Our Mission To love all people at all times and lead them into a new life in Christ.
Our Vision To be a church that will be multicultural and generational, having a lasting impact on the people to whom we minister.
To see the gospel extend beyond the walls of our church through various outreaches.
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“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” Eph. 3:20, 21
As you consider what your future will hold, be sure to use the right scale when you weigh it out. Your future is not determined by how you feel or what the circumstances may appear to be. The future of a Child of God is determined by the divine revelation of God’s word. The above Scripture tells us that God’s plan for us far exceeds anything we can ask or even think.
God has plans to demonstrate His glory in the church. We are the church, and His blessings start now. Can you see yourself as blessed regardless what future circumstances may bring your way? Do not base your blessed status on what happens to you while you are moving forward but rather on what God, through Jesus Christ, has already done for you. When He saved you, He gave you “everything that pertains to life and godliness” making you “blessed” forever and ever. Blessing is not determined by what happens to you but by what you know. When you know that you know God has blessed you, it will offset any thing the thief can bring against you.
Joseph was a blessed young man and he knew it. His father made it plain how he felt about him. It was clear to all around, including his brothers, that he was highly favored. But, the roof fell in and the bottom fell out when his brothers sold him and told his father he was dead. BUT GOD had His own plans for Joseph, and Joseph remained faithful through all the hardships and temptations he faced in Egypt. It was as if one was raised from the dead to become the second most powerful man in a world power country. Joseph could have altered his future if he had forgotten that he was blessed and began to see himself as a victim of circumstances. His “blessed” future could have become hell for him had he not made good choices. His future was not based on what was happening to him but on what God had in store for him. Your future is also based, not on situations, but on what God has in store for you. All He has in store for you is blessing and peace both now and forever more. Do you believe it? Can you see it? Then trust it!
“Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?” Isa. 43:18-19
Last week Sister Shirley told us that change is coming and we should be ready. To be ready for change we must forget the things that have passed. Thinking about the past will not make us ready for the things of the future. Too often we want change to be a restoration of “good times” in our past. I am looking for the good changes of the future that God has promised us. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Jer. 29:12
The question is, “What do you see in your future?” Are your visions of the future based on how you imagine things to be or are they based on the Word of God and direction of the Holy Spirit?
Your opinion isn’t worth much if it clashes with God’s view of your future. Operating by your own opinion only hurts your chances of walking into a future prepared by God. It is important that we realize that God knows more about you than you know about yourself. The next question is “Who is in control of your life?” Is it you or God? The old saying “God is my Co-pilot” still implies that you are in charge of the airplane. That means that God is in charge only when you choose to let Him. In this case He is usually only in charge when it is a situation you cannot handle. That is no way to run an airline or a life. It is hard enough to let God be in charge even when we decide it’s the thing to do much less if we resist His Lordship. Yes, resisting His leadership is the same as rejecting His Lordship. Lord means, “He who has the last word”. He who resists His Lordship is not much better than the fool who says “there is no God”. If God brings change let Him. You can’t lose!
In the book of First Samuel we read the miraculous birth of Samuel and how God heard the cry of a barren woman to have a son.Hannah begins to cry out to God. She may not have understood at the moment, but it was also the cry of something beyond her own barrenness -the future of Israel. Having children to the Israelites were symbols of renewal, promises of hope for the future. Israel had come to a place where something had to change. Samuel means, “God has heard.” Samuel was born in due season at a time when the winds of change and opportunity were beginning to blow for Israel once again.
Never forsake the cry of intercession before God. It may be something bigger than what you think at the moment. Sometimes we think it is just about us, but God has a bigger picture. God will hear your cry for change, for hope to be renewed, for the tide to turn, and just as He heard Hannah, surely He will hear you.
Go ahead and prophesy to yourself, “Things are turning around for me in this next year. What the enemy has meant to destroy me is making me stronger. I refuse to sit here until I die.”
I sense that the church’s climate is changing. Yes, a renewal of hope. The wind of opportunity, the wind of new beginnings is blowing, and the tide is turning. There is a divine reversal taking place, a divine attitude of expectation rising up within the church that is saying “let us go to the other side.” For if we stay where we are, we will surely die. There is too much at stake to stay where we are. There is new ground to take and opportunities to seize for the kingdom of God; souls to reach with the saving gospel. This a time for a people to rise up and decree, “I will stand for surely our set time of favor has come.”
“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Is. 9:6(NKJV)
For billions of people around the world Christmas is an exciting time of fun, joy, and family sharing. The truth is that millions of people celebrate Christmas that don’t worship Jesus or even believe in Him. Our Christian slogans that appear each year like “Jesus is the reason for the season” and “Keep Christ in Christmas” are only meaningful to us Christians.
With all of the protests and law suits filed to remove any Christian symbolism from the holiday, nobody is really pushing to do away with the holiday itself. If Christmas was stopped today most merchants would have to come up with some other idea just to stay in business. If everything about Christmas was “religious Christianity” few people would be interested in celebrating it.
Christmas was banned in England for two decades when the Country was under a Puritan king. It wasn’t because of the “Christian” elements but a lack thereof. It was considered so worldly and pagan that God fearing Christians wanted nothing to do with it. Christmas was even banned in New England when it was the seat of Puritanism. But, during the Middle Ages the celebration was made an “all Christian celebration” with the emphasis being attending church. Problem was that very few people got involved so they broadened the celebration back to the old way of lewdness and drinking and Christmas survived.
I am telling you this because it is important to know the difference between the Word of God and the tradition of man. The birth of Jesus wasn’t even celebrated by the church until after 300 AD and then because it merged with a pagan holiday to appease the people from paganism and encouraging them to stop celebrating their god of nature on December 25. They had been doing this for hundreds of years. I am not telling you this because I am against Christmas but only to help you see that most of Christmas was never about Jesus to begin with. It is mainly tradition. Just remember what it says in Romans 14:5-6a. “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it.” “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths(celebrations) which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.” Col. 2:16-17
“Choose you this day who you will serve, but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
Most of our lives are defined by the choices we make at every fork in our road of life. Good choices eventually lead to good results. Bad choices will eventually lead to bad results. How can you tell for sure which choice is which when you can’t see the road around the next curve? Making right choices is not a matter of how well you can see the road ahead but how well you listen to and trust your guide. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.
Joshua told the Children of Israel to choose who they would serve. Our choices should be based on the idea that we are God’s servants and only desire to please Him. Some choices are clearly right or wrong while others are between good and better. The world has its own agenda and promotes it vigorously without regard for what God wants. Are we serving God or the world?
Choosing to serve God is not always a perfect life. Bad things happen to good people but not at God’s hand. Even the righteous can suffer afflictions but God’s Word is that He delivers them from them all.
I have personally suffered a few afflictions during my life but I have never blamed God or decided to stop serving Him. I am persuaded that He is able and will keep that which I have committed to Him against that day.
How do you measure success? It is not that you are perfect but that you get up one more time than you are knocked down. You never give up. You never throw in the towel. You never say, “I quit.” You trust God one more time. There is no set number of rounds in our fight of faith. You fight until you win. Never forget that the end of the Book says we win. With Jesus Christ you can never lose. AMEN!!
Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. Romans 4:20-21
How could Abraham have such unwavering faith when it seemed as if everything was contrary to the word of promise he had been given? The Bible tells us in Romans 4:19 that Abraham “…without being weakened in faith, didn’t consider his own body, already having been worn out, (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb.” Our faith starts to weaken when we began to consider how the promises of God won’t happen for us. Abraham’s did not consider the circumstances that was contrary to what God had promised. God had put a promise in Abraham’s heart and he came to a place where he believed so strongly nothing could talk him out of it.
When God gives you a promise, don’t consider those things that are contrary to what His Word is. Consider how big your God is. Consider the fact that the moment God speaks that promise to you He began to set things into motion for that promise to manifest. Some promises do take a long time. If God made everything happen when we wanted it to happen, it wouldn’t take any faith.
It may be taking a long time, but God didn’t bring you this far to leave you. You’ve seen Him do it in the past, and you know He will do it again. Fully persuaded that He is able; that’s unshakable faith.
“ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil….” Psalm 23:4
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.” Psalm 34:19
There is a popular southern gospel song that includes the words “the God of the mountain is still God in the valley”. I heard the song sung at the community Thanksgiving Service Tuesday night. It ministered to me as I thought about the valleys I have traveled through in the last few years.
I knew that in about three of them I was in the valley of the shadow of death. I was face to face with the Grim Reaper and he was telling me to give up for I was going to die. At least two times I was fighting a spiritual battle as my physical body was grasping for life. The devil was telling me that I could not trust the word of God. He agreed that it would work for others, but not for me and I should just give up and die.
Some people preach that if you truly believe you will not experience all the things the devil uses to defeat man. You won’t get sick, you will always have a great abundance of wealth, and everything will always work right. If this doesn’t happen in your life you don’t have enough faith or there is sin you must get rid of.
If we do not experience affliction, why does the word of God say we do? The verse above says “many are the afflictions of the righteous”. It doesn’t say the ones without faith or the ones who sin. It says “the righteous”. We can agree that faithless, sinful, rebellious, selfish, and haughty people open the doors to attacks of the enemy.
Why would the devil attack righteous people? It is to steal their joy, kill their hope, and destroy their life. No one but Jesus ever did everything right. Therefore, He gave us His rights and privileges to rule in this world. Our enemies will flee before us but they will first confront us to test us.
I have been confronted and tested many times. I might not be perfect in action or word but I am righteous but that doesn’t exempt me from battle. Have hope, look up, trust God, and keep on keeping on. The victory is won.
“Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.” Heb. 3:1(NKJV)
“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us hold fast our confession.” Heb 4:14(NKJV)
“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he God.” I John 4:15(NKJV)
I can remember thirty years or so back when people began to realize that it is important to watch what you say. If you speak negatively, you will think negatively. If you speak poverty, you will live in poverty. If you speak sickness, it will be hard to rise above it. Confession is an important part of our relationship with God. But, what are we confessing? The majority of Christians would never confess that they are righteous. If you asked them, “Are you righteous?” the mostly likely answer you would get is, “I am trying to be.”
That is a hopeless situation. The Scripture says our righteousness is as filthy rags. That means that no amount of effort on our part can make us righteous before God. God made us righteous by the death of His Son. Now, the Son is confessing our righteousness before the Father. Our confession needs to be the same as our High Priest, Christ Jesus.
Confessing what the Bible says about us is an act of our faith in the work of Jesus Christ. How am I saved? It is by believing in my heart and confessing with my mouth. It tells us that in Romans 10. We must use our confession properly lest we are seen as the “name it and claim it” or “blab it and grab it” bunch.
No matter what is involved in our lives it can only be resolved by aligning our confession with our High Priest. We must learn to say about ourselves what He says about us. We find out what it is by reading the Bible. Before we accepted Christ we were “sin.” After accepting Christ we are declared righteous.
“If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” I John 1:9 (NKJV) Just as we confessed our sins; now, we must confess our righteousness. Watch what you say.
“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:” II Tim 3:1
The Biblical definition of perilous is as follows; “Harsh, savage, difficult, dangerous, painful, fierce, grievous, hard to deal with. The word describes a society that is barren of virtue but abounding with vices.”
I am sure that there have been multiple times during the past two thousand years when this verse of Scripture has been seen as relevant to the condition of society. The Dark Ages, the plague, 100 Year War, World War I, World War II, and the Cold War are just a few of these times. The “last days” really refer to the time between Jesus’ first coming and His second coming meaning that we really are in “the last days.”
A few days ago I was pondering the condition of our present society and came to the conclusion that I do not like living in the present culture. I am out of tune with the “desires” that seem to be fostered by the driving forces of today’s society. What is society coming to when Caitlyn Jenner is “Woman of the Year?” Political Correctness is agreeing with the opinions expressed by government officials and mass media. It is not “PC” to refer to terrorist as Muslim terrorist, even though they refer to themselves as such. But, it is just “freedom of speech” when criticism is leveled at Christianity and they are called the problem with America today.
Last night the Isis attack on Paris caused chaos and took dozens of lives. It was not as devastating as 911 in the USA but it made a mark for Isis and “Allah”. Muslim doctrine teaches its members that Islam is God’s plan to dominate the world by whatever is necessary. The end justifies the means. Force is allowed to bring all people under submission to God.
There is no negotiating with them. They do not want to live in peace with us. All Non-Muslims are servants of Satan and must be defeated and dominated by Islamic law. Their philosophy is–convert to Islam or die. They are so committed to “Allah” and “Islamic Law” they will destroy all “ungodly” acts and events that do not conform to Islamic belief. Beware! They believe they are doing God’s will. They will not stop except by force. You can’t negotiate with a hungry lion.
Thank God that I am a citizen of His Kingdom, and it will prevail over all the power of the evil one. My future is totally secure. How about yours?
Acts 15:1 “And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren. ‘Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.’”
If you want to pick laws to keep, it is all or nothing. Today we will see why.
Exodus 21:17 “And he who curses his father or his mother shall surely be put to death.”
Exodus 35:2 Work shall be done for six days but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.”
Leviticus 11:12 “Whatever in the water does not have fins or scales–that shall be an abomination to you.”
Leviticus 11:27 “And whatever goes on its paws, among all kinds of animals that go on all fours, those are unclean to you. Whoever touches any such carcass shall be unclean until even.
Leviticus 18:22 “You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination.”
Leviticus 19:13, 31 “You shall not cheat your neighbor,nor rob him. The wages of him who is hired shall not remain with you all night until morning.”
“Give no regard to mediums and familiar spirits; do not seek after them, to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.”
Leviticus 24:14 “Take outside the camp him who has cursed; then let all who heard him lay their hands on his head, and let all the congregation stone him.”
Deuteronomy 22:5 “A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God.”
Deuteronomy 22:9-11 You shall not sow your vineyard with different kinds of seed, lest the yield of the seed which you have sown and the fruit of your vineyard be defiled. You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. You shall not wear a garment of different sorts, such as wool and linen mixed together.”
Deuteronomy 22:22 “If a man is found lying with a woman married to a husband, then both of them shall die–the man that lay with the woman and the woman; so you shall put away the evil from Israel.”
“So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none.” Ezekiel 22:30 (NKJV)
There are times when all of us are tempted to see ourselves as someone who doesn’t matter much in the larger scheme of life. I have heard several people comment that their vote won’t matter in the election so why vote? I am not suggesting who one should vote for, but I am saying that you have a duty as a citizen to go vote. People in other countries hold the right to vote so highly they risk their lives to vote. They believe they will make a difference when they do. Voting is one of the rights we as Americans have that many citizens take for granted. Go vote as a Christian, not as a Republican or a Democrat, but as child of God.
Now that I have said that, I will talk about what I really see as important. You are important as a person, as a child of God, and as a member of this church. Yes, you make a difference with your attendance, your help, and your giving. So don’t count yourself out because you think you are not important. In the eyes of God you are the most important member of this church.
When we begin to feel like we don’t make any difference we fall into the verse at the top of this page. God says that one man could save the land but no one was willing. How about it? Pick up the banner and take your place in the Kingdom and let God take care of what you do. Make a decision to join the “good fight.”
I have had a battle lately in the mind and body. I confess I gave in to the taunting of Satan for a short while. In doing so I wanted to quit and fade away. I did not feel needed anymore because I cannot do all the things I once could. But, God and a very precious helpmate stood by and showed me what my strength is. Preaching and teaching I can still do and loving people and being there for them I am able.
God reminded me that I may not be able to change the world by myself but I can make a difference where I am. God’s grace can change the world and that is the grace I preach. The increase is up to Him. Are you making your mark where you are? Just do it.
John 10:10 “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” NKJV
…Jesus said that He came to give life–not just ordinary existence, but life in fullness, abundance, and prosperity (3 John 2). On the other hand, the Enemy (Satan) comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. The line is clearly drawn. On one side is God with goodness, life, and “plenty” of all that is necessary for life (Joel 2:26, and 2 Pet. 1:3), and on the other side is the Enemy of our souls, who comes to rob us of God’s blessings, to oppress our bodies through disease and accidents, and to destroy everything that we love and hold dear.
Your first step toward experiencing full biblical prosperity is to believe that it is God’s highest desire for you. The next step is to line up your highest desire with His.
from NKJV Kingdom Dynamics– Oral Roberts
“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” Galatians 6:9 (NKJV)
Have you ever been in a situation that was so taxing that you wanted to say, “Where do I go to resign?” Every day activities can build until you feel you just can’t bear the weight of another thing. No matter how much you try it just doesn’t seem that anything is happening. To be honest you just feel like you want to quit.
Paul addressed the Church at Galatia with the above verse, and it is good that we consider it as well. Don’t get tired of doing good things for the day will come when it will pay off. When will it begin to pay off for me? The verse says that it will happen in due season. Fine. But, how far away is due season? How long will it take before I reap?
Due season is not a specific length of time but a span of time necessary for all the conditions to be met. Let us use the growth of plants as an example of this. Carrots and radishes are planted in a garden and under good conditions reaping takes place in a matter of weeks (due season). At the same time an apple seed is planted next to the garden. Due season for the apple will be years, not weeks. Does that mean there is something wrong with the apple seed? No, it means there is a different nature involved that takes longer to mature.
Never forget what crop you are sowing with your “doing good.” A carrot seed produces only one carrot without being sown again. An apple tree can produce thousands of apples without ever planting another seed. In a “microwave” society of instant results we must realize that everything cannot happen in an instant. Microwave meals may be quick but they do not compare to a good home cooked meal that takes hours to prepare.
With regard to spiritual seed you are sowing, do you want “micro-waved” blessings or are you willing to wait for a good “God cooked dinner?” Don’t lose “heart” you only have one. That one has to last forever. Take care of it.
John 8:12 “Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness but have the light of life.”
| What The Light Of The World Does Joseph Prince |
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To the woman caught in adultery, Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (John 8:11). He gave her the gift of no condemnation so that she would have the strength to “go and sin no more.” But do you know what Jesus said next? He said, “I am the light of the world…”
Many of us, when we hear how Jesus is the light of the world, are afraid to face Jesus because we think that His light will expose all our sins. Perhaps you have heard preachers say, “Don’t you for one moment think that you can hide your sin! Jesus, the light of the world, will expose your sin to everyone!” Many of us think that that’s what “the light of the world” does—He exposes our sins.
But look at the context in which Jesus declared that He is the light of the world. He had just saved the woman and exposed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. This tells me that the light of Jesus in your life does not condemn, humiliate or shame you. The light of Jesus in your life shows how perfectly cleansed you are by His blood! It shows the efficacy of His blood and the perfection of His work at Calvary.
Beloved, don’t be afraid to come into God’s presence. His light is not there to
show up your sins. It’s there to show how beautiful, radiant and glorious you are because of Christ’s finished work! Begin to see yourself in this same light and expect to reign in life because you have been made righteous and glorious by what Christ has done!
Question: “What is Christian reconciliation? Why do we need to be reconciled with God?”
Answer: Imagine two friends who have a fight or argument. The good relationship they once enjoyed is strained to the point of breaking. They cease speaking to each other; communication is deemed too awkward. The friends gradually become strangers. Such estrangement can only be reversed by reconciliation. To be reconciled is to be restored to friendship or harmony. When old friends resolve their differences and restore their relationship, reconciliation has occurred. Second Corinthians 5:18-19 declares, “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”
The Bible says that Christ reconciled us to God (Romans 5:10; 2 Corinthians 5:18; Colossians 1:20-21). The fact that we needed reconciliation means that our relationship with God was broken. Since God is holy, we were the ones to blame. Our sin alienated us from Him. Romans 5:10 says that we were enemies of God: “For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”
When Christ died on the cross, He satisfied God’s judgment and made it possible for God’s enemies, us, to find peace with Him. Our “reconciliation” to God, then, involves the exercise of His grace and the forgiveness of our sin. The result of Jesus’ sacrifice is that our relationship has changed from enmity to friendship. “I no longer call you servants ” Instead, I have called you friends” (John 15:15). Christian reconciliation is a glorious truth! We were God’s enemies, but are now His friends. We were in a state of condemnation because of our sins, but we are now forgiven. We were at war with God, but now have the peace that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
© Copyright 2002-2015 Got Questions Ministries
John 16:13 “However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears, he will speak, and He will tell you things to come.”
2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God; a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
During the past 2 weeks I have had plenty of time to read and to meditate on what I have read. One of the books I read was given to me by someone in the church who ask me to read it and tell them what I thought about it. The situation was brought about when this person shared the book with a co-worker who seemed shocked and even scared by some of the content.
The book in question is named ELEVATION by a friend of our church, Terry Tripp. As I read the book, I began to see why it affected the individual mentioned before. Basically, Brother Terry is pointing to the fact that most Christians never reach their potential because they tend to be content on a particular elevations of life.
If our spiritual life moved like an elevator, it is probable that most people entered it on level one or the basement. When we enter the kingdom of God on the first level, it tends to reason we can choose to stay on level one or be elevated to a higher level. Is there any way to know if we have reached the highest level possible? If we have not or believe we can not do the works that Jesus did, then I would say there are more levels that we haven’t reached.
Accepting Jesus Christ is your first level. It seems that many people are satisfied with this situation. “I‘m saved (why should I be concerned about anything else?)” The reason for it being a concern is on each new level we experience a newer measure of grace. Elevating from one level to the next is the key subject of his book.
The key to elevating oneself to a new level is our love for and interest in the Word of God. It is God’s word that must be a key priority in our lives. As we read in the verse above, we must rightly divide the word of truth. Jesus, in His prayer for His followers, asked God to keep them in the truth. He then went on to say, “Your word is truth.” You can elevate as high as you allow God’s word to take you. Its an unlimited trip.
5 REASONS CHILDREN SHOULD BE IN THE MAIN SERVICE REGULARLY
by Tamera Kraft
I am an advocator of children’s church. I always have been. It is important to have children’s services that appeal to their age group for a variety of reasons. That being said, there is a movement in many churches today to always have children separated from adults. Although children should have a children’s church where they can learn and worship God, they also need to regularly be in the main service with the rest of the church body.
Here’s 5 reasons I believe children should regularly be in the main service:
CHILDREN NOT BE REMOVED FROM THE MAIN BODY FOR CONVENIENCE SAKE. This is one reason churches remove children. They want a professional church service where adults can enjoy the worship without being disrupted by noisy children. This sounds good, but the Book of Acts never talks about having a professional service nor does the Bible talk about meeting our own selfish needs during church, but it does talk about children not being pushed aside. Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
CHILDREN ARE A PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST There is nowhere in the Bible where it says children are a separate body. They are an important part of the church and shouldn’t always be excluded when the church meets. During the Feast of Tabernacles, all of Israel could come before the Lord to hear the reading of the Law so that the children would hear it and learn not fear the Lord. In Paul’s letters to the Ephesians, he gave instructions directly to the children to obey their parents. He considered them a part of the church that he was writing to.
CHILDREN NEED GODLY EXAMPLES OF HOW TO WORSHIP If children never see adults in the main service worshipping, they won’t know how to worship or what is expected of them.
CHILDREN NEED TO FEEL LIKE THEY ARE A PART OF THE CHURCH COMMUNITY. If children are always separated from the body of Christ, they will never feel like they are a part of the church community. And the members of the church will never get to9 know the children and be an example to them unless they work in children’s ministry.
CHILDREN WHO DON’T FEEL LIKE A PART OF THE CHURCH COMMUNITY WILL LEAVE CHURCH WHEN THEY’RE OLDER. Imagine the culture shock of a child who has been in church all his life but has never been in the main service. He has played games every Sunday, sang active songs, and had every message or Bible story illustrated with a skit, object lesson, or interactive device. Suddenly the child turns 10, or 12, Or in some cases, 18 years old. He has graduated to big church. The music is strange. There are no games, skits, or illustrations, only some guy he’s never met preaching for a half hour or longer. He doesn’t know the people. And there is no candy. That’s what happens to a child who is never in the main service.
Within a few months, maybe a few years, he decides he doesn’t want to be there. If his parents make him stay, he’ll leave as soon as he is 18. If not, he will leave sooner. He will look for a church that entertains him and isn’t boring. If he doesn’t find one, he will drop out of church. This may be why so many young people are no longer attending church. They never were a part of the church.
John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’”
John 18:38 “Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’ And when he had said this, He went out again to the Jews, and said to them, ‘I find no fault in Him at all.’”
3 John 4 “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
If there is one important thing that we desire, it is knowing we have been told the truth. We live in a world where this is not the practice at all times. It appears that the world’s idea of success involves telling someone a lie. We would not call our information straight out lies, but tactical information. The problem is what we consider suitable information the other person considers a lie.
When Jesus told Thomas that He was the way, the truth and the life, He meant there is no other way; there is no other truth; and there is no other life. The problem we face today is a world that does not recognize the word of God as the Truth. It is sad to say that many Christians side with the world and do not believe God’s word is the truth.
I Timothy 2:3-4 “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, Who desires all men to be saved and come the the knowledge of the truth.” It is an easy thing to accept Jesus, but it is not always an easy thing to accept the truth. When Jesus spoke of truth, He was talking about God’s specific information . Within Christianity there are various denominational and non-denominational teachings that are not really the truth. We may be saved, but not living an abundant life because of the things we have been taught.
Years ago I asked myself the same question Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” That set me on a course to where I am today. I have not believed and accepted any teaching without verifying it with the word of God. I am not saying that I have all the truth because I know that I do not. But it is my heart’s desire for you to know the truth that will set you free.
As your Pastor it is my responsibility to present to you God’s truth. God’s truth is first of all–Jesus in whom we have to believe to be saved. Secondly, God’s truth is His Word, the Bible. The Bible contains one true message and that must be what we teach for the truth to set you free.
The one thing that holds most people back is the fear of the unknown. Stepping into uncharted waters is a thought that most people would not take the risk to do– much less think about.
In order for the church to make an impact on the world there will be risks. Are we willing to risk for the cause of the gospel or are we being paralyzed by fear? We are living in a time where there is no gray line. No more straddling the fence so to speak.
It is the love of God that should compel us all as Christians to be risk takers. Being a risk taker is not trying to be a hero and making a name for yourself. But it is a people willing to stand for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Here are some risk takers in the Bible:
To Joab, who took up arms for the cause of God, and said, “May the Lord do what seems good to him!” (2 Samuel 10:12).
To Esther, who risked her life for the Jewish people in exile, and said, “If I perish, I perish!” (Esther 4:16).
To Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who stood unflinching before the fiery furnace and said, “Even if God does not deliver us, be it known to you, O king, we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image” (Daniel 3:18).
To Paul, who said, “I do not count my life of any value nor as precious to myself– if only I may accomplish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).
As the apostle Paul said, “For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day.
Have you committed your life to Jesus Christ? If so, you are a candidate to be a risk taker. To take a stand for the one who gave His life so you could have life. He is able to keep you.
3 John 2-4 “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
KINGDOM DYNAMICS NKJV SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE BIBLE
Prosperity is a result. GOD’S PROSPERITY. It is clear that God wants His children to prosper. How can anyone deny that? However, prosperity should not be the end in itself. It ought to be the result of a quality of life, commitment, dedication, and action that is in line with God’s Word. In this text the word “prosper” (Greek euodoo) literally means “to help on the road” or “succeed in reaching.” It clearly implies that divine prosperity is not a momentary, passing phenomenon, but rather it is an ongoing, progressing state of success and well-being. It is intended for every area of our lives: the spiritual, the physical and emotional, and the material. However, God does not want us to unduly emphasize any one area. We must maintain a balance.
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