Calvary Independent Baptist Church

Sunday morning services included a message from 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 titled “What Would You Be Willing to Receive Today?” Christians should be not only guarding their tongue, but also their hearing and their seeing because there are many a false doctrines being preached and taught today. We hope you are searching the scriptures daily and are only listening to preachers who preach and teach sound doctrines.

The evening service included a message from 2 Corinthians 6:11-18 about getting the sin out of our lives. A little leavening can change the whole lump, just as a little sin can keep us from being able to serve the Lord Jesus Christ as we should. Christians should not be unequally yoked with unbelievers but should be edifying one another, working steadily toward the purpose of seeing souls saved and lives changed. We hope you are trusting in Christ for salvation and serving him equally yoked with other believers.

We want to invite you to services this Sunday. The morning services will include an Easter special by the children, followed by a short preaching service and communion. We do not have closed communion. Participation in communion is between the individual and the Lord Jesus Christ. It should be a service that every believer would want to participate in while waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ to return.

Easter service will start with a “Son Rise” service at 6 a.m. with breakfast following. We will have an Easter special during the morning service. We hope to see you there as well!

Prayerfully consider coming to our June Vacation Bible School. It will kick off with registration on June 8 at 5:30 p.m., and then run Monday, June 9 through Friday, June 13 from 6-8 p.m. each night. Every night during VBS, we will also have an adult class. Come expecting to either get a blessing or to be a blessing to someone else!

Bethany Baptist Church

We opened with “The Haven of Rest,” followed by a devotional from Psalm 51:1-13, titled “Confessions and Forgiveness.”

King David knew in his heart that he had sinned, but like us, tried to justify and hide his sin. The Holy Spirit reminds and convicts the saved of the sin in our lives. The first step in asking for forgiveness is admitting sin; next, we must ask for forgiveness and repent, which means to change. As David asked for a clean heart and restored fellowship with God, so must we. Remember our sin not only affects us, but others also. After a prayer and Sunday school, we sang “Where We’ll Never Grow Old,” “In the Sweet By and By,” “The Home Over There” and I’ll Fly Away.” The morning message from 1 Samuel 1:1-18 was “A Great Message in a Unique Story.”

As Hannah opened up her heart in a pleading, earnest prayer for a son, so should we, Bethany Baptist Church, be so burdened for lost souls to be saved that we will pray for the Lord to send us souls in need of salvation. We need to be loving and willing to teach the truth of God’s Word. The lost in this world should see us and our lives and want what we have. Reach out to Jesus and his power for souls to be saved—for his glory, not ours.

We closed with a hymn, “Where He Leads, I’ll Follow,” followed with a prayer by Bro. Hubert Griffin.

Evening services were begun with a song, “Blessed Be the Name.” Bro. Aubry’s message was titled “Will We Be Ready to Go When the Lord Calls Us” from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

Are we as individuals ready for the return of Jesus? He is coming only for a certain class of people—those who have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus’ coming, after completing our home in heaven, will be accompanied by a shout; then the trumpet will sound and the saved will meet Jesus in the air (Ephesians 6:12, John 5:25). The dead in Christ will rise first, and then the living who have been saved will meet Jesus in the air. Many who thought they were saved will be left behind (Ephesians 2:8, 9).

We cannot work for our salvation, neither can we work to keep ourselves saved; it is a gift from God that is eternal.

Our prayer list includes: Colyn Cooper, Phyllis Vickers, Journey Baptist, Jackie, Billie, Elwyn, Grace, Lori, Lisa, John Rodriguez, Wayne Smith, Melissa, Jenny Hayes, Paul Gray, Bro. Aubry, Shirley, Glenda Wallace and Bethany Baptist Church.

Announcements:

Easter Sunday, we will have regularly scheduled morning services, along with special music and a pancake and waffle lunch prepared by the men. There will be no evening services.

The Central Alabama Associational Meeting will meet April 26 at Journey Baptist Church in Calera.