.” Jesus is not complaining or griping, He was clearly succinctly stating the realities of His earthly life. America is probably the hardest nation on earth to be a true disciple for Christ because we live in a culture of abundance, comfort, pleasure and prosperity. Those things aren’t wrong in themselves, but we have let them get between us and true Biblical discipleship. Read Mark 1:14-20; 2:13-14 then reread verse 57 here. Notice that the Twelve were called while this man volunteered. Here is a huge difference. Let me leave you with this question: Are you doing what you are doing for Christ now because He called you to minister, or was this your idea? The call of God to a Christian’s heart is the best insurance against impulsive decision making in service to Christ.

If we can help you with any spiritual questions call us at (574) 643-9419.

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Mark 8:34-38

You are invited to share with us on Sunday morning at 9:30 as we worship our Savior. Discipleship is offered to Christians in a wide variety of ways. Jesus teaches the best way. In the simplest terms a local New Testament church grows, first, spiritually, and then it grows physically. The NT makes it clear a local church grows through the witness of its members as they disciple those who accept God’s offer of forgiveness of sins through Christ as Savior. Since every Christian is called to be a witness, disciple, and teacher why don’t many actually do it? Jesus gives us a clear understanding in this passage.

• 1. A DISCIPLE’S DECISION.  Is the time you made a once for all decision to follow Christ as clear and fixed in your mind as your birthday or perhaps your wedding day? Be very careful how you answer that because the real answer is the reason many Christians struggle with discipleship. One of the major problems with many Christians is that they are trying to do “Christian stuff” without ever working from a definite starting point of commitment to Christ as a follower. Our culture marks almost every significant event in our lives by a definite date. Birth, starting and graduating school, college, career, weddings and so on. What a shame that many Christians never have a definite date they can mark as the beginning of “following Christ.” Most Christians don’t give their entire lives to Christ all at once, they piecemeal it to Him after He begs them for it. Before you can become a disciple, you must decide once and for all that you are going to follow Christ. When God prompts you to give Him another part of your life, you do it immediately and move on!
  2. A DISCIPLE’S DENIAL. The second dilemma of discipleship is that of self denial. This is why most people never make a decision to follow Christ. Far too many Christians say, “I’ll follow Christ as long as it’s convenient or comfortable or within reason (my reason)! To live with that philosophy is to live a contradiction. Jesus says, “no man can serve two masters.” Another way to say that is no man can serve God and self – which Jesus says we must deny! Christians try to live life being two people, and that’s impossible. Self says I’m in control of Me. Jesus says to be His disciple HE must be in control of Me! When we deny the person of Christ and choose the person of ME we are eliminating ourselves from true Biblical discipleship. Notice there is a
  3. DISCIPLE’S DECLARATION! The third reason most people won’t be true disciples is because it must be a public declaration that that person’s life belongs to Christ. When Jesus said a disciple must “take up his cross” it meant that person would be living under the condemnation of the entire world for the rest of their earthly life. No wonder the disciples said, “That’s hard, who can do this?” To which Jesus replied, “With God nothing is impossible.” True Biblical discipleship is hard. Perhaps that’s why many are called, but few are chosen. However, if you are saved, you have been chosen. The only way to be a true disciple for the Lord Jesus is to immediately leave everything about this world and its desires. Abandon all of them for the wonderful grace of Jesus and let Him replace all that’s worldly with all that’s heavenly. Make a concrete decision once for all and let Christ teach you how to become a true disciple. If we can help you with this or any other spiritual matter call us at (574) 643-9419.

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John 11:17-27

We invite you to attend our morning worship on Sundays at 9:30. Why not come check us out? This Easter Sunday, like all others, focuses on the Resurrection of Christ. In the midst of his torment Job asked, “If a man die, shall he live again?” Is there life after death? Eternal life is taught throughout Scripture beginning in Gen.3:21, 22 and continues through Rev. 22:19. In between, God gives detailed instructions that eternal life for all humans is a true as the first resurrection to eternal life – that of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is recorded in John 10, that when Jesus told the Jews He was the Messiah they wanted to stone Him for blasphemy. In John 11 when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead the Pharisees plotted to kill Him. The question is – does the continued exposure to Jesus and Scripture that you experience cause you to reject and hate Him more, or does it cause you to love and exalt Him more? Using John 11:25 as our focal verse for this Easter morning let’s consider some practical truths that help us celebrate a risen Savior!

• 1. GOD USES HUMAN WEAKNESS TO DISPLAY HIS WONDER! The doctrine presented in John 11:1-4 is taught throughout Scripture. Question: in a crisis situation where or to whom do you go? If we run to Christ in the midst of our crisis, the indwelling Holy Spirit will put the crisis to death and give to us new life in His power. You might ask, “would God really do that for me?” Yes! Why? Read verse 5! Jesus wasn’t physically present when this crisis happened to Lazarus. We have it better because the Holy Spirit lives in us all the time. That means a constant Presence that wants to breathe new life into us all the time.
  2. GOD WORKS SUPER- NATURALLY TO CAUSE US TO BELIEVE! Read John 11:14, 15. What often seems – even is – death to us is only sleep to God. Human life is so fragile that anything that threatens it is our enemy! When any part of our hopes/dreams/ plans/desires/relationships/anything doesn’t go as we planned or wanted it too, in our helpless situation it seem to be dead. How many times have you poured your heart into something that you really thought God was leading you to do only to have it fall apart right in front of you? We then cry out “WHY GOD!” Look at verses 21 and 32. Mary and Martha both say, “If only you would have been here…” We are good at finding reasons to put the monkey on God’s back aren’t we? Could it be the closer we walk with Christ the more casual we become toward Him? God let’s death occur sometimes so He alone, can work for us in our life. Watch!
  3. ETERNAL LIFE IS FOUND ONLY IN RESURRECTION! Read verses 25 and 26. These two verses are a banquet that will feed you all year, not just today. Notice in verse 4 Jesus says the ultimate reason for “all things” is to glorify God. Part of Jesus’ ministry was to glorify God through what Jesus did. We think because Jesus helped God to be glorified, we must do extraordinary things to help Him also. The point is God doesn’t need our help, we need His! We must learn, in our daily living, to give our entire life to God and KEEP OUR HANDS OFF! When we worry, fret, or fear, we must then pray all the more fervently that God help us keep our hands off the situation so we can watch Him breathe His eternal life-giving power into whatever it is going on in our life. Study this passage until you see that only God can give eternal life to all parts of your life.

If we can help you with this or any other spiritual matter, call us at (574) 643-9419.

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Acts 1:6-9

We are continuing our journey into discipleship as Christ taught it in the New Testament. Most of us have had experiences where we wished a loved one who is gone could show us the way to do something. We’ve probably all been in situations where we wished we knew more, had more ability or wanted to understand something better, haven’t we? Jesus understood that His disciples (and us) would have those moments. He planned for them by reassuring all of us that God’s power is available to us when we need it. In fact it is available all the time. Notice in Acts 1:8 that Jesus promises power from on high (heaven) when the Holy Spirit comes. His coming happened at Pentecost (Acts 2) and now He immediately indwells all believers at the time of their salvation. Notice first:

1. THE PROMISE IS GIVEN. The promise found here is one of the greatest in Scripture. When God says “You shall…” it’s a done deal. The certainty of God keeping His promises is as certain as the breath you just took. He cannot lie, so if He says something it is truth. Jesus also knew that Satan would try to fool us into thinking it is okay to use the power we have to exalt ourselves instead of exalting God. So how do we know the difference? If your ultimate desire for power to do anything focuses on you, it’s selfish. No matter how secret your desire is, if it’s you – it’s wrong! On the other hand if your ultimate desire is to be totally immersed in God’ Law so all you do glorifies ONLY Him, then use all the power you can!!! Someone might ask “so what about those times I have sincerely been focused on God, wanted to do His will, stepped out in faith into a new area of life and fell flat on my face? Stay tuned because in a couple weeks I’ll answer that question for you. In the mean time rest assured that if you are focused on God alone, the power is there to do what you must. For now notice also
2. THE PROMISE IS GUARANTEED! Read Acts 1:8 this way. God promises that (insert your name) will have power from on high. Remember, when God says it – it’s done! So if that’s true, why do we appear so often to be weak in our Christian life? Basically it comes down to this: We try to do what we think should be done when we think the time is right. Get it? Go back to Mark 8:34. WE must first make a decision to follow Christ at all costs. That decision will include letting God make all the decisions in His time His way. When God is in absolute control His power is also in control! He gets to do all the choosing because He is the ONLY One Who sees your whole life from beginning to end. Therefore, He knows where you are, where you’re going, and how to lead you there. The power is there because God promised it is. The power is also guaranteed because God promised it!

The question might be – have you made that once for all decision to follow Christ. We are going to discuss that more in a couple weeks. Give God all your desires, then let Him give them back to you in the order He knows is best and watch the power increase. You might ask, “so what do I get to choose?” You get to choose to read and study His Word – daily so you will hear Him direct you. You get to choose to pray asking Him to help you follow. You get to choose to ask, seek, and knock and be there when God answers, opens and you find!  If we can help you with your spiritual questions call us at (574) 643-9419.