Zion Hill Baptist

This Mother's Day sermon warns of the spiritual peril of losing a generation, illustrated by Israel's failure after Joshua's death when a new generation arose that knew neither the Lord nor His works, despite the clear command in Deuteronomy 6 to love God with all one's heart and diligently teach His laws to children. It emphasizes that spiritual decline occurs not from sudden apostasy but from the gradual erosion of intentional, daily discipleship—failing to pass on faith through consistent teaching, conversation, and example in every moment of life. I highlight the crucial role of mothers and motherly figures throughout Scripture, showing how faithful women like Naomi, Ruth, and others modeled and transmitted faith, ultimately shaping generations. The call is for all believers—men and women, parents and mentors—to actively live out Deuteronomy 6 by loving God supremely and teaching His truth with purpose and repetition, ensuring that faith is not lost but perpetuated across generations.

Today we center on the vital importance of remembering God's faithfulness and renewing one's commitment to Him, using the account of Israel's repentance and victory at Mizpah as a model. It emphasizes that true spiritual revival requires removing idols—whether literal or metaphorical like pride, materialism, or self-reliance—and returning to God with wholehearted obedience, confession, fasting, and prayer. The story of Samuel setting up the stone Ebenezer, meaning 'The Stone of Help" and later saying 'Hitherto hath the Lord helped us,' serves as a powerful metaphor for creating lasting spiritual memorials that point not to human achievement but to God's enduring grace. I call on listeners to reflect on personal and collective moments of divine intervention, urging you to set up their own Ebenezers—testimonies, commitments, or acts of surrender—to honor God's past faithfulness and to sustain future obedience. Ultimately, the message is a call to daily dependence on Christ, the true Rock of help, and a challenge to live as living memorials of God's redemptive work in both individual lives and the life of the church.

The sermon centers on the urgent call to redeem the fleeting time God has given, emphasizing that life is brief and fleeting, as Scripture declares, and that every moment should be intentionally lived for God's glory. Drawing from Ephesians 5:15–17, it calls believers to walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, by seeking God's will through prayer, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit, rather than drifting through life aimlessly. The message challenges listeners to examine how they spend their time—rejecting distractions, harmful habits, and wasted moments, while embracing purposeful actions that honor God, even in ordinary duties. It underscores that redemption requires sacrifice and conscious choice, not merely good intentions, and invites personal commitment through a reflective act of writing down what one will dedicate to God. Ultimately, the sermon urges a life of intentional stewardship, where every moment is seized for Christ, knowing that only what is done for Him will endure beyond time.

Jesus uses the parable of the barren fig tree in Luke 13 to deliver a sobering call to repentance, emphasizing that God, as the vineyard owner, expects His people to bear spiritual fruit as evidence of genuine salvation. The gardener, representing Christ, intercedes for the tree, pleading for one more year of grace to cultivate growth through repentance and spiritual renewal, illustrating God's patience and mercy. The passage warns that outward religious activity or moral behavior without inner transformation—produced by the Holy Spirit—cannot substitute for true faith, and that fruit is the definitive proof of a living relationship with God. Ultimately, the message is clear: time is limited, and without repentance and a life transformed by grace, all will perish; believers are called to examine their lives for the fruit of the Spirit, while unbelievers are urged to respond to God's persistent invitation before it is too late.

The sermon centers on the pivotal moment in Matthew 16 when Jesus asks His disciples, 'Who do you say that I am?'—a question that reveals the heart of Christian faith and identity. It highlights the contrast between popular opinions of Jesus as a prophet or teacher and Peter's profound confession that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, a truth revealed not by human reasoning or study, but by divine revelation from the Father in heaven. The message underscores that genuine faith is not earned through intellect, effort, or tradition, but is a spiritual gift that transforms the heart. It challenges believers to consider who do you 'act' like He is. In other words do we live in alignment with who Jesus truly is—by daily denying self, taking up the cross, and embodying His love and truth in a world that needs to see Christ reflected in His followers.

The special sunrise sermon centers on the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, emphasizing the profound significance of His death and triumph over sin and death. It reflects on the despair and confusion of the disciples and followers who witnessed Jesus' execution, only to be confronted with the shocking reality of His resurrection, which transforms their grief into hope. The narrative underscores the divine fulfillment of prophecy, the spiritual authority of Christ, and the transformative power of His resurrection, which validates His identity as the Son of God. I call the audience to personally encounter Christ—not through human effort, but through divine initiative—inviting them to 'come and see' the empty tomb and experience His living presence. This encounter is not meant to be kept private, but to be shared boldly, as the risen Christ commands His followers to go and tell others, making the proclamation of the gospel a vital, ongoing mission for every believer.

This Easter sermon centers on the victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ as the definitive defeat of death, both physical and spiritual, and the foundation of Christian hope. Drawing from Revelation, Corinthians, and Romans, it emphasizes that Christ's resurrection is not merely a historical event but the guarantee of future bodily resurrection and eternal life for believers. The message confronts humanity's universal fear of death—both physical decay and spiritual separation from God—by declaring that no human effort, whether through biohacking or moral striving, can overcome death, but Christ's victory through His sinless life, sacrificial death, and triumphant resurrection offers the only true escape. The sermon calls listeners to faith in Christ as the sole means of salvation, urging believers to stand firm in the gospel, knowing their labor is not in vain, and affirming that through Christ, death has lost its sting and the grave its victory, as all things are being brought under His authority until God is all in all.

The sermon centers on the profound irony and spiritual depth of Christ's triumphal entry into Jerusalem, juxtaposing the crowd's exuberant praise with the pervasive betrayals that unfold throughout His final week. It highlights multiple forms of betrayal—unbelief, hypocrisy, pride, spiritual apathy, and outright denial—illustrated through the crowd's fickle allegiance, the disciples' failure to pray, Peter's denial, Judas's treachery, and the religious leaders' complicity, all culminating in Jesus' crucifixion. The preacher emphasizes that unbelief, the first and most fundamental betrayal, is a rejection of Christ's divine identity and a refusal to trust Him, which remains a present danger for all who claim knowledge of Him without heartfelt faith. Yet, despite the depth of human failure, the message of grace is clear: Christ's sacrifice was not thwarted by betrayal but fulfilled through it, offering forgiveness and reconciliation to all who repent and believe. The sermon calls listeners to confront their own betrayals—whether in silence, pride, or unbelief—and to embrace the freedom found in Christ's finished work, where no condemnation remains for those in Him.

Isaiah 53 reveals the profound truth of Christ's substitutionary sacrifice, portraying Him as a despised and afflicted servant who bore the sins of humanity, not through physical beauty or charisma, but through divine obedience and suffering. The passage underscores that all people have strayed like sheep, and the Lord laid upon Christ the iniquity of us all, making Him the ultimate atonement for sin, both past and future. This sacrifice, though marked by silence before His accusers and abandonment by His disciples, was a deliberate act of divine justice and mercy, where God the Father, in crushing His sinless Son, made possible the reconciliation of sinful humanity to Himself. The sermon emphasizes that salvation is not earned by works, but received by faith, and that this truth should inspire a life of profound gratitude, surrender, and worship, recognizing that Christ's death was not only a historical event but a personal transaction that cost God His Son so that sinners might be forgiven and restored. As believers reflect on Easter, they are called to a sober and reverent remembrance of the cost of redemption, leading to a life of complete devotion to the Lamb who was slain.

The sermon centers on the unchanging truth that Jesus Christ is the sole Savior and Lord, revealed not through human wisdom or political power, but through the 'foolishness' of the cross, which is the power of God to those who believe. It confronts the world's reliance on signs, political leaders, and human reasoning, emphasizing that Christ's first coming was fulfilled in His crucifixion and resurrection, and that His second coming will be for judgment, not salvation. We warn against false messianic claims, including those from political figures, and calls believers to repentance, faith in Christ alone, and spiritual readiness, grounded in Scripture and the Holy Spirit. Drawing from Paul's letters and the apostles' preaching, the message underscores that salvation is found in no one else, and that true faith involves surrendering self, being pricked by conviction, and responding with repentance and baptism. Ultimately, the sermon calls the church to stand firm in the gospel, to reject deception, and to allow Christ to gather them under His wings as their only refuge and hope.

The sermon centers on the transformative power of God's Word and the necessity of faith in Jesus Christ for entering into His eternal rest, a spiritual inheritance not earned by works but received through belief. Drawing from Hebrews 3–4, it emphasizes that the Israelites' failure to enter God's rest was rooted not in isolated sins but in persistent unbelief, illustrating how human hearts are deceitful and prone to self-reliance, even after witnessing divine miracles. The passage reveals that true rest is not a physical or earthly possession, but an eternal, heavenly state secured by faith in Christ, who, as the perfect High Priest, empathizes with human weakness and offers bold access to grace. The Word of God is portrayed as living, active, and piercing—discerning the deepest thoughts and intentions—thereby convicting, guiding, and transforming believers as they remain steadfast in faith. Ultimately, the message calls for daily dependence on Christ, continual spiritual vigilance, and confident approach to God's throne, not for self-justification, but for mercy and grace in every season of life.

The sermon centers on the fulfillment of the Old Testament law through Jesus Christ, emphasizing that while the law reveals human sinfulness and points to the need for a Savior, it is no longer binding on believers. Drawing from Matthew 5:17–18 and Galatians, it explains that Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it perfectly—through His sinless life, sacrificial death, and resurrection—thereby establishing a new covenant based on grace through faith. The moral essence of the law is distilled into two commandments: loving God with all one's being and loving one's neighbor as oneself, which are not easier to follow but are the true purpose of the law's revelation. The message warns against returning to legalistic observance, not out of freedom to sin, but out of gratitude for Christ's complete work, calling believers to live by the Holy Spirit's guidance in love rather than rule-keeping. Ultimately, the sermon invites a personal, heartfelt response—repentance, surrender, and prayer—recognizing that salvation is not earned by obedience to law but received through faith in Christ, whose sacrifice covers all sin.

This lesson presents a comprehensive biblical framework for understanding the pastoral office, emphasizing that the role is not defined by human institutions but by divine appointment, as reflected in the three interrelated terms—pastor (shepherd), elder (mature leader), and bishop (overseer)—all pointing to a unified ministry of spiritual care, teaching, and oversight. Central to this role is the conviction that pastors are called by God, not self-ordained or elected solely by human consensus, and must meet rigorous moral, doctrinal, and relational qualifications, including blamelessness, faithfulness in marriage, sound teaching ability, and a life marked by humility and integrity. The lesson underscores that while the church plays a vital role in recognizing and ordaining a pastor through collective consent, it does not create the office but affirms God's prior calling, and that disqualification arises not from isolated failures but from persistent unrepentant sin or doctrinal departure from core Christian truths. Ultimately, the pastoral role is portrayed as a sacred, lifelong vocation requiring both spiritual maturity and accountability, with the church responsible for upholding these standards while also providing fair treatment, including just compensation, to honor the labor of those who serve in this capacity.

Today we contrasts genuine conversion with superficial or self-serving faith through key narratives in Acts, emphasizing that true salvation involves heartfelt repentance, divine conviction, and a transformed life rather than mere intellectual assent or religious performance. It examines Simon the sorcerer's false conversion—marked by hypocrisy and a desire for power—against the authentic faith of the Ethiopian eunuch, who boldly confessed Christ despite social risk, and the Philippian jailer, whose trembling before God led to immediate repentance and joy. The sermon also highlights Felix and Agrippa, who were convicted yet remained unconvinced, illustrating the danger of delaying obedience to God's call. Ultimately, it calls listeners to move beyond intellectual agreement or emotional reactions to a personal, transformative faith in Jesus Christ, warning that neglecting this salvation leads to eternal separation from God, and urging immediate response to the gospel's urgent call.

Today we distinguish between the modern cultural understanding of 'church' as a physical building or institutional structure and the biblical concept of ekklesia—the assembly of believers called out from the world for a holy purpose. Drawing from Greek etymology and New Testament usage, it emphasizes that the true church is not defined by architecture or hierarchy, but by a living, gathered body of believers united in faith, worship, and mission. This distinction is vital, as it reorients the believer's identity from passive attendance to active separation from sin, holy living, and intentional fellowship in Christ. We find the early church turned the world upside down not through buildings, rituals or hierarchy, but through bold proclamation of the gospel and a transformed life. Ultimately, listeners to see themselves not as members of a holy assembly called out by God to be salt and light, worshiping Him in spirit and truth, and living in such a way that their difference points others to Christ.

This lesson aims to present a comprehensive theological framework of salvation, emphasizing that humanity is saved from the pervasive consequences of sin—physical death, spiritual separation from God, and eternal condemnation—rooted in Adam's fall and perpetuated by inherited sin and personal rebellion. It clearly rejects salvation through religious rituals or human works, underscoring the futility of self-effort due to the inherent deceitfulness and corruption of the human heart, and instead affirms that salvation is solely through the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ, who, as both fully God and fully man, lived a sinless life and bore the penalty for all sin on the cross, thereby canceling the debt that humanity could never repay. The process of salvation is described as beginning with the Holy Spirit's conviction, leading to genuine repentance and faith—more than mere intellectual assent, but a transformative trust in Christ's work—resulting in eternal security, sealed by the Holy Spirit and guaranteed by God's power, ensuring that believers are eternally preserved in fellowship with God, obedience to His will, and the hope of eternal life, all grounded in grace and not human merit.

Are we allowed to judge others? This sermon clarifies that the biblical command 'Judge not' in Matthew 7:1 is often misused to avoid moral accountability, when in fact Scripture consistently calls believers to discernment, righteous judgment, and loving correction grounded in God's truth. It emphasizes that judgment is not forbidden but must be exercised with humility, self-examination, and compassion—avoiding hypocrisy, superficiality, harshness, and self-righteousness—while always seeking to restore others in love. Drawing from passages like John 7:24 and the broader context of Matthew 7, the message affirms that believers are to judge rightly, based on the full counsel of Scripture, with the goal of guiding others toward God's will and away from destructive sin. The sermon challenges the church to reclaim its moral witness in a culture that denies objective truth, urging Christians to courageously yet gently confront sin in themselves and others, not out of pride, but out of love and a desire to see others freed from the bondage of error and brought into the life God intends.

Part 3 of What We Believe: The Basics of Christian Doctrine and the Baptist Faith. This lesson presents a unified theological vision of the Triune God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—as co-equal, co-eternal persons who function in distinct yet harmonious roles. It emphasizes God the Father as the source of divine will and authority, not in hierarchy but in relational order; God the Son as fully divine and fully human, incarnate to fulfill the Father's redemptive plan, whose name 'Jesus' means 'Jehovah is salvation' and whose obedience to death on the cross is the ultimate act of humility and divine love; and God the Holy Spirit as a personal, active presence who dwells in believers, convicts, comforts, intercedes, and seals them for eternal life, not as a mystical force but as the intimate, ongoing agent of God's presence on earth. The lesson then turns to humanity, created in God's image with a material body and immaterial spirit and soul, endowed with reason, morality, social nature, and free will, all for the purpose of glorifying God through intimate fellowship. However, due to Adam's sin, humanity fell into spiritual death, resulting in separation from God, a cursed creation, and a life marked by toil, decay, and enmity toward God—setting up the urgent need for redemption. The message culminates in the profound question of how a holy God can reconcile sinful humanity without compromising justice or love, pointing forward to the solution found in Christ's atoning sacrifice, which will be explored in the next lesson.

This sermon, drawn from James 1:13–18, centers on the reality that temptation originates not from God or external demons, but from within—specifically from our own lusts and desires. It emphasizes that while all people face temptation, the root of sin lies in the heart's voluntary surrender to selfish longing, which, when nurtured, gives birth to sin and ultimately leads to spiritual death. Believers are to take personal responsibility, rejecting the tendency to blame God, Satan, or others, and instead to recognize that overcoming temptation requires a transformative reliance on God through His Word, the Holy Spirit, prayer, intentional focus on heavenly things, and the deliberate act of fleeing from sin. Ultimately, victory over temptation is only possible through a personal, ongoing relationship with Christ, rooted in salvation, repentance, and continual dependence on divine grace.

Part 2 of What We Believe: The Basics of Christian Doctrine and the Baptist Faith. The lesson aims to present a comprehensive theological exploration of God's nature, beginning with the assumption of God's existence as foundational to Scripture and human reason, supported by logical arguments from creation, design, and moral awareness. It then unfolds the doctrine of the Trinity—not as a term found in Scripture but as a vital concept affirming one God in three co-equal, co-eternal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each fully God, distinct in role yet unified in essence, with the Father initiating, the Son accomplishing, and the Spirit applying divine work. The lesson emphasizes God's infinite, unchanging, holy, self-existent, and sovereign attributes—omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent—revealed through Scripture and experienced in worship, while underscoring that God is a personal Spirit with thoughts, emotions, and desires, capable of sorrow over human sin, yet eternally loving, just, merciful, and faithful. Ultimately, the purpose is to reveal God's greatness and nearness, inviting awe, humility, and trust in a God who is both infinitely beyond humanity and intimately concerned for it.

The sermon centers on the divine guidance of God's people through the wilderness, illustrated by the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night, which symbolized God's constant presence and direction. Drawing from Exodus and Numbers, it emphasizes that God's people were to remain obedient to His leading—staying when the cloud abode and moving when it lifted—regardless of personal comfort or timing. The ancient pattern is still relevant in modern life, believers should discern and follow the Holy Spirit's promptings daily, recognizing that true security and purpose come from being where God is, not where we feel safe. It warns against both disobedience—staying when God calls to move—and presumption—moving when God has not led—both of which lead to spiritual failure. Ultimately, whether saved or unsaved, we are called to daily surrender, seeking God's will with humility and trust, knowing that He provides abundantly when we walk in His direction.

Part 1 of What We Believe: The Basics of Christian Doctrine and the Baptist Faith. This lesson, a first in the series, establishes the Bible as the foundational, inerrant, and sufficient revelation of God, emphasizing its divine inspiration, historical unity across 1,500 years and 40 authors, and its role as the sole authority for faith and practice. It distinguishes between doctrine—non-negotiable truths rooted in Scripture—and human traditions or preferences, illustrating how the Bible's internal consistency, fulfilled prophecies, and transformative power provide both internal and external validation of its truth. The lesson underscores the Bible's finality, its Christ-centered message of redemption, and the necessity of interpreting Scripture through the lens of sola scriptura, while cautioning against divisive debates over secondary matters and affirming that all doctrine must be grounded in the clear teaching of Scripture alone.

True spiritual vitality and lasting joy come only through abiding in Christ, the true vine, as illustrated in John 15. Believers are branches dependent on Christ for life and fruitfulness, with God the Father acting as the loving gardener who prunes and nurtures each branch to produce more fruit—symbolizing the fruits of the Spirit such as love, joy, peace, and self-control. While the passage warns that branches not bearing fruit are removed and those that do are pruned for greater yield, this does not threaten eternal salvation but rather reflects a call to remain spiritually connected, obedient, and open to God's refining work. The ultimate purpose of this abiding relationship is to glorify God and experience the fullness of Christ's joy, which is not dependent on circumstances but rooted in a deep, continuous union with Him through Scripture, prayer, and obedience.

Today, the final Sunday before we celebrate Christmas, we ask, what did Christ do for us? Its an intriguing questions, not because it is unique, but because shockingly few know the answer, even among saved church people. We learn today that Christ came for us to rescue us, pay the penalty of sin that we could and reunite us with God. This had been the plan from the beginning of time, as God knew we would need a savior. Jesus, who is both fully God and fully man was born of a virgin and uniquely qualified to bear our sin guilt and satisfy the wrath of God. That is the greatest gift ever, forgiveness of and a restored relationship with God. Amen and Amen, Merry Christmas indeed.

The central message of the sermon is that Christ's true desire for Christmas is not material gifts, but a transformed heart characterized by justice, mercy, and humble obedience to God. Drawing from Micah 6:8, we emphasizes that God does not require external sacrifices or grand gestures, but rather a life marked by doing what is just, loving mercy, and walking humbly with Him. This call to spiritual obedience is rooted in Scripture, particularly Deuteronomy 10:12 and the broader biblical witness, which reveals that God's will for humanity has never changed—love for God and neighbor is the essence of His command. The sermon challenges listeners to reflect not on what they want to receive, but on what they are willing to give God: their will, their pride, and their daily commitment to righteousness. Ultimately, the greatest gift Christ desires is not a present, but a surrendered life lived in faithful alignment with His character and commands.

The sermon centers on the profound purpose of Christ's incarnation, emphasizing that He came not merely to be worshipped, but to fulfill God's redemptive plan through obedience, light, truth, judgment, service, and sacrifice. It highlights Jesus' own declarations that He came to do the Father's will, bring illumination to a dark world, bear witness to divine truth, and ultimately offer Himself as a ransom for sinners, calling all to repentance and faith. The message underscores that Christ's mission was not to affirm human self-righteousness, but to expose sin, divide the faithful from the unrepentant, and provide salvation through His perfect life and sacrificial death. The sermon calls believers to move beyond cultural Christmas traditions and instead embrace a personal, transformative encounter with Christ, marked by repentance, obedience, and a commitment to share the gospel as the ultimate gift. Ultimately, Christ came to seek and save the lost, and the only way to be saved is through faith in Him alone, not in rituals, good works, or human mediators.

The sermon centers on the profound theological significance of Christmas, reframing the traditional nativity narrative through the lens of Old Testament imagery, particularly the symbolic role of the Tower of Adar in Bethlehem as a place of ritual purity where sacrificial lambs were raised. By connecting this historical and prophetic context to the birth of Jesus as the ultimate Lamb of God, we emphasizes that Christ's arrival was not merely a historical event but the fulfillment of ancient promises, where the perfect, unblemished Lamb was born in a place sanctified for sacrifice, making His birth a divine sign for those who understood Scripture. The message challenges listeners to move beyond sentimentalized traditions and commercialized customs, urging a return to the core truth: Jesus is both the sacrificial Lamb who takes away the sins of the world and the strong tower of refuge where believers find safety and salvation. The sermon calls the congregation to respond with faith, repentance, and worship, inviting both the unconverted to embrace Christ and the saved to deepen their relationship with Him, all while reflecting on the eternal significance of His incarnation, death, and resurrection.

This sermon centers on the biblical imperative to give thanks in all circumstances, framing Thanksgiving not merely as a cultural observance but as a spiritual discipline rooted in God's unchanging character and redemptive plan. Drawing from key passages such as 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Philippians 4:4–7, and Colossians 3:15, it emphasizes that thankfulness is God's will for believers, extending beyond joyful moments to include trials, hardships, and even when gratitude feels forced. The preacher underscores that true thankfulness involves shifting focus from self to God, cultivating an attitude of gratitude through intentional reflection on divine goodness, Scripture, and the gift of salvation. It calls the congregation to examine their inputs—media, relationships, and thoughts—and to replace negativity with what is true, honorable, and pure, recognizing that thanksgiving is both a response to God's faithfulness and a sacrifice of praise that requires surrender. Ultimately, the message affirms that even in suffering, believers can be thankful because God is sovereign, good, and worthy of worship, and that this posture of gratitude transforms the heart and bears witness to the world.

Do we want to live the satisfied life? Of course, we all do. But have we realized that for our lives to be satisfying we must daily crucify our self and desires for Him. It is not about us, our selves, or what we want or think we need. No, we must desire to have a restored relationship with Christ. We must be willing to take up His yoke and have our lives controlled, limiting our freedom and following His command. If we can do that, then we will be truly satisfied because His Yoke is easy and his burden is light and thereby we will find the rest for our souls that we have been struggling for in this life.

Today we learn a valuable lesson from Gibeon. Joshua had already been commanded what to do and what not to do. Yet, when an uncertain situation came to him he used his own wisdom and judgment to make a decision rather than seek the Lord for advice (as was required). This error led to an alliance that brought the people into war. We must learn from this. No matter the circumstances we must always remember (1) to do what the Lord has already told us to do or not to do, (2) lean not on our own wisdom, knowledge, and emotions, and (3) to inquire of God and wait on the Spirit to tell us.

The first sermon preached at Zion Hill Baptist Church after being unanimously elected pastor that morning. The message reflects the Psalmist David in Psalm 8 and leads the listener to consider our place before God and his love and care for us.

During this time of year we are thankful for the harvest season. But the harvest usually spoken of in the scripture is a spiritual harvest. We are reminded that God is the Lord of the Harvest, that he gives the increase (yield), that the field is white and ready to be harvested, and that we are to pray for harvesters. Jesus knew the workers are few, so let us share with our family, church, work, school, and community who the Lord is and see the awakening that is building across the country with no regard to the increase, just the sowing (planting) and reaping (collecting)--for that is all we are called to do.

What did we do 100 years ago when it was night. Much of the time we looked up at the stars and moon, and were silent allowing God to revel himself to us. Today we stare at our phones and drowned out the Lords voice with lights and electricity. But someone who could not do that was Jacob before he met his brother. There at Peniel Jacob wrestled (stove) with God. He was alone, anxious, and not wanting to give in. But the Lord pursued him until Jacob admitted who he was to God, a supplanter (sinner, liar). Upon Jacobs submission, contriteness, and confession the Lord changed his name. It is the same for us today.

We are instructed in the wisdom literature to buy truth and not to sell it. And we are told that truth contains: wisdom (practical knowledge), instruction (discipline and morals), and understanding (discernment). These are we to get at all costs and never to give up. Yet, we find ourselves at all stages of life trading for something. None of us is truly neutral, we are always trading our time, as limited as it could be, for something. Are we trading for truth or selling it dear for the worthless things in life?

There are many points in our lives when we just have no idea. This was my feeling as I became your pastor and had many 'firsts' and continues to be my experience. Many persons in the bible had no idea what to do or how to accomplish God's will. So, we are not alone in that feeling. In fact, we should admit more often we have no idea what we are doing or need to do, rather than depend on our own logic. We can admit we have no idea what we are to do because we know the One who does know. And He has told us what we are to do, Just Love Jesus! All the what ifs in life come into sharp contrast when we just love Him. To my first church, Taylor's Chapel Baptist, I love you, it has been the honor of my life to serve you, and you will be in my prayers and thoughts, always. Remember, you know the basics (Just Love Jesus), figure it out quickly--you set the tone. And I'm here if you need me.

We are called to a life of sacrifice. In our society today we don't need to sacrifice much and have remained like small children. It is one of the reasons for the collapse of our culture. But we are called into a grand adventure with Christ, we are called to sacrifice our own nature for Him. Sacrifice to a higher purpose is when we find fulfillment.

Waiting is difficult, especially in our culture today. We are in a hurry for everything. To make it even worse, we have the wrong idea of what we do when we wait. We have the idea it is a time of nothingness. But the Hebrew word for wait reveals the opposite. It means that we have a hope in an anticipated outcome. But, it also means to gather, twist, or bind together. Waiting is being active. We are to be active in prayer, fellowship, scripture and service until the Lord moves and tells us what to do next.

The Holy Spirit was among us today as we were reminded that in the good times, the hard times, and all the times in between--God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. No matter what we may face, God is greater and He is in the midst of His people and shall not be moved! Finally, we are to be still and know that I am God!

Hear me O Lord, is the cry of David. It should be ours as well. As we look unto the Lord, our rock, our light, our salvation, our strength. Whom shall we fear? Let us join with David in saying, one thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after...

We must always be ready to stand for the Lord in an evil world. We do that through the putting on (daily) the armor of God and remaining in a state of constant prayer.

Today we consider how we are to live our lives in order to be blessed by the Lord.

Communion is a command from Jesus Christ that we are to follow. We take the bread and fruit of the vine to remember His sacrifice of a broken body and blood poured out for out sins. We take the Lords Supper to communion with God and as a body of believers. We are reminded that we should conduct a self-examination prior to taking and to be serious when we partake.

What do we know about the third part of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit. Today we are reminded that the Holy Spirit is there are our comforter, guide, helper, gift giver, intercessor, counselor, encourager, and seal. The work of the Spirit is to bring conviction to who are are not saved and guidance to those who are. We know we can grieve and quench the spirit, but we must listen and be obedient. The Spirit was active in creation, present at the conception of Jesus' earthly body, involved in the resurrection, and is at all times present in the believer. The most challenging question Christians have before them is not, 'how much of the Spirit you have,' but rather, 'hw much of you the Holy Spirit has.'

What do we know about God? Where do we get this knowledge? Have we put God in our little box? God does not fit inside of what we think we know about Him. The only way to come to know Him and continue to be known by Him is to allow Him to destroy the ways we've limited him. The reality is that 'our ways are not His ways' and 'nothing is too difficult for the Lord.' 'With God all things are possible.'

Jesus Christ is God's only Son. He is God and part of the Godhead, but has unique roles and duties. We discuss what his name means and just a little about Him. He is the incantation (God in the flesh), creator of the universe, exact living image of God, source of the universe, head of the church, born of a virgin, sinless, risen after death, coming again, reigning in heaven at God's right hand, and our atonement and redeemer. Oh what a God we serve!

God exists! He is a Spirit. God is three persons manifested as the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. While God is incomprehensible He has reveled some of his attributes by which we can know some things about Him and His nature. Remember; however, Gods IS fully all these things. They are not parts of God or things that make Him up, rather they find their completeness in Him. He is: self-sufficient, Eternal, Infinite, Immutable, Omniscience, Self-Existent, Wisdom, Omnipresent, Good, Faithful, Justice Mercy , Grace, Love, Sovereign, Holy, Immanuel. For more on each of these listen to the series A Proper View of God from 2021. (https://www.sermonaudio.com/solo/taylorschapel/sermons/series/153892/)

The bible in the inspired or revealed Word of God to man. It is true, accurate, without error, and allows us to know doctrine, rules, and true history. It is our ultimate guide, map, compass, sword and resource for comfort and peace in this life. We know it was recorded (by inspiration) through around 40 men, across three continents, and over 1,500 years yet each book agrees with the other and points to our need of a savior. We know it's true because the bible itself claims to be, some 2,000 prophecies have been fulfilled, history and archology support it, and we know it internally through the supernatural working of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we must abide by all of it, know it, and continually (daily) take it into our lives.

Are you rich toward God? Are you wealthy in the world? Don't be too quick to answer the second. We have a real problem in many societies of valuing our selves based on our stuff, money, status, or position in this life. But we won't take any of that with us when we die. Jesus Christ reveals this by speaking plainly, that we a mans life consists not in the abundance of things, bur rather where our treasure is, there our hearts will be also. Today we consider the parable of the Rich Fool and the words given in Timothy to have godliness with contentment for great gain. In sum, do you have a rich relationship with God?

We review how Daniel purposed his heart and chose to do what the Lord commanded. Here we see four things. 1 he purposed his heart, 2 he abstained from something, 3 he replaced what he abstained with something healthy, and 4 he had accountability with God and friends. We have much to learn from Daniel about our daily walks with God and even salvation.

During this Easter Sunday sunrise service we remember the empty tomb and celebrate that Christ is risen, he is risen indeed. We consider the road to Emmaus and what we can learn from the encounter that occurred there and how Jesus Christ witnessed to himself through prophecy, logic, miracles and the giving of the Holy Spirit. With these same witnesses and our testimony we are sent into the world to proclaim He Is Risen, Peace Be to You!