2009 is quickly coming to a close. 2010 lies ahead of us, waiting patiently for the dawn of January 1st. We have experienced many changes in 2009 at St. Andrews Road. We have grown and will continue to grow in number, in grace, in love, in fellowship, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as we are nourished by the word of God (Matthew 4:4), as we put into practice what we are taught (James 1:22), and as we wait patiently on God to fulfill His promises (Galatians 6:9-10).
Paul wrote to the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 3:6 concerning growth. “I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.” Indeed God has answered our prayers with a harvest of new brothers and sisters in Christ. Just this past Sunday evening God blessed the church with three new members. Tammy Badgett made the good confession that was baptized into Christ. Her finance’ Steve Hawn also decided to commit his life to Christ and be baptized. Their wedding is planned for this month. Please make sure you meet them and let them know how happy we are to have them with us at St. Andrews Road. We also welcome Angela Davis, Hannibal Davis’ mom to the church at St. Andrews Road. Sister Davis has been worshiping with us for several weeks and just this week decided to work under the oversight of our elders.
This has been a challenging year financially for some of our families. A few of our brothers and sisters lost their jobs this year. Some of them are working again. Others are still prayerfully and patiently waiting for work. Even in these troublesome times we have met all our financial obligations and have exceeded our budget for the year. God is good to us. To Him we give all glory, honor, and praise for the rich blessings that we enjoy.
Take a look around our facilities. Walk into the auditorium and you will see new updates. Walk through the lobby and see the new paint. Walk into our restrooms and note the positive changes. God has blessed us.
The renovations to our classrooms, offices, and fellowship hall, as well as our halls, restrooms and conference rooms continue and will be completed in just a few short weeks. God continues to bless us as we labor together in harmony and unity in His name. May we always put His kingdom and His righteousness first in our lives! Jesus said that when we put first things first “all these things will be added to us” (Matthew 6:33).
Our Sunday morning sermon series “About Our Father’s Business” continues this Sunday. Jesus was always about His Father’s business. His mission was to preach, serve, live, die, and rise again so that the whole world could be saved by grace through faith. He lived to honor His Father. He brought glory to His Father by fulfilling His Father’s will. He finished the work that His Father gave Him to do (John 17:1-5). Think about it. Jesus “business” was and is people. His Father’s business is “people.” We too must be about people: our family and friends, the saved and the lost, the thirsty, the hungry, the naked, the stranger, the sick, and those in prison, even our enemies. If you would like to read ahead, read Luke 4:14-21.
This Sunday evening we will look at “Understanding Growth.” Balance is vital to our growth. A positive mental attitude is also a key to understanding growth. Every action is influenced by the way the think. We must not allow circumstances, people, things, or feelings to direct our thinking. Our thinking and then our decisions are influenced and directed by God’s word.
I look forward to sharing these lessons from the word of God with you.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
December! Can you believe it? Christmas in 20 days! Happy New Year 2010 in just 26 days! This is a time for evaluation, consideration, administration, and then demonstration. Take a look at yourself. How have you lived your life? The past is filled with ups and downs, positives and negatives, wins and losses, good decisions and decisions that we regret, righteousness and sin. What lessons have you learned from the past? The lessons you have learned will serve you well in living today, tomorrow, and into the future. How are you living your life today? How will you live your life tomorrow and into the coming year? Decide to live with a view of eternity.
“The Preacher” (Solomon) wrote in Ecclesiastes 11:9-10;
”Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity.”
He wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 concerning life and living;
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:1;
“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
He wrote in the same chapter, verses 15 and 16;
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
This Sunday morning we will continue in our sermon series entitled “About Our Father’s Business.” We will once again look to Jesus to show us just how we must live our lives every day about our Father’s business. If you would like to read ahead, read John 17:1-5. Jesus glorified His Father. What does it mean to glorify our Father? Who should? Why should we? How can we? Where do we? We will look to the Scriptures to answer these questions.
On Sunday evening the theme for our study is “Understanding Growth.” We have found that growth is natural and is the result of proper nutrition (Matthew 4:4), reasonable exercise (James 1:22), and time (Galatians 6:9). We have also found that growth is good (Matthew 4:4). It is of God (1 Corinthians 3:6). It is necessary (John 15:1-3). It is expected (Matthew 25:14-30).
This Sunday evening we will take a look at the importance of BALANCE when it comes to growth. Jesus experienced balanced growth. The New Testament church was balanced in their growth. Our purpose and desire for ourselves, for our children, and for everyone is that we all grow in wisdom (mentally) and stature (physically) and in favor with God (spiritually) and men (socially). It could be that you know someone who is not balanced in their growth. Consider someone growing physically but not mentally? I had a cousin who had a terrible virus when he was very young. This affected his mind for the rest of his life. He grew physically. He loved everyone. He loved going to church. But… Just think of a fifty year old man with the mind of a two year old. My great aunt had a tough time. Now think of a church that is huge when it comes to the number in attendance but yet cannot tell you why they do what they do or believe what they believe. I look forward to our study together.
“The Preacher” (Solomon) wrote in Ecclesiastes 11:9-10;
”Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment. Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh, for childhood and youth are vanity.”
He wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 concerning life and living;
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.”
The apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 5:1;
“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering for a sweet-smelling aroma.”
He wrote in the same chapter, verses 15 and 16;
“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
This Sunday morning we will continue in our sermon series entitled “About Our Father’s Business.” We will once again look to Jesus to show us just how we must live our lives every day about our Father’s business. If you would like to read ahead, read John 17:1-5. Jesus glorified His Father. What does it mean to glorify our Father? Who should? Why should we? How can we? Where do we? We will look to the Scriptures to answer these questions.
On Sunday evening the theme for our study is “Understanding Growth.” We have found that growth is natural and is the result of proper nutrition (Matthew 4:4), reasonable exercise (James 1:22), and time (Galatians 6:9). We have also found that growth is good (Matthew 4:4). It is of God (1 Corinthians 3:6). It is necessary (John 15:1-3). It is expected (Matthew 25:14-30).
This Sunday evening we will take a look at the importance of BALANCE when it comes to growth. Jesus experienced balanced growth. The New Testament church was balanced in their growth. Our purpose and desire for ourselves, for our children, and for everyone is that we all grow in wisdom (mentally) and stature (physically) and in favor with God (spiritually) and men (socially). It could be that you know someone who is not balanced in their growth. Consider someone growing physically but not mentally? I had a cousin who had a terrible virus when he was very young. This affected his mind for the rest of his life. He grew physically. He loved everyone. He loved going to church. But… Just think of a fifty year old man with the mind of a two year old. My great aunt had a tough time. Now think of a church that is huge when it comes to the number in attendance but yet cannot tell you why they do what they do or believe what they believe. I look forward to our study together.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
God continues to bless us with grace and growth as the old year is quickly coming to a close. Wow! Can you believe that we have less than six weeks left in 2009?
We have finally graduated from demolition to construction in the renovation of our educational/administration wing. As you know Kay and I have not been able to be at the office for the past couple of weeks due to the removal of debris and some hazardous material from the old section of our building. Our elders felt that it much better to be “safe than sorry” when it comes to these matters. I appreciate their wisdom and their thoughtfulness on our behalf. I am sorry that we have not been able to produce our weekly SAR newsletter. If you are like me, I always look forward to receiving the bulletin and reading it from front to back. As you can see, we are now back on track.
Just think. In just a few short weeks the sacrifices that we are making will result in larger updated offices, classrooms that meet the needs of every age group, larger up-to-date restrooms, nice new kitchen facilities, meeting rooms, storage rooms, and halls. Just this week one of the men from the company overseeing our renovations apologized for displacing the office staff. My response to him was this; “I keep my eye on the prize.” I focus not on the disarray of the renovation but on a vision of how beautiful our building will be when the construction is completed. May we all read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 in the light of our current situation!
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working in us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
Wonderful news! As was announced last Sunday, Jeremy (J.P.) Pyle was baptized into Christ on Friday evening, November 13th. What a joy it is to have another new brother in Christ! God is so good to us. May we all be more thankful for our wonderful Christian family at St. Andrews Road!
Our Sunday morning sermon theme for the remainder of the year will be “About Our Father’s Business.” In Luke 2:41-52 we find that Jesus and His family had gone to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. Jesus’ parents started home and had traveled a day’s journey when they discovered that Jesus was not with them. They returned to Jerusalem and found Him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. Jesus’ mother asked Him about why He chose to stay behind and His answered, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
The Bible tells us that Jesus went back home with them and grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Just as Jesus knew that He must be about His Father’s business, so must we be about our Father’s business. We will focus on God’s purpose, His business for us as we close out this old year and look into the new year. What is our Father’s business? We will look at the following:
1. Living our lives every day in thought, word, and action to honor God
2. Studying, preaching, teaching, practicing, and abiding in the truth
3. Focusing on doing good in our everyday lives
4. Believing in…trusting God
5. Actively waiting for Jesus’ return
We have finally graduated from demolition to construction in the renovation of our educational/administration wing. As you know Kay and I have not been able to be at the office for the past couple of weeks due to the removal of debris and some hazardous material from the old section of our building. Our elders felt that it much better to be “safe than sorry” when it comes to these matters. I appreciate their wisdom and their thoughtfulness on our behalf. I am sorry that we have not been able to produce our weekly SAR newsletter. If you are like me, I always look forward to receiving the bulletin and reading it from front to back. As you can see, we are now back on track.
Just think. In just a few short weeks the sacrifices that we are making will result in larger updated offices, classrooms that meet the needs of every age group, larger up-to-date restrooms, nice new kitchen facilities, meeting rooms, storage rooms, and halls. Just this week one of the men from the company overseeing our renovations apologized for displacing the office staff. My response to him was this; “I keep my eye on the prize.” I focus not on the disarray of the renovation but on a vision of how beautiful our building will be when the construction is completed. May we all read 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 in the light of our current situation!
“Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working in us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
Wonderful news! As was announced last Sunday, Jeremy (J.P.) Pyle was baptized into Christ on Friday evening, November 13th. What a joy it is to have another new brother in Christ! God is so good to us. May we all be more thankful for our wonderful Christian family at St. Andrews Road!
Our Sunday morning sermon theme for the remainder of the year will be “About Our Father’s Business.” In Luke 2:41-52 we find that Jesus and His family had gone to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast. Jesus’ parents started home and had traveled a day’s journey when they discovered that Jesus was not with them. They returned to Jerusalem and found Him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. Jesus’ mother asked Him about why He chose to stay behind and His answered, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”
The Bible tells us that Jesus went back home with them and grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Just as Jesus knew that He must be about His Father’s business, so must we be about our Father’s business. We will focus on God’s purpose, His business for us as we close out this old year and look into the new year. What is our Father’s business? We will look at the following:
1. Living our lives every day in thought, word, and action to honor God
2. Studying, preaching, teaching, practicing, and abiding in the truth
3. Focusing on doing good in our everyday lives
4. Believing in…trusting God
5. Actively waiting for Jesus’ return
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Can you believe it? Sunday is November 1st. Don’t forget to set your clocks back one hour for the end of Daylight Saving Time on Saturday, October 31st. I do enjoy this time of the year and look forward to the holidays.
This coming Sunday morning, we will continue in our series “The Way of the Cross.” As we begin our journey on the way of the cross, we must have courage, reason, obedience, sacrifice, and sincerity. As we journey, what can we expect to experience? Can you remember? C_____________, R_____________, O______________, S______________, S_______________. Our lesson this week will focus on the end of our journey on the way of the cross that leads home. What will we find? If you would like to read ahead, read John 14:1-6 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Heaven will surely be worth it all!
On Sunday evening we will once again consider the greatest invitation ever extended. Jesus simply said in Matthew 11:28: “Come to Me.” We have looked at Jesus’ invitation to come to Him for help. We have looked at His invitation to come to Him for hope. This Sunday evening, we will look at His invitation to come to Him for healing. I hope we all will be challenged and encouraged to accept this great invitation. Read Matthew 11:28-30 and Mark 2:13-17.
Let me remind you of a couple of exciting meetings that are scheduled for November.
I will be preaching about the blessed assurance we have in Christ at the church of Christ at Windsor Lake on Sunday, November 1st, at 3:00 p.m. We will be taking the van and plan to leave the church parking lot at 2:15 p.m. Please sign up on the sheet in the lobby if you plan on riding with us.
Stacy Ferguson will be with us on Sunday, November 8th, to share the good news from the Pacific Islands. Brother Ferguson works full time with Robert Martin in the Pacific Islands Bible College. He and his wife, Kathy, are missionaries to the Pacific Islands. It will be a great to hear about how our fellow Christian brothers and sisters are doing on the other side of the world.
Please remember Cindi and me in your prayers. We will be traveling to Lady Lake, Florida, on Saturday, November 7th, where I will be preaching the gospel in the church of Christ at the Villages on Sunday, the 8th through Wednesday, the 11th. We plan to return to Columbia on Thursday, the 12th, Lord willing. May God bless us all as we take advantage of every opportunity we have to show and share the gospel of Christ.
The renovation to our facilities is moving along according to schedule. A special thanks to brothers Jerry Satterfield and Don Richbourg. They will be at the building on a daily basis to make sure everything goes according to the plans. For the next few days until further notice, we have been asked to enter and exit through the main entrance. If you are coming by the office, please give us a call. Thank you for your patience, your generosity, and your support during the renovation process. It is amazing how much work has already been accomplished in just a few days of work.
Congratulations to our new brother in Christ, David Goza. David has been meeting with us for the past few weeks. He made the most important decision of his life this past Sunday morning when he made that good confession and then put on Christ in baptism. He is now a Christian.
Have you been thinking about becoming a Christian? Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? Are you tired of sin and its power over you? Then accept Jesus’ invitation. Believe, Repent, Confess, Be baptized. Rejoice!
This coming Sunday morning, we will continue in our series “The Way of the Cross.” As we begin our journey on the way of the cross, we must have courage, reason, obedience, sacrifice, and sincerity. As we journey, what can we expect to experience? Can you remember? C_____________, R_____________, O______________, S______________, S_______________. Our lesson this week will focus on the end of our journey on the way of the cross that leads home. What will we find? If you would like to read ahead, read John 14:1-6 and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. Heaven will surely be worth it all!
On Sunday evening we will once again consider the greatest invitation ever extended. Jesus simply said in Matthew 11:28: “Come to Me.” We have looked at Jesus’ invitation to come to Him for help. We have looked at His invitation to come to Him for hope. This Sunday evening, we will look at His invitation to come to Him for healing. I hope we all will be challenged and encouraged to accept this great invitation. Read Matthew 11:28-30 and Mark 2:13-17.
Let me remind you of a couple of exciting meetings that are scheduled for November.
I will be preaching about the blessed assurance we have in Christ at the church of Christ at Windsor Lake on Sunday, November 1st, at 3:00 p.m. We will be taking the van and plan to leave the church parking lot at 2:15 p.m. Please sign up on the sheet in the lobby if you plan on riding with us.
Stacy Ferguson will be with us on Sunday, November 8th, to share the good news from the Pacific Islands. Brother Ferguson works full time with Robert Martin in the Pacific Islands Bible College. He and his wife, Kathy, are missionaries to the Pacific Islands. It will be a great to hear about how our fellow Christian brothers and sisters are doing on the other side of the world.
Please remember Cindi and me in your prayers. We will be traveling to Lady Lake, Florida, on Saturday, November 7th, where I will be preaching the gospel in the church of Christ at the Villages on Sunday, the 8th through Wednesday, the 11th. We plan to return to Columbia on Thursday, the 12th, Lord willing. May God bless us all as we take advantage of every opportunity we have to show and share the gospel of Christ.
The renovation to our facilities is moving along according to schedule. A special thanks to brothers Jerry Satterfield and Don Richbourg. They will be at the building on a daily basis to make sure everything goes according to the plans. For the next few days until further notice, we have been asked to enter and exit through the main entrance. If you are coming by the office, please give us a call. Thank you for your patience, your generosity, and your support during the renovation process. It is amazing how much work has already been accomplished in just a few days of work.
Congratulations to our new brother in Christ, David Goza. David has been meeting with us for the past few weeks. He made the most important decision of his life this past Sunday morning when he made that good confession and then put on Christ in baptism. He is now a Christian.
Have you been thinking about becoming a Christian? Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God? Are you tired of sin and its power over you? Then accept Jesus’ invitation. Believe, Repent, Confess, Be baptized. Rejoice!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
It is good to write to you again after being out of town for a few days then coming home to move the church offices to our current temporary location in one of our classrooms. The renovation of our facilities has now begun. The work of the Lord’s church continues in the midst of construction workers, construction equipment, and thoughts of how much God is blessing us. The renovation of our facilities does not hinder our work for Christ. We continue in worship, in prayer and study, in fellowship, in reaching out with the love of Christ to those who are lost, and in providing encouragement and edification to the church. We continue in benevolence, edification, and evangelism. We will not be distracted from our mission. Our elders continue in prayer and the ministry of the word of God. Our deacons continue to fulfill their individual duties for Christ and the church. Your minister continues in prayer, in the study of God’s word, in helpful counsel with those who are in need, and in his daily evangelistic responsibilities. Every member of the church of Christ at St. Andrews Road continues to live the Christian life day by day to honor God assembling together on Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening for worship, study, and fellowship. Our plans are to be in our newly renovated facilities in just three months, Lord willing.
Our sermon series on Sunday morning is entitled “The Way of the Cross.” This past Sunday, we looked at “The Way of the Cross – What is required?” This coming Sunday morning we will consider what we will experience on the way of the cross. If you would like to read ahead, read Galatians 6:11-15.
Remember that the five points of each lesson in this series begins with the letters C-R-O-S-S. Do you remember the points to last Sunday’s lesson?
C _______________
R _______________
O _______________
S _______________
S _______________
Our Sunday evening series is entitled “Come to Jesus for. . .” We all need help. Jesus knows this fact. He promises us that He will help us. He, also, gives us the terms and conditions of His promise of help.
Read Psalm 1 again. Can you see His promises: Blessing, delight, waters of life, fruit, leaves that are not withered, prosperity in all things? Now can you see His terms and conditions? Our counsel must only come from God’s law on which we meditate day and night. We must plant ourselves in Christ. We must bear fruit. We must not wither in our relationship with God.
Read Psalm 23 again. Look for His promises: I shall not want…green pastures, still waters, a soul restored, leadership, companionship, comfort, discipline, protection, provision, acceptance, blessings galore, goodness and mercy every day, heaven forever. Wow! Now look for His conditions. Can you see them? The Lord must be the Shepherd of our lives. We must follow His leadership even into the “valley of the shadow of death.” We must submit to His discipline and to His protection. We must sit at His table.
Even in John 3:15-17, we can see God’s promise and also His conditions. God promises salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. He then conditions that salvation on “whoever believes in Him.” Of course, we know and understand that faith in Jesus Christ is defined in Hebrews 11:6 as believing that He is and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
This Sunday evening we will look at “Come to Jesus for…HOPE.”
Our sermon series on Sunday morning is entitled “The Way of the Cross.” This past Sunday, we looked at “The Way of the Cross – What is required?” This coming Sunday morning we will consider what we will experience on the way of the cross. If you would like to read ahead, read Galatians 6:11-15.
Remember that the five points of each lesson in this series begins with the letters C-R-O-S-S. Do you remember the points to last Sunday’s lesson?
C _______________
R _______________
O _______________
S _______________
S _______________
Our Sunday evening series is entitled “Come to Jesus for. . .” We all need help. Jesus knows this fact. He promises us that He will help us. He, also, gives us the terms and conditions of His promise of help.
Read Psalm 1 again. Can you see His promises: Blessing, delight, waters of life, fruit, leaves that are not withered, prosperity in all things? Now can you see His terms and conditions? Our counsel must only come from God’s law on which we meditate day and night. We must plant ourselves in Christ. We must bear fruit. We must not wither in our relationship with God.
Read Psalm 23 again. Look for His promises: I shall not want…green pastures, still waters, a soul restored, leadership, companionship, comfort, discipline, protection, provision, acceptance, blessings galore, goodness and mercy every day, heaven forever. Wow! Now look for His conditions. Can you see them? The Lord must be the Shepherd of our lives. We must follow His leadership even into the “valley of the shadow of death.” We must submit to His discipline and to His protection. We must sit at His table.
Even in John 3:15-17, we can see God’s promise and also His conditions. God promises salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. He then conditions that salvation on “whoever believes in Him.” Of course, we know and understand that faith in Jesus Christ is defined in Hebrews 11:6 as believing that He is and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
This Sunday evening we will look at “Come to Jesus for…HOPE.”
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