For the Glory of God
Verse of the Day
“By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” -1 John 3:16
The paralyzing anxiety of wondering whether you’re doing enough for Jesus can only be relieved as you revel in all Jesus has done for you. -Tullian Tchividjian via Twitter
“…The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” -2 Corinthians 5:17
“Salvation is not just ‘fire insurance’ or ‘sin management.’ The gospel promises far more than going to heaven when you die. It is an all-encompassing pledge from God for the total renewal of creation. It involves the resurrection of our bodies and the liberation of the whole creation from its bondage to sin and death. What insurance plan, global market, or government agency can claim this kind of authority over life and death? When he returns, Jesus will judge every person and nation and consummate his kingdom in everlasting righteousness and peace. We cannot limit salvation to our private world of the soul; the whole cosmos was created by the Father, in the Son, through the Spirit, and it is upheld and finally redeemed in the same way.” -Michael Horton, via Of First Importance
“And the Lord looked upon him, and said, ‘Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?” -Judges 6:14
What a look was that which the Lord gave to Gideon! He looked him out of his discouragement into a holy bravery. If our look to the Lord saves us, what will not His look at us do? Lord, look on me this day and nerve me for its duties and conflicts.
What a word was this which Jehovah spoke to Gideon! “Go.” He must not hesitate. He might have answered, “What, go in all this weakness?” But the Lord put that word out of court by saying, “Go in this thy might.” The Lord had looked might into him, and he had now nothing to do but to use it and save Israel by smiting the Midianites. It may be that the Lord has more to do by me than I ever dreamed of. If He has looked upon me, He has made me strong. Let me by faith exercise the power with which He has entrusted me. He never bids me “idle away my time in this my might.” Far from it. I must “go” because He strengthens me. What a question is that which the Lord puts to me even as He put it to Gideon! “Have not I sent thee!” Yes, Lord, Thou hast sent me, and I will go in Thy strength. At Thy command I go, and, going, I am assured that Thou wilt conquer by me.
[from Faith's Checkbook by Charles H. Spurgeon]
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.” -2 Corinthians 8:9
You know His grace, so reflect His grace to the world. Though He was rich, clothed in limitless splendor and majesty, He came to the world. For YOUR sake. For you. A sinner. God becoming man. He who was omnipotent took on human weakness. He who was wisdom grew in wisdom. The same God being worshiped in Isaiah 6 took on human flesh in Isaiah 53. For you. He took on the flesh of sinful man that you might become rich.
Prove the sincerity of your love for Christ and for others by giving.
Monday, June 27
Review the messages from yesterday and start applying some of the things you learned.
Vacation Bible School at Thompson Road Baptist Church for ages 4-teens. 7:00-9:00
Tuesday, June 28
Pray for marriages in our church family, that the Lord would protect them and be glorified through them.
Vacation Bible School at Thompson Road Baptist Church for ages 4-teens. 7:00-9:00
Wednesday, June 29
Pray for the children of NLBC today, that they will come to know Christ as their Savior and treasure Him above all things.
7:00 p.m.- Bible Study | We will continue our study of “Systematic Theology.” The kids will continue their “Big Truths for Young Hearts” series.
Thursday, June 30
Pray for your Pastor as he prepares for Sunday.
Vacation Bible School at Thompson Road Baptist Church for ages 4-teens. 7:00-9:00
Happy Birthday to Virginia Goodpaster!
Friday, July 1
Pray for those at NLBC who are taking care of elderly parents at this time: strength to care for them, patience with them, and grace for the trying moments.
Vacation Bible School at Thompson Road Baptist Church for ages 4-teens. 7:00-9:00
Saturday, July 2
Pray for the services along with those who are preaching and teaching tomorrow. Prepare your heart for worship.
Sunday, July 3
10:00 a.m. – Sunday School
11:00 a.m. – Morning Worship (2 Corinthians 8)
6:00 p.m. – Evening Worship (Deuteronomy 10)
Ushers: Anthony Vance & Roger Harden (alternates: Roger Cruz & Harry Sparks)
Happy Birthday to Paul Johnson!
Tuesday, July 12
Isaiah 58 Ministry
July 25-29
Mad Skills Basketball Camp for Grades K-12 led by Roger Harden. Click here for more details and a registration form.
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Links of the Week:
“For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.” -Philippians 2:13
The reason you have believed and now obey is not because you are a good person. No, you do these things because you are a graced person. -Paul Tripp via Twitter
“Then God spoke all these words.” –Exodus 20:1
With that, the Bible gives us the greatest “to do” list in all of human history—the Ten Commandments (Exod. 20:1-17). In this little record, the eternal God summarizes His sinless character, codifies it into a list of requirements for mankind, and provides us a basis for spiritual life and ethical conduct.
The Ten Commandments have fallen out of favor in our society, and great legal wars are being fought over its right to adorn courtroom walls and public spaces. But think how horrible it would be to live in a world in which the Ten Commandments didn’t exist. One Holocaust survivor, reflecting on the unspeakable horrors of Auschwitz, said that it was like a world in which all the Ten Commandments were reversed.
If you’d like an easy way to memorize the Ten Commandments (or to help your children to do so), here’s an old British school poem that will help:
Above all else love God alone;
Bow down to neither wood or stone.
God’s name refuse to take in vain;
The Sabbath rest with care maintain.
Respect your parents all your days;
Hold sacred human life always.
Be loyal to your chosen mate;
Steal nothing, neither small nor great.
Report, with truth, your neighbor’s deed;
And rid your mind of selfish greed.
[from My All in All by Robert J. Morgan, June 18 entry]
The Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. -Judges 4:9
Rather an unusual text, but there may be souls in the world that may have faith enough to grasp it. Barak, the man, though called to the war, had little stomach for the fight unless Deborah would go with him, and so the Lord determined to make it a woman’s war. By this means He rebuked the slackness of the man, gained for Himself the more renown, and cast the more shame upon the enemies of His people.
The Lord can still use feeble instrumentalities. Why not me? He may use persons who are not commonly called to great public engagements. Why not you? The woman who slew the enemy of Israel was no Amazon but a wife who tarried in her tent. She was no orator but a woman who milked the cows and made butter. May not the Lord use any one of us to accomplish His purpose? Somebody may come to the house today, even as Sisera came to Jael’s tent. Be it ours not to slay him, but to save him. Let us receive him with great kindness and then bring forth the blessed truth of salvation by the Lord Jesus, our great Substitute, and press home the command “Believe and live.” Who knoweth but some stout-hearted sinner may be slain by the gospel today!
[from Faith's Checkbook by Charles H. Spurgeon, June 21 entry]
“I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine.” -2 Corinthians 8:8
Giving is our greatest privilege. A heart of generosity seeks the good of others. (Example: Zacchaeus in Luke 19…when he trusted Christ, his heart became generous as he gave over 50%.)
Giving is initiated by God’s grace (vs. 1)
Though they were going through persecution and hard times, the Macedonian churches gave joyfully. (vs. 2)
You reap what you sow and you can’t outgive God. (ch. 9:6; Luke 6:38)
The Macedonian believers wanted to fellowship with the believers by serving and sharing. They begged Paul to take the gift (the grace…something that was undeserved and freely bestowed).
Key to Giving? Total commitment to Christ. (vs. 5) When you’re totally committed to Christ, everything else is totally committed to Him as well. (Romans 12:1-2)
Giving shows how much you love. If you love much, you will give much. We are called to fervently love one another…show love as many ways as you can. (vs. 8)
Christ loved us when we were unloveable. He loves us so much that He left His richness and became poor. We are co-inheritors of all He has because He gave all He had. If you love Him, you’ll love like He gives. (vs. 9)
Monday, June 20
Review the messages from yesterday and start applying some of the things you learned.
Tuesday, June 21
Pray for marriages in our church family, that the Lord would protect them and be glorified through them.
Wednesday, June 22
Pray for the children of NLBC today, that they will come to know Christ as their Savior and treasure Him above all things.
7:00 p.m.- Bible Study | We will continue our study of “Systematic Theology.” The kids will continue their “Big Truths for Young Hearts” series.
Happy Birthday to Shawn Grimes, Jr.
Thursday, June 23
Pray for your Pastor as he prepares for Sunday.
Friday, June 24
Pray for those at NLBC who are taking care of elderly parents at this time: strength to care for them, patience with them, and grace for the trying moments.
Happy Birthday to Becky Dawson!
Saturday, June 25
Pray for the services along with those who are preaching and teaching tomorrow. Prepare your heart for worship.
Sunday, June 26
10:00 a.m. – Sunday School
11:00 a.m. – Morning Worship (2 Corinthians 8)
2:00 p.m.- Baptism of Andrew and Barb Duff at 2:00 p.m. at Thompson Road Baptist Church!
6:00 p.m. – Evening Worship (Deuteronomy 9)
Ushers: Chandler Dawson & Tom Riley (alternates: Anthony Vance & Roger Harden)
Tuesday, July 12
Isaiah 58 Ministry
July 25-29
Mad Skills Basketball Camp for Grades K-12 led by Roger Harden. Click here for more details and a registration form.
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Links of the Week:
