Politics and The Lordship of Christ

Today I posted the following quote on my facebook page.

"Those who would equate political party w/ the Lordship of Christ have failed to understand the limits of party and the sovereignty of Christ". Thabiti Anyabwile

I have been thinking about that quote a lot recently.  Our church (www.emmanuelbaptist.com) is starting a small group study entitled ONWARD, which is designed to help Christians engage the culture without losing the Gospel.  It is my prayer that in offering this study people would be challenged to think Biblically about the upcoming election.

Saved for Good Works - Gospel Primer

Saved for Good Works

Through the gospel I learn not only of the saving works of God on my behalf, but I also learn that one of God’s key purposes in doing these works is to put me to work myself.

The Bible tells me that when Christ redeemed me, He did so in order that I might now be “zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:14) When God “works” in me day by day, He does so in order to produce in me the desire and the power to “work for His good pleasure.” (Phil. 2:12, 13) Indeed, though I am saved by grace and not by works, I am God’s “workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that [I] would walk in them.” (Eph. 2:10)

Being naturally lazy, I do not normally thrill at the prospect of work; but the more I embrace the saving work of God on my behalf, the more I find myself embracing the works for which God saved me. And as I am “working hard” at doing these works for the good of others, I experience the truth of Jesus’ words: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 2:34, 35)  I also find myself saying with Christ, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and to accomplish His work.” (John 4:32-34)  Indeed, gospel-motivated works do for the soul what food does for the body. They bring refreshment, enjoyment, blessing, and strengthening to the doer of the deeds, even more so than to the receiver. Hence, the fact that God has prepared such works for me to do becomes a part of what makes the gospel such great news to me.

Preaching the gospel to myself each day not only reminds me of the love of God for me, but it also reminds me of the love of God for the works that He has saved me to perform. When I see the Cross, I see the premium that God places on the works that He has prepared for me. How valuable all of these works must be if Christ would die so that I might now perform them! And how precious are those for whom these works are done if Christ would die that they might be served!

The Importance of Church Membership

 

This Sunday (8.24) after the service EBC members will be voting on a couple of ministry/business items.
This is a great time to remind all of us that church membership is SO much more than a vote in a church meeting.

There are some misconceptions about the church:
I have to have my name on a church roll somewhere.
I can be an inactive church member.
The word “membership” is not in the Bible.  Therefore church membership is not biblical.

The reality is church membership is not specifically commanded.
Church membership is implied in the New Testament through passages that talk about church gatherings, church discipline, church leadership, and church accountability. 

Here are a couple of quotes regarding church membership. 

From I Am a Church Member 
"Church membership is a gift.  When I received the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, I became a part of the body of Christ.  I soon thereafter identified with a local body and was baptized.  Now I am humbled and honored to serve and to love others in our church.  I pray that I will never take my membership for granted, but see it as a gift and an opportunity to serve others and to be a part of something so much greater than any one person or member.”
”Church membership is a gift.  When I received the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, I became a part of the body of Christ.  I soon thereafter identified with a local body and was baptized.  Now I am humbled and honored to serve and to love others in our church.  I pray that I will never take my membership for granted, but see it as a gift and an opportunity to serve others and to be a part of something so much greater than any one person or member.”

From The Gospel Primer…12. My Inheritance in the Saints
The gospel is not just a message of reconciliation with God, but it also heralds the reconciliation of all believers to one another in Christ. Through the death of Christ, God has brought peace where there was once hostility, and He has broken down the racial, economic, and social barriers that once divided us outside of Christ.

Also, when God saved us, He made us members of His household, and He gave us as gifts to one another.  Each brother and sister is a portion of my gospel inheritance from God, and I am a portion of their inheritance as well. We are significant players in each other’s gospel narrative, and it is in relationship with one another that we experience the fullness of God in Christ.

Hence, the more I comprehend the full scope of the gospel, the more I value the church for which Christ died, the more I value the role that I play in the lives of my fellow-Christians, and the more I appreciate the role that they must be allowed to play in mine.

The Hidden Smile of God through the years.

I want to tell you about a great book and the impact it has had on my life.

There is a great book on the fruit of affliction and suffering called The Hidden Smile of God.  You can download a free copy of the book by clicking HERE.

With Pastor Duke's recent sermons on suffering (Suffering is the Pathway to Glorification & The Weight and (Wait) of Glory) Jim Soss and Lyle Fortney's testimony video and EBC's upcoming "God Healing for Life's Losses" conference,   I have been thinking about suffering and the glory of God.  When I think about this topic, I am reminded of The Hidden Smile of God.

First of all I want to let you know about the book.  So I took some quotes from the Desiring God website.

Bunyan. Cowper. Brainerd.

John Bunyan suffered long-term imprisonment, even when a simple promise to cease preaching would have freed him, and he was moved to rely on God even more. Despite month after month of debilitating depression, William Cowper’s poetry reflected the sustaining character of God and led him to worship more deeply. David Brainerd so desired to honor God that, through the loneliness of wilderness ministry and the agony of tuberculosis, he pressed on, transforming world missions forever.

For John Bunyan, William Cowper, and David Brainerd, the loving purpose of God in pain was one of the most precious truths in the Bible and one of the most powerful experiences of their lives.

Now let me tell you some personal stories in how God has used The Hidden Smile of God in my life to remind me of God's glory in the midst of suffering.

2001.
I received my FIRST copy of The Hidden of Smile of God almost 15 years ago.  I don't remember the exact date I received many books BUT this one I do.  It was September 11, 2001.  I was teaching in the Dominican Republic.  We received mail once a week, on Tuesdays.  The pilots who brought us our mail had to stay in the Dominican Republic because flights were cancelled.  I remember receiving this book on suffering from my brother-in-law on one of the biggest days of suffering in my lifetime.  Seeing the news stories.  Wondering what was happening.  We taught students from all over the world.  The Dominican Republic, South Korea, Germany, Italy and Canada.  Many of them came to school to let us know that they loved us and our country and they wanted to help us if needed.  It was hard to process everything going on, especially being outside of the United States but God used this book of biographies to help me think through suffering and God's glory.

2005.
Spring ahead about four years.  Christmas, 2005.  The mercury fire at Emmanuel Christian School.  A couple of students vandalized the school where I taught.  This resulted in a fire that "mercurized" - a word made up by that year's senior class - the high school.  Krista and I lived in a small apartment so I had all of my books including my FIRST gift copy of The Hidden Smile of God in my classroom.  My books were in my classroom with no obvious damage but they were "mercurized."  Unusable.  I saw all of my books and other classroom things on a video but would not be able to have any of it.  I lost my September 11th copy of The Hidden Smile of God along with so many other precious items like a file of encouraging notes from friends and family.  What was especially hard was there were many notes from a good friend of ours in the Dominican Republic - Heidi Goodbar, a creative, artistic, encouraging co-teacher who died from cancer.

Someone suggested that I write Desiring God about the fire and losing several books, including The Hidden Smile of God.  I did and they blessed me by sending me the books I lost in the fire along with a couple of other books.  So I received my SECOND copy of the book.  It was not signed by my brother-in-law and it wasn't received on the day of a national tragedy.  Another blessing during this time was watching Bob Flamm, the teachers and the students work together that second semester to finish the year well despite very challenging circumstances.

2016.
As I think about my SECOND copy of The Hidden Smile of God and as I think about Jim Soss, Lyle Fortney, Heidi Goodbar, and many others who have suffered or are suffering through the circumstances of life, I am so thankful for the Hidden Smile of God, not Piper's book but rather God's providence written about in William Cowper's hymn "God moves in a mysterious way."

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm.

Deep in unfathomable mines
Of never failing skill
He treasures up His bright designs
And works His sovereign will. 

Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
The clouds ye so much dread
Are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head. 

Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence
He hides a smiling face. 

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour;
The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower. 

Blind unbelief is sure to err
And scan His work in vain;
God is His own interpreter,
And He will make it plain.

For more about William Cowper's life read The Hidden Smile of God or at least read Tim Challies' article about William Cowper.

I am so thankful that God's glory is made known to me...

in His Word.

in His Son.

in the testimony of Godly men and women.

through Bible-based, God-glorifying books and 

in the circumstances of life.

Camp is Great! Church is Better!!

I want to thank those who have been praying for my time here at Camp Patmos.

Last week I spoke to over 60 Junior campers (4th - 6th graders).  We sent a group of 11 campers to this camp.  This week I am speaking to over 50 middle schoolers.  This week has been a special blessing because many of the Junior campers from my last 3 years of speaking are here.

An extra blessing has been getting to know the Patmos staff better this second week.  It has been energizing being around a group of young men and women who are passionate about serving the Lord not only at camp but in their lives and careers.

Please pray for the staff here at Camp Patmos and other Christian camps like Lake Ann as they finish up their summer camping season.

Pray for the kids who made decisions at camp!  Pray they would grow closer and closer to God.
I have been encouraging the campers during both weeks to get plugged into a church because a week is not enough!

As I finish up two great weeks here, I want to let everyone know that I am very thankful for those who serve at Emmanuel Baptist Church week in and week out.  While exciting summer camps are awesome.  "The church exists for nothing else but to draw men into Christ."I love having the opportunity to speak truth into campers' lives for a week.
Even more so, I love being part of the church's weekly, even daily, ministry in the lives of individuals and families.

Mainland Resources

More resources will be posted on this page.  Be sure to check back.
Power points and other specific resources will be posted by August 1st.

Posts about July 18 - 23 Junior Chapels.  Click HERE

Devotionals:

Online:  Key for Kids.  Click HERE

Book:  Jesus Storybook Bible.  Click HERE
Church related online articles for parents:

Why going to church does not make you a Christian.  Click HERE

Three Reasons to attend church.  Click HERE 
Youtube videos of some songs we did:

Psalm 34:10 

My Lighthouse 

Lay Me Down 

God's Good is better than Our Good!

Originally posted at ekidzministry.com

Tonight (Thursday) was a great night on Kelley’s Island @ Camp Patmos!!

We went to the sandy beach with the campers and ate walking tacos.

Krista, Jadyn and I went out on the banana boat.

A couple of counselors shared some great stories about how God is working in their campers lives.

I have the opportunity to preach two messages from God’s Word to the campers!

The BIG IDEA from this mornings message was “Sin affects the entire world.”

The BIG WORD was covenant.

The Bible stories were Noah and the Flood & the Tower of Babel.

The BIG IDEA from this evening’s message was “Life with Christ in this world is a fight but we have won battle.”

The BIG WORD was persevere.

The Bible passage was the Armor of God and Ephesians 6.

Especially throughout the evening message I wanted to remind the campers and staff that
God’s Good is better than Our Good.

God’s plan is so much better than my plan.

Tomorrow morning’s message is meant to challenge and help the campers grow in their relationship with God after they leave the island!

Tomorrow night I am going to be speaking to the junior campers and middle school campers about Treasuring Christ!

Please continue to pray for the campers.  Pray they would put into action what they hear.

God's Good is better than Our Good!

Tonight (Thursday) was a great night on Kelley's Island @ Camp Patmos!!

We went to the sandy beach with the campers and ate walking tacos.

Krista, Jadyn and I went out on the banana boat.

A couple of counselors shared some great stories about how God is working in their campers lives.

I have the opportunity to preach two messages from God's Word to the campers!

The BIG IDEA from this mornings message was "Sin affects the entire world." 

The BIG WORD was covenant.

The Bible stories were Noah and the Flood & the Tower of Babel.

The BIG IDEA from this evening's message was "Life with Christ in this world is a fight but we have won battle."

The BIG WORD was persevere.

The Bible passage was the Armor of God and Ephesians 6.

Especially throughout the evening message I wanted to remind the campers and staff that
God's Good is better than Our Good.  

God's plan is so much better than my plan.

Tomorrow morning's message is meant to challenge and help the campers grow in their relationship with God after they leave the island!

Tomorrow night I am going to be speaking to the junior campers and middle school campers about Treasuring Christ!

Please continue to pray for the campers.  Pray they would put into action what they hear.

BIG IDEAS, BIG WORDS and BIG TRUTHS!!

Each chapel session has a BIG IDEA, a summary statement of that message and

a BIG WORD that kids need to remember.  

They also have been reminded several times of 10 BIG TRUTHS we all need to know and remember.  Here they are...

1. God is sovereign.  He is the boss!
2. God created people for His glory.
3. God is holy and righteous.
4. Man is sinful.
5. God is just and right to punish.
6. God is merciful.
7. Jesus is God's righteous Son.
8. God put the punishment of sinners on Jesus.
9. God offers the free gift of salvation to those who repent and believe in Jesus.
10. Those who trust in Jesus will live for Him.

These big truths were taken from a seminar entitled Presenting the Gospel to Children.  You can listen to the seminar and get the notes on each of these truths by clicking HERE

More than a Great Experience!

As many of you know I (Pastor Dave) am speaking at Camp Patmos during Junior week.  Our high school and middle school are also at Lake Ann.  (You can see pictures on the church facebook page).

Tonight’s message was a challenging one for me to preach because there was so much I wanted to say.  Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday morning’s message focused on what sin and salvation are and how we are saved.  Tonight’s message focused on how we live in response to what God has done. 
In speaking at a kid’s camp setting like this there are so many things I want to challenge them with and remind them off.  The most important reminder is that you cannot live the life God has called you to live without Jesus Christ.

In so many situations in this life, it is so easy to get caught up in emotions.  A summer camp, a great sermon, a mission trip, a concert or a great Bible study.  These experiences are only mile markers in our journey.  They are not the destination.

It is my prayer, and I would love for you to join me in praying, that the kids who are here at Camp Patmos hearing me preach and those at Lake Ann would realize camp is not what we long for.  We need to desire God more than any experience.  Tonight as I was preaching in chapel I was reminded that each and every person in that room including me needs to grow closer and closer to God.   

God is Just and God is Merciful therefore...

God is just and God is merciful.
Therefore, we need to repent of our sin and trust in Jesus.

Tuesday was sin impacts our relationship with God and the Gospel restores our relationship with God.

Wednesday was sin impacts our relationship with others and the Gospel shows us and gives us the power to love others as God loved us.  

Tomorrow is sin has impacted this whole world.
In the morning we will be looking at the Flood (Genesis 6-9) and the Tower of Babel (Genesis 11).  These messages show that

• men and women have sin problem.
• God punishes sin.
• God is also merciful.

In the evening will be looking at the armor of God and how those who believe in Christ persevere and have hope despite the sin and circumstances of this life.

Great Problem and a Greater Savior!!

We had a great first day at Camp Patmos!!
Each chapel we are going to look at a BIG IDEA and SOME BIG WORDS!     

I have the privilege to preach this week at the Junior (elementary age) camper @ Camp Patmos.

I will be preaching 8 times this week to junior campers and 8 times next week to middle school campers.  I want to use this page to help parents and others know the great truths we are learning this week.

If you want to see awesome pictures from the week, check out the Camp Patmos facebook page.

Monday's BIG IDEA was "God has a plan"

We also had several BIG WORDS that introduced the theme of the Bible and the truth of the Gospel.

Tonight's words were Condemnation, Redemption, Reconciliation, Adoption, Salvation, Disruption and Predestination.  Many of these words will be developed throughout the week.

We are all sinners in desperate need of a Savior.  (Condemnation)

God paid our ransom through the blood of Jesus Christ.  (Redemption)

Those who trust in Jesus Christ are made right with God.  (Reconciliation)

When we are saved we become children of God with our the benefits of being part of His family.  (Adoption)

The curse of sin no longer has a hold on those who are God's children.  (Salvation)

According to Romans 8:29, God has an eternal plan to make His own children like the Lord Jesus Christ.  (Predestination)

Tuesday's message focus on our relationship with God!

Tuesday morning's BIG IDEA is "sin affects man's personal relationship with God."

The BIG WORD is CONDEMNATION.

We are going to be looking at Genesis 3:1-12

Tuesday evenings's BIG IDEA is "Our sin is a big problem BUT Jesus a big savior"

The BIG WORD is JUSTIFICATION.

We are going to be looking at one of my favorite passages of scripture - Ephesians 2.

Please pray for a meaningful preaching event on July 3

Here is an honest, personal post I am writing in the midst of my preparation for Sunday's sermon (07.03.16).




This Sunday morning, I have the privilege to preach at Emmanuel Baptist Church.
Pastor Duke is away and I have a rare opportunity to preach to the entire church at EBC.
Here are two problems with preaching this upcoming Sunday...
1)  It is 4th of July weekend some might be away.
2)  It is the week after Pastor Duke's great sermon 1 Timothy 2:5, 6.  Pastor Duke does a awesome job of preaching the Word each Sunday.  It is a challenge filling the pulpit especially after such an awesome sermon on Killing Sin!  Click HERE to hear this sermon

Here are two reminders that have been an encouragement to me while preparing.
1)  God is sovereign.  He knows what weekend it is and He knows who is going to be at church on Sunday.
2)  God's word is powerful.  The main reason Pastor Duke's sermon was great is because it was based on the truth of what God's word says about the Gospel and man's sinfulness.

In the first 12 minutes of THIS SERMON, Alistair Begg summarizes what I have been trying to teach, model and demonstrate in EBC's Soul Care, EKIDZ ministry and my life
and
what I desire to communicate this Sunday morning - We need to treasure Christ!

I am really praying for "a meaningful preaching event."  Here is how Begg describes "a meaningful preaching event."

For a meaningful preaching event you need an expectant praying preacher and you need an expectant praying congregation and when the expectations meet at the throne of grace whereby both preacher and listeners are looking to God rather than looking to one another.  Then suddenly there is a divine chemistry and everyone is surprised. 

The preacher says listen and they listen. 

Children pay attention. 

They don't get it all but they get some of it. 

People are going home and the children are saying "I learned this" and the parents are saying "I can't believe you learned that." 

They didn't get the whole sermon but they got enough. 

They knew God was there. 

They knew the Bible was important. 

They knew their mom and dad were supposed to be learning the Bible so they could teach them the Bible.

It is my prayer that I will passionately preach our need to treasure Jesus Christ and help the congregation understand how to treasure Jesus Christ.

It is my prayer that each of us would treasure Jesus Christ more and we would help others treasure Him!

Dads, Write in Your Bible & Demonstrate Generosity

Dads, write in your Bible!  
This article, www.desiringgod.org/articles/dads-write-in-your-bible, challenges dads to write in their Bible with the purpose of sharing this Bible with their children.  I recently started doing this and it has been great thinking about Bible verses I want them to remind them of.

"We read the Bible not just for ourselves, but for our families, for our friends, for our community. We know that God doesn’t transform his people into dead-ends, but into rivers of living water. Deciding on a route and digging in on that resolve has more in view than our own souls. This is especially true for dads."

Dads, demonstrate generosity and provide opportunities for your children to demonstrate generosity!

I want to suggest to very practical, very specific ways you can do this this.
Demonstrate generosity by donating to the The Daughter Project this Father's Day (Father's Day for The Daughter Project - #fd4tdp).  HERE is a post about talking to your children about Human Trafficking.  At Emmanuel Baptist Church, we are continuing our Father's Day for the Daughter Project gift.  A donation to the Daughter will be made in honor of the fathers at EBC.
Provide opportunities to demonstrate generosity by helping your kids find ways to earn money that they will give to this year's special Sonshine offering.  Don't just give them money to drop in the bucket.  Make them work for what they intend to give.  This INTENTIONAL GIVING is so much more helpful than begging for a few coins before they head into church.

Remember parents you are the primary disciple maker in your child's life.

In the Midst of Trouble - Psalm 86:5-7

This week's Fighter Verse is Psalm 86:5 - 7.

As you prayerfully read these verses notice
how the writer begins these verses,
how the writer talks about trouble and
how the writer ends the Psalm.

For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you

Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.

In the day of my trouble, I call upon you, for you answer me. –

It starts with who God is! (verse 5)
Trouble provides an opportunity to call out to God (6, 7a)
It ends with what God does! (7b)

Let's pray in a way that
REMINDS us of who God is.
DEPENDS upon God not delivery from circumstances.
CONCLUDES with the truth that God is working!
God-honoring, Biblically-centered prayers help us rest in the One who is worthy of praise and has revealed Himself to us in His Word.
Consider this Paul Miller quote  "Learning to Pray doesn't offer us a less busy life.  It offers us a less busy heart."
You can read this week's Fighter Verse devotional at www.fighterverses.com

Down from the Mountaintop!

Down from the mountaintop of Fairview Baptist Bible College.
Great week of class.  I was especially encouraged today and last night listening to the students talk about how they want to make disciples and help their churches make disciples.

We had lunch at Caleb & Charity Gibbs’ house in Montego Bay today.  It is a great way to end the week.

I found a great resource to share with the students in the book Biblical Counseling and the Church: God’s Care through God’s People.  There is a chapter on starting a Bilblical Counseling in a small church (under 100 people).
Randy Patten writes about 4 passage that should motivate disciple-making/Biblical counseling in any church.  These 4 passages are:.

• Matthew 28:18-20:  We are empowered and commanded to make disciples.
• Ephesians 4:11-14:  God has provided pastors to equip people to make disciples.
• Colossians 1:28-29:  With Christ’s power, we need to proclaim Christ so people will grow into the image of Christ.
• 2 Timothy 2:2:  Pastors are to training pastors who will train pastors.

I am thankful for the opportunity to teach these and other Biblical truth at FBBC.

I am also thankful that I am at a church that believes and observes these truths.

Down from the mountain top!

Down from the mountaintop of Fairview Baptist Bible College. Great week of class.  I was especially encouraged today and last night listening to the students talk about how they want to make disciples and help their churches make disciples.

We had lunch at Caleb & Charity Gibbs' house in Montego Bay today.
It was a great way to end the week.



I found a great resource to share with the students in the book Biblical Counseling and the Church: God's Care through God's People. 
There is a chapter on starting a Bilblical Counseling in a small church (under 100 people).

Randy Patten writes about 4 passage that should motivate disciple-making/Biblical counseling in any church.  These 4 passages are:.

• Matthew 28:18-20:  We are empowered and commanded to make disciples.
• Ephesians 4:11-14:  God has provided pastors to equip people to make disciples.
• Colossians 1:28-29:  With Christ's power, we need to proclaim Christ so people will grow into the image of Christ.
• 2 Timothy 2:2:  Pastors are to training pastors who will train pastors.

I am thankful for the opportunity to teach these and other Biblical truth at FBBC. I am also thankful that I am at a church that believes and observes these truths.

Jamaica: Inconsistent & Consistent

I have finished up 3 days of teaching at Fairview Baptist Bible College.
Two more days of classes.  Today (Thursday) is a full day of teaching.
8:00 am to 12:45 pm and then 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

For those who don't know I am teaching a course entitled Biblical Counseling in the Local Church.
It has been a good work in class.
I would have liked to do more updating but the internet connection has been inconsistent.

One prayer request I shared with some people before coming down was pray that the class material would be relevant to the Jamaican students and churches.
From the student feedback that prayer seems to have been answered.

The heavy rain every afternoon has been very consistent.


One of the verses we have been using throughout the week has been Matthew 28:18-20.

Family Devotion Failure and of all the days it was today!!

I was going to post some family worship ideas/thoughts yesterday.


At first, I was disappointed that I didn't get a chance to post but this morning I realized God had more He wanted me to learn before posting.


This past Sunday EKIDZ lesson was "God preserves the Israelites in the wilderness." ekidzministry.blogspot.com/2016/05/teacher-resource-god-preserves-israel.html
Our good, loving God provided in amazing ways for the Israelites despite their complaining.

The Israelites complained against God when they were thirsty (15:24).
Still, God made undrinkable water drinkable (15:25).

The Israelites complained against God when they were hungry (16:1-2).
Still, God provided manna and quail (16:12).

The Israelites complained when they were thirsty again (17:2).
Still, God provided water from a rock (17:8).

Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we had some good times of family worship.
On Tuesday, I even shared with the kids a great section of the Gospel Primer that was connected with that day's devotional.

Every time  I deliberately disobey a command of God, it is because I am in that moment doubtful as to God’s true intentions in giving me that command. Does He really have my best interests at heart? Or is He withholding something from me that I would be better off having?  Such questions, whether consciously asked or not, lie underneath every act of disobedience.

Each of these days we did the devotionals from the Generation of Grace Family Devotional Guide.  

We prayed and then sent the kids off.

IT WAS AWESOME!!!  

And then this morning. 
I don't need to go into the gory details but let me just say this Thursday morning was no Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday morning.  NOT EVEN CLOSE!!!!

We did NOTHING for family devotions.  Not. A. Single. Thing.
The kids almost missed their ride to school.  

After they left, I told Krista I had really wanted to do today's Family Devotion with them.
After all, it was the Gospel Connection!
First three days - God is a great provider.
Fourth day - Thursday - this morning - of all the mornings - Jesus provides living water.  John 4:7 - 15.  The water Jesus offered the woman at the well was so much better than the miraculous water from the rock.

But not this morning!!!

And to make matters "worse" I was the elementary chapel speaker this morning.
The living water devotional coupled with what I was talking about in chapel was going to be a great one-two Gospel combination for my kids and for me.

But not today!!!  Of all the days to have a Family Devotions Failure

This morning God wanted to teach me something so much different than my planned one-two combination.  This morning God helped me realize a couple of important truths...

• It is not about the perfectly planned presentation.  It is about faithfulness and consistency, even on those CRAZY hair pulling mornings.  The kids knew that Krista and I had planned to do devotions with them.  I will talk with them about what needs to be different in the mornings.  The reality is families have mornings like this.  
• I have to make the most of the opportunities that God does provide and not let what seems like missed opportunities take my eyes off of the One who truly does the work.  Despite the bad morning.  I think the chapel message was clear.
• This is just another long list of personal reminders that family worship is difficult but it is worth it.  HERE is an "encouraging" article entitled "Stumbling through Family Faith Talks for the Glory of God."  

These talks don't always go as planned.  O.K. to be honest more than "don't always go as planned."  BUT sharing the life-changing truths of the Gospel with my family, the ones God has entrusted to me, is more important than my ease and comfort.

As a pastor, I want to help the families at Emmanuel Baptist Church, understand the importance of and some basic way to do family devotions.  This is the purpose of this blog.  If you have questions leave in the comment section below or go to www.emmanuelbaptist.com/email/

The Symbol of the Body and Blood of Christ!

Below are my notes from Sunday's nights service @ebctoledo 

This is my family.

Actually, it is not my family it is a picture of my family.

This is the United States of America.

Actually it  is not the United States of America it is the US flag

Actually, it is not the US flag.  It is a picture of the US flag.

The United States flag is a symbol for something much bigger than the fabric blowing in the wind. 

That is why we have an organization come by to dispose of flags that are tattered.
That is why we are to treat flags with respect.

Symbols represent something else.. 

In most cases the symbol represents something much bigger than the symbol.

Tonight is a night of symbols. 

Baptism is a public profession of what God has done for someone who has trust in Jesus. 
In salvation, the believer has died to sin and been raised to life in Christ Jesus. 

The act of baptism does not save.  Jesus saves.

Baptism is a one time proclamation of what Jesus has done.

Communion is a symbol of what God has done.  We are commanded in his word to celebrate in regularly.

I want each of us to consider 3 questions as we prepare to celebrate it.

What is communion?

Let’s read Luke 22:14—20

Here at the Last Supper Jesus is teaching his disciples that He is the fulfillment of the Passover Lamb.

1 Corinthians 5:7 says “Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed.”

Last week’s EKIDZ lesson was the 10th plague.  The Passover.

The Passover was a family a special time the Israelites used to remember how God protected the Israelites during the 10th plague in Egypt.

Unleavened bread and blood on the door post.

Could you imagine a Jewish family preparing for Passover?

Kids, how many of you like to ask questions?  Parents

I bet children would ask their parents what they were doing and why they were doing it.

This would give parents a great opportunity to talk with their kids

Communion is not magical.

Communion is serious and it is a celebration.

Communion is memorial meant to be done in a community.  In the church.

Why do we take Communion?

1 Corinthians 11:26 says that

“as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.”

Our taking communion in no way, shape or form

earns salvation.

Our taking communion helps us remember how God show his love for us while we were sinners. 

If you are trusting in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior

You know that His death is not like any other death

in all of history. 

I grew up in a little town
Used to sing in the old church house
There in the pew where I used to hide
Learned the story about the man who died

Well I was sure I heard that He got back up
But as we broke the bread and drank the cup
Seemed the faces told another tale
They were as dry as the bread was stale

Did I miss something? Was I not supposed to cry?
Did they hear preacher, "Jesus is alive"?

If this is true, this changes everything
If this is real, I've got to tell the world
If He is God, then I've got choice to make
If I believe, then I must follow Him

How do we take communion?

1 Corinthians 10:31

“So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

We take Communion as we should do everything.

For the glory of God.

Don’t become too familiar with Communion

Parents, here are a couple of questions to ask about communion:

Have they given a convincing profession of faith in Jesus

· Are they showing fruit and evidence of conversion through obedience to and love for Jesus?

· Do they understand and can they articulate the

significance of communion?