Prospect Baptist Church

11Then He said: “A certain man had two sons.  12And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood.  13And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.  14But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.  15Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.  16And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything. 17“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!  18I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you,  19and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’20“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.  23And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry;  24for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry. [Luke 15:11-24]

50Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across  from Jericho, saying, 51“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘When you have crossed the Jordan into the land of Canaan, 52then you shall drive out all the inhabitants of the land from before you, destroy all their engraved stones, destroy all their molded images, and demolish all their high places; 53you shall dispossess the  inhabitants  of the land and dwell in it, for I have given you the land to possess. 54And you shall divide the land by lot as an inheritance among your families; to the larger you shall give a larger inheritance, and to the smaller you shall give a smaller inheritance; there everyone’s inheritance shall be whatever falls to him by lot. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your fathers. 55But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall be that those whom you let remain shall  be  irritants in your eyes and thorns in your sides, and they shall harass you in the land where you dwell. 56Moreover it shall be that I will do to you as I thought to do to them.’ ” [Numbers 33:50-56]

35Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. 36But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. 37Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  38Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” [Matthew 9:35-38]

19For it pleased the  Father  that  in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 21And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. [Colossians 1:19-23]

20Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king’s personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king’s country. 21So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. 22And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. 24But the word of God grew and multiplied. 25And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark. 1Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. 4So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. [Acts 12:20-13:4]

15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.Reconciled in Christ 19For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell. [Colossians 1:15-19]

20Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king’s personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king’s country. 21So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. 22And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. 24But the word of God grew and multiplied. Barnabas and Saul Appointed 25And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they also took with them John whose surname was Mark. 1Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.Preaching in Cyprus 4So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus. [Acts 12:20-13:4]

1Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. 3Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. [Hebrews 12:1-3]

5You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6Though he was God, he did not think of equality with Godas something to cling to. 7Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;he took the humble position of a slaveand was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8he humbled himself in obedience to Godand died a criminal’s death on a cross. 9Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honorand gave him the name above all other names, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Shine Brightly for Christ 12Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. 13For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. [Philippians 2:5-13]

1“These are the commands, decrees, and regulations that the Lord your God commanded me to teach you. You must obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy, 2and you and your children and grandchildren must fear the Lord your God as long as you live. If you obey all his decrees and commands, you will enjoy a long life. 3Listen closely, Israel, and be careful to obey. Then all will go well with you, and you will have many children in the land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you. 4“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.  5And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. 6And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. 7Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. 8Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. 9Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. [Deuteronomy 6:1-9]

15Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, 16for through him God created everythingin the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can seeand the things we can’t see—such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him. 17He existed before anything else,and he holds all creation together. 18Christ is also the head of the church,which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So he is first in everything. 19For God in all his fullnesswas pleased to live in Christ, 20and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earthby means of Christ’s blood on the cross. 21This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. 22Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. 23But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News. The Good News has been preached all over the world, and I, Paul, have been appointed as God’s servant to proclaim it. [Colossians 1:15-23]

19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one  another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. [Hebrews 10:19-25]

1 Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain. 2 It  is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late, To eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep. 3 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. 5 Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate. [Psalm 127]

11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another,  agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you. 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. [2 Corinthians 13:11-14 ESV]

1Praise the Lord!Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He  is good!For His mercy endures forever.2Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord?Who can declare all His praise?3Blessed are those who keep justice,And he who does righteousness at all times!4Remember me, O Lord, with the favor You  have  towardYour people.Oh, visit me with Your salvation,5That I may see the benefit of Your chosen ones,That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation,That I may glory with Your inheritance.6We have sinned with our fathers,We have committed iniquity,We have done wickedly.7Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders;They did not remember the multitude of Your mercies,But rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea.8Nevertheless He saved them for His name’s sake,That He might make His mighty power known.9He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried up;So He led them through the depths,As through the wilderness.10He saved them from the hand of him who hated them,And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.11The waters covered their enemies;There was not one of them left.12Then they believed His words;They sang His praise.13They soon forgot His works;They did not wait for His counsel,14But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness,And tested God in the desert.15And He gave them their request,But sent leanness into their soul.16When they envied Moses in the camp,And Aaron the saint of the Lord,17The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan,And covered the faction of Abiram.18A fire was kindled in their company;The flame burned up the wicked.19They made a calf in Horeb,And worshiped the molded image.20Thus they changed their gloryInto the image of an ox that eats grass.21They forgot God their Savior,Who had done great things in Egypt,22Wondrous works in the land of Ham,Awesome things by the Red Sea.23Therefore He said that He would destroy them,Had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach,To turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them.24Then they despised the pleasant land;They did not believe His word,25But complained in their tents,And did not heed the voice of the Lord.26Therefore He raised His hand in  an  oath against them,To overthrow them in the wilderness,27To overthrow their descendants among the nations,And to scatter them in the lands.28They joined themselves also to Baal of Peor,And ate sacrifices made to the dead.29Thus they provoked Him to anger with their deeds,And the plague broke out among them.30Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,And the plague was stopped.31And that was accounted to him for righteousnessTo all generations forevermore.32They angered Him also at the waters of strife,So that it went ill with Moses on account of them;33Because they rebelled against His Spirit,So that he spoke rashly with his lips.34They did not destroy the peoples,Concerning whom the Lord had commanded them,35But they mingled with the GentilesAnd learned their works;36They served their idols,Which became a snare to them.37They even sacrificed their sonsAnd their daughters to demons,38And shed innocent blood,The blood of their sons and daughters,Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;And the land was polluted with blood.39Thus they were defiled by their own works,And played the harlot by their own deeds.40Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against His people,So that He abhorred His own inheritance.41And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles,And those who hated them ruled over them.42Their enemies also oppressed them,And they were brought into subjection under their hand.43Many times He delivered them;But they rebelled in their counsel,And were brought low for their iniquity.44Nevertheless He regarded their affliction,When He heard their cry;45And for their sake He remembered His covenant,And relented according to the multitude of His mercies.46He also made them to be pitiedBy all those who carried them away captive. [Psalm 106:1-46]

1Praise the Lord!Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He  is good!For His mercy endures forever.2Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord?Who can declare all His praise?3Blessed are those who keep justice,And he who does righteousness at all times!4Remember me, O Lord, with the favor You  have  towardYour people.Oh, visit me with Your salvation,5That I may see the benefit of Your chosen ones,That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation,That I may glory with Your inheritance.6We have sinned with our fathers,We have committed iniquity,We have done wickedly.7Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your wonders;They did not remember the multitude of Your mercies,But rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea.8Nevertheless He saved them for His name’s sake,That He might make His mighty power known.9He rebuked the Red Sea also, and it dried up;So He led them through the depths,As through the wilderness.10He saved them from the hand of him who hated them,And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy.11The waters covered their enemies;There was not one of them left.12Then they believed His words;They sang His praise.13They soon forgot His works;They did not wait for His counsel,14But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness,And tested God in the desert.15And He gave them their request,But sent leanness into their soul.16When they envied Moses in the camp,And Aaron the saint of the Lord,17The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan,And covered the faction of Abiram.18A fire was kindled in their company;The flame burned up the wicked.19They made a calf in Horeb,And worshiped the molded image.20Thus they changed their gloryInto the image of an ox that eats grass.21They forgot God their Savior,Who had done great things in Egypt,22Wondrous works in the land of Ham,Awesome things by the Red Sea.23Therefore He said that He would destroy them,Had not Moses His chosen one stood before Him in the breach,To turn away His wrath, lest He destroy them.24Then they despised the pleasant land;They did not believe His word,25But complained in their tents,And did not heed the voice of the Lord.26Therefore He raised His hand in  an  oath against them,To overthrow them in the wilderness,27To overthrow their descendants among the nations,And to scatter them in the lands.28They joined themselves also to Baal of Peor,And ate sacrifices made to the dead.29Thus they provoked Him to anger with their deeds,And the plague broke out among them.30Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,And the plague was stopped.31And that was accounted to him for righteousnessTo all generations forevermore.32They angered Him also at the waters of strife,So that it went ill with Moses on account of them;33Because they rebelled against His Spirit,So that he spoke rashly with his lips.34They did not destroy the peoples,Concerning whom the Lord had commanded them,35But they mingled with the GentilesAnd learned their works;36They served their idols,Which became a snare to them.37They even sacrificed their sonsAnd their daughters to demons,38And shed innocent blood,The blood of their sons and daughters,Whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan;And the land was polluted with blood.39Thus they were defiled by their own works,And played the harlot by their own deeds.40Therefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against His people,So that He abhorred His own inheritance.41And He gave them into the hand of the Gentiles,And those who hated them ruled over them.42Their enemies also oppressed them,And they were brought into subjection under their hand.43Many times He delivered them;But they rebelled in their counsel,And were brought low for their iniquity.44Nevertheless He regarded their affliction,When He heard their cry;45And for their sake He remembered His covenant,And relented according to the multitude of His mercies.46He also made them to be pitiedBy all those who carried them away captive. [Psalm 106:1-46]

1 Jude, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ: 2 Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. Contend for the Faith 3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. [Jude 1:1-4]

1 In that day this song will be sung in the land of Judah: “We have a strong city; God will appoint salvation for walls and bulwarks. 2 Open the gates, That the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. 3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. [Isaiah 26:1-3]

1 Now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!”And he said, “Here I am.” 2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only sonIsaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son; and he split the wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. 4 Then on the third day Abraham lifted his eyes and saw the place afar off. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; the lad and I will go yonder and worship, and we will come back to you.” 6 So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. 7 But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!”And he said, “Here I am, my son.”Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where isthe lamb for a burnt offering?” 8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together. 9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!”So he said, “Here I am.” 12 And He said, “Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son,from Me.” 13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him  was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. 14 And Abraham called the name of the place, The-Lord-Will-Provide; as it is said tothis day, “In the Mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” 15 Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, 16 and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son—17 blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.” 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they rose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba. [Genesis 22:1-19]

12 Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. 15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. 18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.Reconciled in Christ19For it pleased the  Father  that  in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. 21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. [Colossians 1:12-23]

1 In the Lord I put my trust; How can you say to my soul, “Flee as a bird to your mountain”? 2 For look! The wicked bend their bow, They make ready their arrow on the string, That they may shoot secretly at the upright in heart. 3 If the foundations are destroyed, What can the righteous do? 4 The Lord  is in His holy temple, The Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. 5 The Lord  tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates. 6 Upon the wicked He will rain coals; Fire and brimstone and a burning wind Shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the Lord  is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright. [Psalms 11]

9For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him,  being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. [Colossians 1:9-14]

9For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him,  being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. [Colossians 1:9-14]

27Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me. 1Therefore if there  is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. [Philippians 1:27-2:4]

30The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31Him God has exalted to His right hand to  be  Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. Acts 5:30-31