Sunday, August 28th: Revival Services

This coming Sunday, August 28th, we will hold revival services at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. At 10:30 a.m., Rev. Shaun Williamson will preach; at the evening service, Rev. Terry Turner, pastor of Prairie Temple Assembly of God in Virden will be preaching. I hope that you can make it to at least one of the services and bring someone with you, as we pray that God will move on our hearts to draw us closer to him.

Scripture for August 21st: Job 2:3-9; 4:8; 8:8; 11:4-6

Sermon Title: Lessons From Job’s Friends – Giving and Receiving Advice

Job 2:3-9
3 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.” 4 “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. 5 But now stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” 6 The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.” 7 So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the crown of his head. 8 Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. 9 His wife said to him, “Are you still maintaining your integrity? Curse God and die!”

Job 4:8 - As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.

Job 8:8 - Ask the former generation and find out what their ancestors learned…

Job 11:4-6
4 You say to God, ‘My beliefs are flawless and I am pure in your sight.’ 5 Oh, how I wish that God would speak, that he would open his lips against you 6 and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom, for true wisdom has two sides. Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin.

Have you ever received bad advice on a bad day? That’s what Job was experiencing when he received advice from his wife and three friends. They may have had the best of intentions, but because their advice was based on wrong principles, they added to Job’s suffering. So how can we make sure we don’t hurt those who are hurting when we give them advice? Perhaps this story will give us an idea:

A big, burly man visited a pastor's home and asked to see the minister's wife, a woman well known for her charitable impulses. "Madam," he said in a broken voice, "I wish to draw your attention to the terrible plight of a poor family in this district. The father is dead, the mother is too ill to work, and the nine children are starving. They are about to be turned into the cold, empty streets unless someone pays their rent, which amounts to $400." "How terrible!" exclaimed the preacher's wife. "May I ask who you are?" The sympathetic visitor applied his handkerchief to his eyes. "I'm the landlord," he sobbed.

Our motives must be pure when we extend our advice to others. Advice must come from a heart of love and compassion, not one which condemns or belittles others. If we are like the burly man in the story, we will give advice to benefit ourselves. But advice that helps the hurting always comes from a sacrificial heart.

What are some other ways we can ensure that our advice will help those that hurt? We can make sure our advice is necessary, Biblical and factual – all of which we will talk about this coming Sunday. Hope to see you then!

Scripture for August 14th: John 14:6

Sermon Title: Knowing Jesus

"Jesus answered, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Who was Jesus? There are some who say that Jesus was a good man, others that say He was a prophet or holy man. But Jesus said He was the only Way to the Father, the Truth of life and the Source of Life itself. The question today is what do you say? Is Jesus truly Who He claimed to be? Do you truly live like you believe it?

Someone once wrote about some well-known hymns that we would sing in church if we were really honest about how we live our lives. Here's the list:

1. I Surrender Some
2. There Shall Be Sprinkles of Blessings
3. Fill My Spoon, Lord
4. Oh, How I Like Jesus
5. He’s Quite a Bit to Me
6. I Love to Talk About Telling the Story
7. Take My Life and Let Me Be
8. It is My Secret What God Can Do
9. There is Scattered Cloudiness in My Soul Today
10. Where He Leads Me, I Will Consider Following
11. Just As I Pretend to Be

The list is humorous, but it points to the fact that we often say we believe Jesus was the Way, Truth and Life, but we don't live as if He truly is. What does it mean to live like Jesus is the only Way, the complete Truth and the Source of Life? We will talk about this on Sunday as we celebrate the completion of our Vacation Bible School. Hope to see you then!