This coming Lord’s Day (February 4, 2018), Lord willing, we will have our second of twelve special preaching events. Gather with me on Sunday, February 4, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. to hear a word from God delivered through this local pastor. Be encouraged that there are many faithful preachers. Be challenged in your relationship to Christ. Be corrected by the power of the Holy Spirit as we sit together under faithful preaching.
Burning in the Soul
February 4, 2018 – 6:30 p.m.
204 Eastland Drive North, Twin Falls, Idaho
(There will be refreshments following the preaching time.)
Bear will be addressing the intercessory work of Jesus from John 17.
This coming Lord’s Day, Eastside Baptist will begin the actual stepping forward of a new church plant.
We have been praying for this for some time now. Beginning on January 14, 2018, Sovereign Redeemer Baptist Fellowship, SBC will conduct her first service. SRBF will use the meeting house of Eastside Baptist Church located at 204 Eastland Drive North in Twin Falls.
Church planter, Greg Moering, will begin preaching through 1 John at 6:30 p.m.
What can you do?
Pray – There is no desire of ours to plant a new church without appealing everything to God. The new church is far from ready to begin, but we are ready to start. Pray for new converts from the fields God has planted us in. Pray for qualified leadership to come from the discipled converts. Pray for gospel advancing strength. Pray for Greg Moering, wife Talia, and children.
Attend – In the early days of the new church plant it would be helpful if many agreed to attend, be willing to help assist, commit to praying. It is no desire of Eastside to take believers from other churches to plant a new church, It is our desire to establish a church from among those God calls. In the mean time, help from Eastside and others desiring to partner with us to begin planning to attend, especially in the early months. Would you be willing to commit to 3 months, 6 months, or longer? Spread the word and invite people to come with you.
Plant – As we move forward in this, it is likely God may move among some to go with Sovereign Redeemer Baptist Fellowship and assist in the actual planting of the new church body.
I have been working on making a few adjustments to Robert Murray M’Cheyne’s original Bible reading plan. His longer explanations for why he wanted his church to read the bible is among the best reasons I’ve ever read. Not that his explanations are better than anyone could say, it’s that he articulated them with reason for serious consideration. I’ve adapted and reworded M’Cheyne’s cautions and advantages here.
First: Here are some cautions and pitfalls that may accompany anyone attempting to read the Bible with such strategic plan.
Stagnant – Because we are typically weak we will quickly turn rich benefit to stagnant duty that becomes lifeless and meaningless within a short amount of time. This is likely similar to what the apostle Paul meant when he told Timothy to caution the church of those who have a “form of godliness, but deny the power thereof.” Set a guard up against this. If you notice the reading schedule is nothing more than checking off a list – then set the reading schedule down and read with joy.
Self-righteousness – You will notice when the reading schedule has become a means of self-righteousness if you are tempted to justify your ignoring spiritual things while performing mechanical tasks. As M’Cheyne put it, “Many are living without any Divine work on their soul – unpardoned and unsanctified, and ready to perish – who spend their appointed times in secret and family devotion. This is going to hell with a lie in their right hand.”
Mindless Reading – Few in our day tremble at the Word of God. When the reader reads mindlessly he is at risk of not hearing the voice of Jehovah. Push yourself to read while refusing to read to check off a list.
Bearing False Witness – Notice this quickly about yourself. If you find you are tempted to lie about reading, when you have not, that the completion of reading the Bible is a means to brag of your piety. (see warning of Self-righteousness.)
Becoming too Busy – Life is busy. Know that up front. Plan for it before it overtakes you. Guard against letting the reading of the Bible to become a burden. Parents, use caution in how you talk about reading the day’s assignment.
Next: With so many warnings, why would anyone attempt to take on such a daunting task as reading the entire Bible with a systematic schedule? We know this is true about things that are of great value; All things of value have potential thieves and imitations. When we better understand the advantages of reading the Bible we will be better prepared stay the course. Here are some of the many advantages…
The Word of God – The apostle Paul informed Timothy that “all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect.” It is likely many never read the entire Bible and miss this truth all together. In the reading plan I’m suggesting we will read the Old Testament once, the New Testament and psalms twice.
Value – When we understand the value of the Bible we will be better able to not see the reading as a waste of time.
Common Conversation – Parents, with a reading schedule you will now have a common ground and communicated place in which to instruct and examine your children. You will discover soon that even the smallest section of Scripture will generate a life of conversation. You will find quickly, if you treat the reading of Scripture as a sacred family event that it will be like opening a package with Styrofoam peanuts. You’ll soon discover it’s difficult to contain where the conversation goes next or how long it stays on the subject.
Feeding Together – The entire church will be reading from the same pasture and will be able to encourage each other in the light of Scripture and give comfort and counsel from the same nourishment. We will soon be praying over the same promises in our homes. We will mourn over the same confessions. We will praise God as if in the same location as we are on the Lord’s Day.
After weighing the cautions and advantages, I’m convinced, like I’m sure you are, that the attempt to do so is worth the effort. I’ll have the reading plan ready within a day or two.
Through the remainder of 2017 I will be address biblical marriage on Sunday nights. It is my hope that you would consider attending the Sunday night gatherings of Eastside Baptist Church. This is not just a “how to improve your marriage” series, this is as much a series of messages for the youth and young adults who are not married yet to consider biblical teachings about what marriage is and why it is an important subject for all of us to give attention to it.
In this post I talk about the importance of children participating in the offering. The more they participate in the gathering the more they want to participate.
Tips for Church and Famiy
Parents:
At home, teach your children about the value of money. This can be done young.
At home, teach your children about why you give to your church. You don’t turn your money over to the preachers, you give to your church and the ongoing ministry of the agreed upon mission of the congregation. it’s a matter of humbly obeying God.
Encourage your children to participate in the ongoing ministry/mission of their church.
Church:
Model this participation in front of your children, grandchildren, and all children around you.
Yes, this is a rather private part of our participation, it’s not asked or allowed for anyone to announce how much money they give.
All offerings are given to the congregation. The congregation decides how to use this money. It is not a decision of the elders.
Do not announce your giving, but don’t use humility to cover your disobedience of not giving.
Today, I begin a series on church and family. I will lay out several short clips over the next few weeks from my Sunday evening teaching entitled “For Church and Family.”
These should be considered for consideration only. This is not a prescription or a requirement. I believe it will be helpful in all of our homes.
In this introduction I lay out a case for parents, children and the church as a whole to begin a needed conversation about what is helpful for family and church when we gather together. These posts will include a video clip from the October 15, evening teaching with ideas, cautions, encouragements and considerations.
A primary Scripture text over the past several weeks in the series of messages on parenting has been the benefit of Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way he should go…” The key in this text is that we should consider the way the child should go not the way the child’s will wants to go. This is in relationship to behavior primarily. It can apply to the path of life but for the use in this series it is primarily used in behavior.
It has been my prayer that this be a blessing. I respect that a family who attends Eastside Baptist Church has a hard work to do. I think it is a good work. Yes, sometimes, a good work is hard work, but in the end it is a reward.
My encouragement to all parents in this God ordained work is to not grow weary in doing good (Galations 6:9).
On any given Lord’s Day at Eastside Baptist Church we will have from 20 to 30 children under the age of 12 in our morning gathering. That is a blessing from God. Treat it as such and bless the Lord for it.
Tips for Church and Family:
Parents:
Consider using the term “Lord’s Day” when you speak about Sunday’s.
Take time this week when you gather your children together and communicate what it looks like for your family when you gather at the church house with the church family.
Age appropriately, include your children in the discussion by asking them what they think you expect from them on the Lord’s Day.
Discuss why you expect them to behave as you instruct.
Protect yourself from being frustrated with your children.
Don’t grow weary in doing good.
Church:
Be patient with the children and their parents. It is a blessing to have them with us.
Pray for parents as they give helpful instructions to their children.
Pray for the children to want to heed their parents instructions.
God will protect those He has redeemed, the church, and all that belong to it. This sermon series in Isaiah is now 10 sermons strong as we approach chapter 4 this Lord’s Day (October 15).
Gather with us on October 15 for the next sermon; “The Glory of the Church” at 10:30 a.m. in Twin Falls, Idaho. If unable to gather with us in person consider live streaming HERE:
Isaiah has established a strong case for the Gospel with the first two messages in chapters 1-3. In chapter 4 he “Swings for the fence” and does not disappoint.
He identifies the Messiah as the “Branch of the LORD. He lays the ground work for a fruitful gospel harvest, the “fruit of the earth”. Here he makes it clear that those in danger are the ones who look for a refuge, those who are hungry look for food, those who are weary seek rest, those who know of a coming storm seek for shelter.
By the grace of God by moving generous and faithful supporters, Eastside Baptist Church has been broadcasting sermons via Sermon Audio since 2010. Over 7 years of sermons archived and ready for listening any day of the week, at any time, from any device.
To my preacher friends or churches who regularly read my posts, the guys at Sermon Audio are offering a 3 month free trial. This is not a benefit for me or my church to encourage this. I’m not being paid by anyone to promote this. I’m just letting you know about a resource I have used for a long time and I’m completely satisfied with. The .mp3 format is simple and easy for anyone to use. Post links in social media easily or post on your church website or personal blog for people to find.
Click HERE and see if it might be a resource for you and your church.
This coming Lord’s Day (February 4, 2018), Lord willing, we will have our second of twelve special preaching events. Gather with me on Sunday, February 4, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. to hear a word from God delivered through this local pastor. Be encouraged that there are many faithful preachers. Be challenged in your relationship to Christ. Be corrected by the power of the Holy Spirit as we sit together under faithful preaching.
By the grace of God by moving generous and faithful supporters, Eastside Baptist Church has been broadcasting sermons via Sermon Audio since 2010. Over 7 years of sermons archived and ready for listening any day of the week, at any time, from any device.