Richard Dawkins on Intelligent Design

In my study on the Bible and extraterrestrials I mentioned this. Here is a short clip.

Bible Reading Schedule

Here is a link to a Read through the Bible in a year. The one I will be putting in the bulletin is:
Old Testament and New Testament

Here is a chronological Bible reading plan.

Christmas party

We had a great time at the Christmas party on Sunday evening. If you were not able to be with us, we missed you. Here are some shots of the hayride and hot cocoa in the park! We rode through the neighborhood singing Christmas hymns and carols.

Merry Christmas!

What about the Shack?

Here is a link to a video that Michael Youssef did in response to the book The Shack.

Michael Youssef on The Shack

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 1 Thessalonians 5:21

Handing out gospel tracts

Here is the tract that we handed out on Sunday afternoon. We had seven great opportunities to share the gospel and handed out a lot of tracts. Take a look:

The New Birth

Here is a link to one of my favorite Christian author's books. It is a short booklet that will bless you if you will take the time to read it. It is not long, and it is very insightful.

The New Birth Explained

Equipping men to lead in discipleship

One of the values of our church is Equipping men to lead in discipleship. You can read a new article that I have written by clicking the link below:

Equipping Men to lead in discipleship

You can know about Jesus and not know Him!

The Gospel

Everyone in the delivery room believes in God

When Kyra, our first daughter, was born I thought to myself, "How could anyone witness the birth of a child and not believe in God?" A new baby is growing in Wendy's womb and our next door neighbors brought home a baby girl on Wednesday. I have been thinking of the miracle of babies. I just read a good article in Acts & Facts magazine about a baby's first breath. You can read it here:

Baby's First Breath

Thank God for the amazing design of his creation!

The Promise

The Promise is a Bible study of the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. As we celebrate this advent season, you might want to focus with your family on the miraculous birth of Jesus Christ. Here is a link to a timely Bible study:

The Promise

Thanksgiving Then and Now

An interesting thing for you to do would be to compare these two Presidential Thanksgiving proclamations:

George Washington
Barak Obama

A Thankful People

Followers of Jesus should be the most thankful people on earth. We are the recipients of the grace of God. We have nothing to boast about and everything to be thankful for. Our God is a gift-giver.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Every good gift we have comes from our loving heavenly Father. We must say with John the Baptist: John 3:27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

A people who achieve are proud and boastful. They talk of their accomplishments and they reward one another for their competitive efforts. The opposite is a thankful people who realize that apart from Christ they can do nothing. The Scriptures instruct us to ask ourselves some questions:

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

Are you different from everyone else? Who made you that way? What do you have that you did not receive? Think of it for a moment. If you are strong and athletic, who made you that way? If you have a keen mind that is good at business, who made you that way? How could we ever boast?

We must thank God for all of the good gifts that he has given to us. We must think of the result of thankful people’s lives. If a poor beggar was given bread by a benevolent man, would the beggar return to his friends and boast of having grown the wheat and made the bread? Only if he is a fool! An honest man would run to his friends and tell them of the generosity of his benefactor. If you and I are beggars that have been given the bread of life in Jesus, what kind of people ought we to be?

Thankful people pray.
Our loving heavenly Father has told us that his ears are open to our prayers. If we receive from his hand, then we must pray and ask God for the things we need.
Matthew 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Thankful people worship.
God the giver of good gifts deserves not only our thanks but also our praise and worship because he alone is worthy. When we worship God, we are joining in the loud cry of praise with the chorus of heaven.
Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Revelation 5:8-9 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.

Thankful people read God’s word.
Think of the horrible tragedy of people taking the gift of God’s precious word for granted. We dare not leave it laying, unread when God has so graciously given us the gift of his wonderful word.
Job 23:12 Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

Thankful people witness.
Because we are the recipient’s of God’s grace in Christ, we can’t help but share the love of Christ with others. Think of a person who knows there is a cure for cancer because they have been cured themselves. They would be sure to tell others of the good news if they knew it could save their lives! You and I have the greatest news ever! We must tell others the old, old story.
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Thankful people gather with Christ’s church.
Jesus Christ has bought us with his precious blood and we have received good gifts from him. All of our brothers and sisters have gifts that we each use to serve one another. Some of those gifts are the pastors and teachers that Christ has given to the church. We continue to benefit from their gifting when we gather together with the people of God.
1 Peter 4:10-11 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Ephesians 4:8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
Ephesians 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers.

Let’s be good stewards of the manifold grace of God and with gratitude in our hearts let’s live as recipients of the good gifts God has given to us. Christ is alive and you and are his! Let’s live as thankful people.

Courageous

Can't wait!



http://www.courageousthemovie.com/

Demographics Changing

Ephesians 5:14-16 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Exalting the Supremacy of Christ

Our value for the week is Exalting the Supremacy of Christ. There is a new article posted on the website under postion papers. You can read the article by clicking here:

Exalting the Supremacy of Christ

Jesus Christ is supreme! Let us exalt his name!

Training Young Men

Men, This is a good message on the purpose of the church to train new elders for the ongoing work of the church. Please take the time to listen to this message.

Who We Are & What We Believe

Last night we discussed the Doctrine of the Holy Scriptures. You can listen to the message here:

The Bible

You can view the verse comparisons here:

Ripped Out of the Bible

You can take the NIV test here:

NIV Test

This is a very important teaching, please take the time to listen and research this issue. Here is another good website for further study:

King James Bible Page

Soulwinning Sunday

Soulwinning Sunday - we had 22 people out witnessing on Sunday night. We had a great presence in the community and had some good opportunites to plant the seeds of the Word of God.

We are losing our children

A group of leaders met Wednesday in Chicago to discuss plans to stop violence among school chidlren. This quote from the Chicago Sun Times:

"But they also said out loud what most of us know intuitively -- the violence won't stop unless kids have responsible and caring adults in their lives. They did not, thankfully, spout the simplistic, destined-to-fail, quick fixes often heard in a crisis -- like calling out the National Guard.
These kids "were victims of a society that has somehow lost its way," Duncan, the former Chicago Public Schools CEO, said during a City Hall news conference. "Somehow, too many of our children have lost faith in the future. They've been denied the love, support and guidance they need -- and have grown up believing that their life isn't worth anything so no one else's life is worth anything either." "

Click here to read article

Amen to the comment that these children are "victims of a society that has somehow lost its way". What shall we do? We must do what Jeremiah told the people to do:

Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

The old paths are to return to the "Old, old story of Jesus and his blood"; the old book that begins: In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth; The old fashioned idea that parents are responsible to bring up their children in the nurture and adomonition of the Lord.

Brothers and sisters, we must pray for the children. We are losing them. A generation is growing up like that in judges:

Judges 2:10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

Children need to see a real, genuine, Bible-believing Christian and meet the real, genuine Jesus. This will NOT happen as a result of CPS's programs. It can only happen when we live the crucified life and let others see and know the love of God.

What shall we do? The majority of people in America are lost and do not know Jesus. They cannot raise children who love the Lord because they do not love the Lord. What shall we do?

1. Loving nurture or own children with grace, Biblical instruction and discipline; lead them to saving faith in Christ using the Holy Scriptures which are able to make our children wise unto salvation.
2. Consistently preach the gospel becasue it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.
3. Consistently disciple new converts so they know all that Jesus has commanded us.
4. Live as a different people in this lost world and stop expecting the government to fix the problems we have. Only Jesus can fix these problems.

Please pray! Shoot me an email and let me know what God is showing you.

Calling

It will not do to say that you have no special call to go to China. With these facts before you and with the command of the Lord Jesus to go and preach the Gospel to every creature, you need rather to ascertain whether you have a special call to stay at home.
J. Hudson Taylor

Emphasizing Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

Our value for the week is Emphazizing Biblical Manhood and Womanhood. In a confused culture what is the difference between a man and a woman? God's Word has the answer. Click here to read the article:

Emphazizing Biblical Manhood and Womanhood

Equipping Men to Lead in Discipleship

Rise up O men of God!

Here is an article written by John Bunyan:

Duties of the Master of a Family

Men, this is not a long article, please take a look!

Scripture Memory Challenge

Open Door Family Fellowship - here is a scripture memory challenge! These are some verses that you can use when sharing your faith. Let's memorize them as a church! Will you take the challenge? Click on the following link to see the verses:

Soul-winning verses

You can also download a MS Word doc on the website.

What Happens When You Die?

Encouraging Holiness

1 Peter 1:15-16 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

What does it mean to be holy as God is holy? Read a new position paper here:

Encouraging Holiness

The Purpose of Power

Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

What is the purpose of the power that the Holy Ghost brings when He comes upon the followers of Jesus in power? The power of the Holy Ghost is power to witness. Why do we focus on so many things that are peripheral? Why do we covet spiritual power if it is not to be witnesses for Jesus Christ?

Empowered by the Holy Spirit

Here is a book chapter from I.M. Haldeman's book "How to Study the Bible". The chapter on the Holy Spirit is WELL worth the read! If it is too small to read, here is a link to another page An Address on the Holy Spirit

William Booth on the Calling to Evangelize

'Not called!' did you say? 'Not heard the call,' I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there. Then look Christ in the face -- whose mercy you have professed to obey -- and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish His mercy to the world. --William Booth

Parable of the Fishless Fishermen

Now it came to pass that a group existed who called themselves fishermen. And lo, there were many fish in the waters all around. In fact, the whole area was surrounded by streams and lakes filled with fish. And the fish were hungry.

Year after year these who called themselves fishermen met in meetings and talked about their call to fish, the abundance of fish, and how they might go about fishing.

Continually they searched for new and better definitions of fishing. They sponsored costly nationwide and worldwide congresses to discuss fishing and to promote fishing and hear about all the ways of fishing.

These fishermen built large, beautiful buildings called "Fishing Headquarters." The plea was that everyone should be a fisherman and every fisherman should fish. One thing they didn't do, however; they didn't fish.

They organized a board to send out fishermen to where there were many fish. The board was formed by those who had the great vision and courage to speak about fishing, to define fishing, and to promote the idea of fishing in far-away streams and lakes where many other fish of different colors lived.

Also the board hired staffs and appointed committees and held many meetings to define fishing, to defend fishing, and to decide what new streams should be thought about. But the staff and committee members did not fish.

Expensive training centers were built to teach fishermen how to fish. Those who taught had doctorates in fishology, but the teachers did not fish. They only taught fishing. Year after year, graduates were sent to do full-time fishing, some to distant waters filled with fish.

Further, the fishermen built large printing houses to publish fishing guides. A speaker's bureau was also provided to schedule special speakers on the subject of fishing.

Many who felt the call to be fishermen responded, and were sent to fish. But like the fishermen back home, they never fished.

Some also said they wanted to be part of the fishing party, but they felt called to furnish fishing equipment. Others felt their job was to relate to the fish in a good way so the fish would know the difference between good and bad fishermen.

After one stirring meeting on "The Necessity for Fishing," a young fellow left the meeting and went fishing. The next day he reported he had caught two outstanding fish. He was honored for his excellent catch and scheduled to visit all the big meetings possible to tell how he did it.

So he quit his fishing in order to have time to tell about the experience to the other fishermen. He was also placed on the Fishermen's General Board as a person having considerable experience.

Now it's true that many of the fishermen sacrificed and put up with all kinds of difficulties. Some lived near the water and bore the smell of dead fish every day. They received the ridicule of some who made fun of their fishermen's clubs and the fact that they claimed to be fishermen yet never fished.

They wondered about those who felt it was of little use to attend the weekly meetings to talk about fishing. After all, were they not following the Master who said, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men?"

Imagine how hurt some were when one day a person suggested that those who didn't catch fish were really not fishermen, no matter how much they claimed to be. Yet it did sound correct. Is a person a fisherman if year after year he never catches a fish?

by: Anonymous

Evangelizing Through the Power of the Gospel

This week we are focusing on the third value:

Evangelizing Through the Power of the Gospel

click the link above to read the article.

The Master Plan of Evangelism

Robert Coleman wrote a GREAT book on how Jesus made disciples. I recommend the book, but here is a summary that is a quick read:

Master Plan

There is a Place Where HE is not Worshipped

If you were not able to be with us on Wednesday or Thursday night, you can watch the video "Hell's Best Kept Secret" here:

Hell's Best Kept Secret

Who are you praying for that does not know Jesus Christ?

Expository Preaching and the Sufficiency of Scripture

There is a new position paper available. It will be on the Position Papers page of the website soon. For now you can view it here:

Expository Preaching and the Sufficiency of Scripture

Gaining the Whole World and Losing our Children

Men, This is a MUST LISTEN TO SERMON!

Machen on Christian Education

"The absence of doctrinal teaching and preaching is certainly one of the causes for the present lamentable ignorance in the church. But a still more influential cause is found in the failure of the most important of all Christian educational institutions. The most important Christian educational institution is not the pulpit or the school, important as these institutions are; but it is the Christian family. And that institution has to a very large extent ceased to do its work. Where did those of us who have reached middle life really get our knowledge of the Bible? I suppose my experience is the same as that of a good many of us. I did not get my knowledge of the Bible from Sunday School or from any other school, but I got it on Sunday afternoons with my mother at home. And I will venture to say that although my mental ability was certainly of no extraordinary kind I had a better knowledge of the Bible at fourteen years of age than is possessed by many students in the theological Seminaries of the present day. Theological students come for the most part from Christian homes; indeed in very considerable proportion they are children of the manse. Yet when they have finished college and enter the theological Seminary many of them are quite ignorant of the simple contents of the English Bible."

J. Gresham Machen (1881-1937)

Men's Meeting

Here is what we will discuss:

6:30 PM - Men 12 years old and up.

Worship Service

We have a meeting place by God's grace!

Sunday, August 23, 2009
10:30 AM

2741 Forest Park (On the corner of Garfield and Forest Park across the street from the Gospel Ministries for Children building.)

Bring your Bible, a prayed up heart attitude and a flexible spirit along with enough food for your family and a little more. We will meet and worship then we will share a fellowship meal.