Bethany Baptist Church

Services opened with a song and a devotion titled “Preaching of the Cross” from 1 Corinthians 1:17-18.

The apostle Paul was telling the members of the church at Corinth that he was not sent to baptize, but to preach the gospel of Christ. Some of the members were arguing about who had baptized them. Some were saying it was Paul, some said it was Cephas, some claimed it was Apollos and some said it was Christ. Paul had only baptized one of the men who were arguing, along with one other family (and maybe some others).

It was not important which preacher had baptized them; the important thing was that they had been saved and were members of a New Testament church. Paul did not use words that would put the emphasis on himself but rather the gospel of the cross of Christ. Preaching is foolishness to the lost, but to those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior, it is the power of God.

Following a prayer, we met back in the sanctuary singing “Heavenly Sunlight,” “Rock of Ages,” “Work For the Night is Coming,” and “’Are Ye Able’ Said the Master.”

Bro. Aubry Wallace gave these announcements: Fifth Sunday services will be held on March 29. A meal will be served at noon and there will be no evening service.

The Central Alabama Associational meeting will be held at Bethany at 10 a.m. on April 25. Bro. Aubry welcomed our visitors, and we welcome them back to Bethany next Sunday as well.

The pastor then brought the message from 1 Corinthians 11:20-23 titled “A Time We Call ‘The Lord’s Supper.’”

The apostle Paul was dealing with controversy over the Lord’s Supper, which is one of the most misunderstood ordinances in all Christendom today. In 1 Corinthians 11:21-23, the Lord Jesus is establishing the Lord’s Supper as a church ordinance: “This do in remembrance of me.”

Ever since the early Christians met as a church, they observed what we call the Lord’s Supper. This one event should hold the most meaning for us, and cause us to be humbled.

Too often the “supper” celebration is looked upon as being too common. It is much more than this; it is an opportunity to remember what Jesus did for us at Calvary and in the garden tomb. We can rehearse the gospel message and think about the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Taking away one of these destroys the gospel of Jesus.

Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper the night before his death on the cross. Fellowship with one another as church members and with the Lord is necessary for partaking of the Lord’s Supper. It is a memorial of what Jesus did for us at Calvary. Communion is now offered in two different ways: Open communion, which is for all saved people of all churches, and closed communion, which is only for members of a local church. Jesus Christ instituted the ordinance for the members of a local church. Partaking of the Lord’s Supper for the wrong reason could result in sickness or even an early death.

When we gather for communion, we are not offering a new sacrifice, but remembering an old sacrifice (Hebrews 10:10). Remember, if we could lose our salvation, we would have to have a new sacrifice each time we sin. Jesus Christ died once for all. Jesus left heaven to come to earth for the sins of man. Christ became a poor human being for our sins. He died and conquered death, and then went to heaven to prepare for the redemption of our bodies (not our souls) to become spiritual bodies. He died for us, and we should contemplate what his sacrifice means to us (1 Timothy 1:15).

Christ came into the world to save sinners. What does all this mean to us? Lots of people call themselves Christians, but are not saved. You must be saved to be a child of God and go to heaven. You can be saved and not live a Christian life, but you cannot be a Christian and not be saved. Even after salvation, we sin—not always willfully, but because our flesh is sinful. Jesus tells the Father that he shed his blood for us, and we will never stop being a child of God. Ask yourself if you are walking close to God, if your heart is right with God, and whether you are doing all you can for him.

Services dismissed with a prayer and an invitational hymn. Evening service began with a hymn; then Bro. Aubry read 1 Corinthians 11:24-26 as we partook of the Lord’s Supper.

The Lord’s Supper has nothing to do with salvation. It is a time of commemoration, identification and reflection. It is one of only two ordinances of the Church. It is also a time of expectation, to stir our thoughts on the return of Jesus Christ. He will not partake of this supper again until after he returns for his saints. Don’t be worried about the future, but remember that he died, was buried, arose and ascended into heaven so the Holy Spirit could come. He is making intercession for us, but we must remember his promise: “I will return.”

We should not take the Lord’s Supper if we haven’t been saved, if we have backslidden or gotten far away from God. Do not take the Lord’s Supper lightly. We should consider the great sacrifice Jesus gave for our redemption. Humanly, we cannot imagine what Christ really did for us. People in other countries are dying for the cause of Christ. Would we be willing to die for Jesus?

Taking the Lord’s Supper for the wrong reason dishonors God, just like dishonoring the flag of the United States is a dishonor to our country.

After the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, we sang a hymn and dismissed until Wednesday. We welcome you to our church services.

Our prayer list includes: Bethany, missionaries and missions, Journey Baptist in Calera, Bro. Aubry, Shirley, Jackie, Billie, Grace, Elwyn, Lisa R. Jenny H., Colyn, Barbara, Colyn, Debbie R. and family, R. Allen Downs, Vikii, Helen, Glenda, Mary K. and many more including the unsaved.

Submitted by Jane Vines

Samaria Baptist Church

It’s Spring Break in Chilton County. I hope you all are enjoying your spring vacations this week. Prayers go to several families in our church who are traveling this week.

Additional prayer concerns this week are for Jay, Dewayne and Bobby Patterson; Billy Ray Baker Jr., Jennifer Whatley, Mike Smith, Linda Kirkland, Curtis and Betty McCary and all our shut-ins.

Special music was provided by Aubrey Brown, who sang “Whispering Hope.”

Bro. Shane brought his message from Psalms 3:19-24. His sermon was titled “I will strengthen your heart.”

God will give us strength as we follow his direction. He has a plan, and we can find peace as we soar through in the presence of God. He gives us support when we are open to his Holy Spirit’s lead. We can enjoy the blessings on the mountaintop when we feel like we have it all, or we can trust him and be calmed by the hand of Jesus in the valleys that are surely to come our way.

Strength to endure the valleys is sometimes the sweetest of blessings. Knowing that no matter what we face, if we are in Christ, he will see us through and work it out as it should be.

Sin causes us to be discouraged, for all have sinned and come short of his glory. We beat ourselves up when we know we have sinned. The devil uses these things to pull us away from God. God says, “Give it to me, and I will make it all work out.”

In the days of Noah before the flood, it grieved the heart of God that he had created man. The sin of the day and the fall of man set up the destruction of the world when the flood came. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. God was all he needed in order to know just how the ark was to be built.

The wicked, demonic sins of the day have sickened God once again. The times are unfolding the prophecy of God’s Word as he prepares for the return of Jesus Christ and the rapture of all who belong to him. Satan knows his time is short, and he is working to claim every soul, making his case in every life he can. Satan makes the evil picture look bright and appealing. This is the reason so many are pulled into the things of Satan that God will destroy.

If we are to make it through, we must follow Jesus, our Lord and Savior. As God raised Lazarus from the dead, he can roll away the stone of sin in our lives today. He can rescue us from any depths of any kind of demise. Let go today, and let Jesus be the strength in all your trials and troubles; enjoy him in the valleys and the mountaintops.

Join us at Samaria, where the Holy Spirit blesses every heart.

Submitted by Diane Fisher