Bethsalem Baptist Church

We were blessed with songs and fellowship on Sunday. Bro. Justin welcomed everyone and gave the announcements, and Bro. Cleve directed us in our singing. He also encouraged all students to be involved in the “See You at the Pole” event that was held on Sept. 23.

The Celebration Choir sang “His Life for Mine” as their special. Bro Justin preached from John 19:16-30, Leviticus 4:31 and Revelation 5:16. Has your life been changed by the cross?

We were blessed to have Bro. Justin’s parents united with our church on Sunday morning.

Pray for Bud Pike, Hunter Henderson, Kayla Harrison, Marie Smith, Buddy Knudson, Samantha Grace, Pete Johnson, Charles Held, Wendell Hand, Lynn Cox, Renie Thomas, Mike Smith, Douglas Scott, Melissa Langford, Betty Blalock, Kathy Fitzgerald, Kyle Fulford, Michael Arnold, Kinlee Till, Hunter Moore, Justin and Peter Daugherty, Chad Mix, Lowell Strock, “Ma Ma” Mims, Stephanie Hinton, Paul Price, Kelli and Tim Milford, those facing cancer, our homebound, assisted living and nursing home residents and those who need salvation.

Happy birthday to Taylor Barrett Tiffany Smith, Makayla Wingard, Mike Williams, Kelly Courtney, Zephan Reyna, Leah Jones, Jeannie Mims, Robbie Gilliland, Jason Hill, Katie Pack, Katie Loveless, Jay Pierce and James Chandler.

Submitted by Elvie Patterson

 

Cedar Grove Church

The Lord is doing great things at Cedar Grove Come join us in the revelations of being prepared for The Rapture.

Pastor Jeff Carroll took his text from John 20:29 for his sermon titled “What Makes You a Believer?”

In John 20:29, Jesus tells Thomas, “Because you have seen me you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

There are a lot of doubting Thomases in the world today. A lot of people say, “I have to see it to believe it.” Unfortunately, there are a lot of church-goers who believe in Jesus but are not true believers. It is easy to doubt if we do not have a true living, breathing, working relationship with Christ our Lord. It pleases God more when we believe he is working in our lives through faith without seeing.

What makes you a believer? (1) Believing the Bible is the true Word of God. (2) Repenting of your sins; being born again and becoming a new creature in Christ with the Holy Spirit living in you.

There has never been a believer who did not believe the Bible. If you do not believe the Bible but ask how to be a believer, I cannot help you.

We know there are those who teach that there is more than one way to heaven. This is a lie of Satan. There is only one way to heaven, and that is through Jesus Christ the Son of God. It is hard for some people to believe. God however does not make us believe; he gives us the free will of choice. If you do not know Jesus, you do not have a foundation to stand on.

Jesus told the Pharisees he was the Christ. He showed them with his works (miracles), and he told them this bore witness of him, but still they did not believe—they even accused Jesus of blasphemy. Jesus told them they did not believe because they were not his sheep: “My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand.”

We need to understand this does not mean you can give lip service by professing to know Jesus as your personal Savior, feel secure in your eternal destination, and go right back out to live in the sin in which you claim to have denounced. Wheat Jesus is speaking of here is about being a true, without-a-doubt child of God, and that no one who comes in contact with you will be in doubt that you serve the one and only true Living God. In closing, what makes you a believer? Are you there?”

Prayer concerns: Our pastors and church family, those in hospitals and nursing homes, spoken and unspoken prayer requests.

Submitted by Naomi Gillespie