Bethany Baptist Church

We opened with the song, “Did You Think to Pray” and a devotion from 2 Timothy 2:1-4 titled “Preparing for the Future.” How do we need to plan for the future? Most think of finances, which is important, but the most important thing is the spiritual aspect of the future.

Concerning the eternal, we then think about how many rewards we will have in heaven. We should, like the apostle Paul, think of teaching others the true gospel of Jesus Christ, so they can teach others. We need to be ready ourselves, and also think about the ones who are left behind after we depart this world.

We were dismissed in prayer to Sunday school. We sang “A Child of the King,” “When the Morning Comes,” “The Savior is Waiting, and “Victory in Jesus.” Bro. Aubry’s message was about the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how it is changing in our modern world to social activism and good works for salvation. The true message is that mankind is sinful, and we are not ok and will not be without the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul was called to preach this message. There is nothing wrong with us helping out the less fortunate, but our real purpose is to tell the lost world about Jesus’ death on the cross of Calvary. We must teach about Golgotha and what Jesus did for us as lost humanity on that day. We need more than the knowledge that Jesus died on the cross; we need a conviction that we are sinners, and need Jesus in our hearts.

We need the preaching of the cross to teach the plan of salvation. Many try to attach “conditions” on being saved, but the Bible says “If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. The purpose of the cross is all about making a statement. In Christ’s death on the cross is God’s statement to the world that a way of salvation has been prepared, which is Jesus Christ.

Thirdly, we need the power of the cross. When the power takes place, sin dies. This happens at the acceptance of salvation. Hell is defeated. No blood-washed, bought-by-the-blood person will ever go to hell. Heaven is delivered. The blood is the key that unlocks the gates to heaven.

We were dismissed with the song “There is Power in the Blood” and a prayer.

We had a VBS meeting in the afternoon. We will hold a one-day Bible school on Wednesday, June 11 from 8:30 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. This will be for those children going into kindergarten through the teenage years. We invite all children to come enjoy the day with us.

Following this we sang “The Old Rugged Cross” and had a special by Justin Gray, “All About God’s Amazing Love.” Bro. Aubry then gave his message titled “God’s Promise to Abram Renewed” from Genesis 13:14-18. God had told Abram to leave his country and family and go to a place he had for him. We know that Abram did not completely obey; he took his nephew Lot with him. Because of the man he was, he gave Lot a choice of which land to take. Lot chose the more fertile land. After he and Lot separated, God renewed his promise to Abram. At the time of separation, Lot saw this world, but Abram saw the Promised Land. Those who follow the Lord will never lose.

God’s promise to Abram was many blessings and lots of land. God promised Abram many children, through his promised son Isaac. Lot represented worldliness and a lack of commitment to God. We should, like Abram, be totally committed to God. Once the promise was given came the call to obedience. Micah 6:8 tells us that unless two are agreed, they cannot walk together. As Abram accepted by faith the land was his, we too will have victories if we have faith. We like Abram must know that after being saved, this world is not our home.

We closed services with a prayer and a song, “I Surrender All.”

Our prayer list includes: our church, Bro. Aubry, Shirley, Ernestine Hatch, Elwyn, Grace, Billie, Jackie, Mary Knight, Wilma, Colyn and Sherry, Missionaries, Journey, Glenda, John Rodriguez, Bro. Hubert, Wayne Smith, Brooke Davenport, Phyllis, Jenny, Chris, Barbara Williams (Richard’s wife) and many more.

Samaria Baptist Church

“This is how we roll.” Have we ever used this phrase to explain how we go about doing this or that in life? No matter what we profess, our true character is revealed when nobody else is around. We can all put forth our best when we are trying to impress or make a position impact on someone. However, we must never forget that God is always in our presence. And the things we would not want our pastor to see or know, our Father is already aware of. Matthew 12: 34-35 reminds us that out of an evil heart can no good thing come. We must avoid living a roller coaster battle with flesh and spirit. Deuteronomy 6:4-15 reminds us that we are not to go after any other Gods. We are to remain steadfast in the service of the Lord God of heaven, and that God is a jealous God who can be brought to anger.

If we love Jesus, it should shine in our lives. We should not become a stumbling block for others we meet from day to day. We have a responsibility to share Jesus with the world. Our light must shine forth or it will become hidden from those who we need to share with. We should fear the Lord, and serve him with great desire. We need to abide in the verse that says, “As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord.”

Special music today was by Lauren Wyatt, “Love is a Cross.”

Remember these in prayer: Gaines Silas, Selena, Hank, and Cheryln Stoneback, Tracy Mims, Leone Patterson, Ray Harde and Bro. Gaines Silas’ mother.

Our Bible school registration will be held on June 21. VBS will run the following week. We will post the times as we get nearer to the days.

May God be the conscience of everyone who reads this today. Don’t worry about offending the church folks if we are not going to be concerned that Jesus is always with us. God bless you. Samaria is a wonderful place to worship and we are looking for you.