Cedar Grove Church

Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End.

Announcements: Wednesday night, we will study handling and overcoming the trials and valleys that come into our lives. All are welcome

Cedar Grove Church is alive and well, with yet another wonderful service today.

Pastor Bro. Jeff Carroll’s text comes from 1 Corinthians 3:11-13 titled “The Rewards of Serving Christ.”

The foundation Christ empowers us to build on the kingdom of God. What God has done is perfect. Everything we do in Jesus will come out victorious. It makes a difference whether we build on stone or sand. We should know that if we are wise we will build on the rock which is Jesus; therefore we will stand and never fall. If we build on the sand of Satan, we will surely fall, and the fall will be great.

How we come through every test and trial we face depends on how close we are to God. How are you preparing for the spiritual realm?

If we do not obey God, we will surely fail. Seek ye the face of God and the peace of God. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. My reward is out of this world. God is a fair and generous God, but if you serve yourself, your reward will be here.

Rewards for serving Christ as your Savior: 1.) And whoever gives one of these little ones only a cup of cool water in the name of a disciple assuredly I say to you he shall by no means lose his reward. 2.) Spiritual crown: We as Christians are striving for a non-perishable eternal crown. We must share Jesus with others along the way so we may not be disqualified because of lack of discipline and subjection to God. 3.) Crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give. 4.) Crown of life: blessed is the man who endures temptation, for he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love him. 5.) And when the Chief Shepherd appears you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Attention, attention: How we are living at the time of Christ’s return will determine how and where we will spend eternity. Hold onto your crown. Do not let anyone or anything take your crown away.

Love to all and have a blessed week! Hope to see you next Sunday at Cedar Grove!

Bethany Baptist Church

Bethany began services with “At the Cross,” then we were dismissed to Sunday School, after which we began worship services with “The Glory Land Way.” Announcements and a report on the AMD meeting in Mobile were given.

Prayer requests: the unsaved, Phyllis Vickers, Bro. Danny Jones, Bro. Paul Armstrong and family at Journey Mission, Bro. Aubry, Shirley, Billie, Jackie, Elwyn, Grace, Hubert G., Larry M., Lisa Rodriguez, Glenda Rodriguez, our church and many others.

More singing included “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” Just Over in the Glory Land Way” and “Camping in Canaan’s Land. Bro. Aubry’s text from Matthew 5:17-20 was read, followed with a prayer and the message titled “God’s Word and Me.”

We preach and teach the Bible but unless we accept, believe and practice the teaching of God’s Word, it means nothing to us. What impact does God’s Word have on us? Jesus did not come to destroy the Scriptures, but to complete them.

There are four principles of what God’s Word should mean to us: The authority of God’s Word should be applied, even though we may not like what it says. Jesus fulfilled every detail of God’s law. One day he will come back to earth and set up his earthly kingdom. There are many bad examples in the Bible that we should avoid. Our righteousness is only through Jesus Christ.

We dismissed with prayer, the song ”Only Trust Him” and another prayer.

Evening services began with “In the Shadow of the Cross,” followed by a prayer and business meeting.

Bro. Aubry’s message was titled “What Prevailing Prayer Can Do” from Mark 7:24-30. The woman in this scripture was a Gentile, but cared enough for her daughter that she sought the help of a Jew, the Lord Jesus Christ. Because she was persistent and believed, Jesus answered her prayer. When we pray, do we really care, or are we praying just because it is the thing to do? We should care enough to pray hard and long for those who are lost to be saved (John 16:23-24; Philippians 6:13, 4:6-7; 1 Peter 4:7, 5:7, and 1 John 5:14). We were dismissed with a hymn, “Blest Be the Tie” and a prayer.