How to Live in the Last Days

Our sermon Sunday asked us if we were living in the last days?  The last days are a time where God is completing His purposes for His people.  

How should we be living in these last days?

1. With Godly Discipline:

How we live and serve today will determine who we are judged and rewarded on the day we stand before Him. 

a. We are to make up our mind to live for Jesus. 

b. We are to be watchful or disciplined in our prayers.

Three  things can help us in this:

1. Commitment - by realizing that our connection with the Holy Spirit is our source of real power. Part of this comes through reading Scripture but it also comes through our prayer life. We must be committed to pray. We tend to make time for what is important to us. It takes commitment to pray.

2. Consistency - Often our prayer life depends on our situation.  Being committed to prayer calls for consistency. Praying at all times, not just the bad times.

3. Conformity - This doesn't mean we pray a certain style or pattern. It means our prayer life should have a desire to be shaped and conformed in the image of Christ. When we pray "God make us more like Your Son, that is conformity in prayer. 

*A clear mind and disciplined prayers come out of our quiet time alone with God. What others see is the result of the discipline behind the scenes. We won't live God honoring or Christ centered lives without discipline.  In the last days what we have done or not done in our quiet times will begin to reveal itself. 

2. Live with Generous Compassion:

Once our mind begins to change, it affects our heart. The love of Christ shows itself in three ways:

a. The first is full strength love. This is a love that gives all it has to give. This is what God wants from us. Sometimes we leave love in our heart that could have been shared, God's Word tells us we should give all our love away.

b. Forgiving love. "Hatred stirs up strife up conflicts, but love will cover a multitude of sins." Peter urges us to love for the sake of unity. In the church the spirit of unity is love. When we reflect the love of Christ, we are unified in our purpose which is to fulfill the Great Commission. A church that is committed to embody the love of Christ, will look for ways to serve and work together. 

c. Family love. A love which says that there is a place for everyone. It means making someone feel at home. "A family love looks at others and sets another place at the table for them." Shouldn't church be this way?  Does your love have room for one more:  That is the love modeled and the love we should show.

3. Live with Grateful Service:

We are urged to guard and grow our minds and then to love others are Christ did. "It is impossible to have our minds conformed to the image of Christ, our hearts stirred to share His love and not have our actions begin to model the servant image of Christ." 

Jesus had only two priorities in His life. There were times where He got away to be with God. Then there were times He was with the people, healing, teaching, loving and preaching. A mind that has drawn away to be with God and a heart that has been stirred by Christ, needs a place to serve the people. When our hearts and minds begin to model Christ, so will our lives. 

If we want to have lives that show the power of Christ, then we must be disciplined, compassionate and servants. It all begins with the commitment to spiritual discipline. The process of having God's power in our lives begins in the commitment to spiritual discipline.  

The world desperately needs to see an example of God's power. Are you desperate enough for God, that His power could be displayed in your life? 

Introducing....

Our new Ladies Bible Study which will begin Wednesday, September 7...Duty or Delight.

Ever find yourself wondering…

• Is God happy with me?
• Does He really love me?
• Am I doing enough?
• Why do I feel guilty all the time?
• Why can't I seem to grow more spiritually?

God is not looking for us to perform for Him, He's looking for us to delight in Him. Join Tammie Head in Duty or Delight? Knowing Where You Stand with God on a journey to overcome spiritual insecurity using six foundational truths from Ephesians 1:3-23. You will discover the beautiful news that God has not only chosen you for a deep, soul-satisfying relationship but He also constantly supplies everything you need to know Him this way. If you've been longing for a deeper relationship with God, this study is for you!

The Blessings of Service

We all want our lives to matter. It’s the reason we do the things we do. We all want to make a difference where we are. 

As Christians, We were made to build the church.  God made each one of with unique talents, personalities and skill sets. And when we ask Jesus into our lives, we’re given at least one spiritual gift. We get the most joy and make the biggest difference when we use our God-given talents, gifts and abilities to build the church. 

8 Blessings We Experience By Serving Others:

1. Serving allows us to discover and develop our spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 12 compares the church to a human body. Just like our bodies are made of many parts serving specific functions, the church is made up of people with different skills and abilities. Alone these pieces aren’t very useful, but together we create something beautiful.

2. Serving allows us to experience miracles.

Jesus was at a wedding and the couple was running out of wine for its guests. He tells the servants to fill several big jars to the brim. When they served the water to the guests, it was wine! The guests never knew what happened; the servants were the ones who witnessed the miracle. The same is true for us when we serve.

3. Serving allows us to experience the joy and peace that comes from obedience.

Serving is a form of worship, a way to express gratitude for what Jesus has done for us,  and to share the love and grace we've been given.  

4. Serving helps us to be more like Jesus.

We shift our focus off of ourselves onto others through serving.  We begin to see others as Jesus sees them. 

5. Serving surrounds us with other Christians who can help us follow Jesus.

When we’re working side by side with other people, a bond inevitably forms. This was part of God’s plan for how the church is supposed to work. That’s why Hebrews 10:24-25 instructs us to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together… but encouraging one another.”

6. Serving increases our faith.

As we move out of our comfort zones, God increases our faith by revealing new potential — in ourselves and in His Church.  When we see what He can do when His power is at work within us, we begin looking for the doors He’s opening.

7. Serving allows us to experience God’s presence in new ways.

Encouragement and healing go hand in hand. As we encourage others and they find healing, we’re encouraged.

8. Serving is good for your soul.

Tapping into our gifts and passions builds self-confidence, energy, and strength. 

The Lord doesn't call the equipped; He equips the called.  God doesn’t just want to work through you, He wants to work in you.

T.U.R.N.

This post will cover the last 2 portions of the acronym T.U.R.N. from the sermon "It's Your Turn, Dad".

R:  Responsibility:

God has given men the responsibility to be the spiritual, servant leaders in the family. There is no running from that responsibility. If we do fail to do this, it brings about serious harm on the hearts of children.

"Husbands hold the keys to the preservation of the family." One of the signs of 'turning the hearts of the fathers to their children, is when men step forward and fulfill their roles and responsibilities. 

"It is my deeply held opinion that if the fathers...could become loving leaders to their children, we could radically change the social landscape of the next generation.  We would keep millions of children from self-destructing and we would see our neighborhoods filled with children laughing, playing and learning; developing their creative and intellectual potentials and becoming responsible, caring adults."  Gary Chapman

N;  Nurture:

This is sadly missing in our society. There is a gaping hole in the heart of a child that doesn't have a father's tender touch on a regular basis. "Nurture involves the combined elements of tenderness, discipline, consistency and instruction. The balance of those elements in a loving relationship between a father and his children is a beautiful thing." 

In our church, we have this opportunity and priviledge of doing this with kids who do not have this kind of father. When we become nurturers for the next generation, we are teaching them what it means to be men and women.

What a powerful reminder this sermon was for our men.  Here is the checklist to keep us moving in the right direction:

Are you spending TIME with your children?
Do you UNDERSTAND your children and the needs, issues and struggles they face?
Are you accepting the God-given RESPONSIBILITY of a father, being the spiritual nad servant leader in the home?
Are you NURTURING your children?

Church Service Questionnaire

Last week we passed out church service questionnaire, did you get yours?  If not, it's ok, there will be some available this Sunday!

This sheet is simply a place where church ministries are compiled and there is a place for church members to check if this ministry is one they are interested in or feel called to serve in.  

Checking the form does not commit you to serve.  It allows our nominating committee to see the interest in various positions and when/if an opening comes about, who to approach about filling the place.  We get the most joy and make the biggest difference when we use our God-given talents, gifts and abilities to build the church.  

Be encouraged to be in prayer about serving the church this year.  Ask God to place you in the place He created for YOU!

What the Power of Praise Can Do

Praise means “to commend, to applaud or magnify.” For the Christian, praise to God is an expression of worship, lifting-up and glorifying the Lord. It is an expression of humbling ourselves and centering our attention upon the Lord with heart-felt expressions of love, adoration and thanksgiving 

8 Things About Praise

1. Praise gets our focus off ourselves and back on God.  In our often “selfie” focused world, we need this constant reminder - life is not all about us.
 2. Praise brings us to a place of humility.   We remember our dependency on God, as we acknowledge our need for Him.  As we praise Him as Creator and King of this world, we admit and recognize that we’re not in control, but He is.  He is above all
3. Praise makes the enemy flee.   It pushes back the darkness the surrounds, and blocks the attacks and hissing lies over us.  Evil will not stick around if we’re praising our God, who will fight our battles for us
4. Praise leaves no room for complaining and negativity.  through praise, we’re focused on Him, no longer allowing too much attention to be centered around the struggles.  We’re reminded of what He has already done in our lives.  We’re reminded that He knows what concerns us, and is capable of taking care of all that burdens us.
4. Praise makes room for God’s blessings over our lives.
5. Praise opens the gateway of blessing as we come into the Presence of our King. 
6. Praise invites His presence.  God dwells close to us when we praise Him.  He lives there.  He looks for it.  

7. Our spirits are refreshed and renewed in His presence.  We're strengthened by His peace and refueled by His joy.  Through a heart of praise, we realize that God doesn’t just change our situations and work through our problems, He changes our hearts.
8.  It paves the way for God's power to be displayed, miracles ​happen. 

We have a choice every day in this life.  To live absorbed in worry and stress, on the fast track of busy, focused only on what surrounds us, tuned into the roar of the world. 

Or, we can ask God to help us take our eyes off all that may be swirling around, our problems and mess, or the voices of others. And we can look up...to Him, the One who holds it all together, and who holds us in his hands.

Dear God,

We praise You today with our hearts and songs, we praise You for your faithfulness, we praise You for Your great power and love. We confess our need for You, our lives don't go so well when we just spin around on our own. We struggle and worry, get weary and worn. Yet You never leave us. Thank you for Your presence. Thank You for Your care over us, thank You that You breathe renewal right into our souls. We ask for Your Spirit to fill us, to draw us close to Yourself, and to work Your purposes through us, as we set our eyes on You.

5th Sunday Night Sing

There will be a 5th Sunday Night Sing on July 31 at 6:00 PM.

At Antioch, we love these sings! There is something so special about seeing others share their God-given talent to be a blessing to others.  We love testimonies!  Hearing how God is speaking and working in our lives is a blessing and encouragement to others.  We love hearing your favorite Scriptures...oh what power there is in God's Word. 

Will you pray about how you can be a blessing during the sing?  A song, talent, testimony or Bible reading can be greatly used to honor the Lord and allow Him to bless many.

Following the sing, we will have a time of fellowship together.  Please plan to bring a finger food or dessert to share.  

Ladies Fellowship Meeting

There will be a Ladies Fellowship Meeting on Thursday, July 28 at 5:30 PM, at Caroline Mc.'s home.

All ladies are welcome to join for an evening of gathering together as women for a time of food, fellowship and a devotion from God's Word to encourage our hearts. Be encouraged to make time for this special time to come and to grow together as Christian women.  

We will enjoy a light meal at the meeting.  Please plan to bring a salad, finger food or dessert to share!

Understanding

 

 

The recent sermon "It's Your Turn, Dad" focused on fathers turning their hearts toward the children and used the acronym T.U.R.N. 

This post is about the "U"  for UNDERSTANDING

 

Understanding refers to our awareness of the needs, issues, struggles and desires, particularly in the lives of children. If we're going to make our mark on our generation, then we must begin with our own children.  "An understanding heart seeks to recognize and relate to the needs of the next generation. To gain godly understanding must become a priority in our lives. We must realize that the Scripture must be our standard for success, and we must never measure ourselves against society." 

 

Listening is part of understanding. If we listen carefully and prayerfully, we can hear the concerns of our children's heart. If we want them to know about Jesus, we must not only share Him with them, but they also must see Jesus in us.

 

In the book Tender Warrior, a story was shared about a 16 year old young man who wrote an essay titled "What Is A Man?"  The boy's father had abandoned his family and he never experienced the warmth of a truly understanding man in his life. He wrote this:

A real man is kind

A real man is caring.

A real man walks away from silly macho fights.

A real man helps his wife.

A real man doesn't run from his problems.

A real man helps his kids when they are sick.

A real man sticks to his word and keeps his promises.

A real man is honest.

A real man is not in trouble with the law.

 

We need men of understanding.

Sweet Baby Jade

Many of you have heard and been praying for a sweet little girl in our church Jade.  She underwent extensive facial surgery yesterday and the latest report was great!  The surgery went well and the doctors were pleased with the results. She will remain in the hospital for a few more days before making the 8+ hour trip home.  

Thank you for your prayers for Jade and her family and please be in prayer for her recovery. 

Principle of TIME

To TURN the hearts of the fathers to the children, we will cover TIME.

How do children spell love?  TIME.There is no substitute for spending time with our children.

"We can try to convince ourselves that everything else we do is important, but there are few greater priorites in life than investing time with our sons and daughters."

The time investment from a father to his chidlren may be the single greatest gift ever given. It is more valuable than anything material you can give and certainly more meaningful.

Every person has exactly the same amount of time. The real issue is not the availability of time, but the economy of time. How we use the time God has given us will determine our effectiveness as fathers.

For children to grow up into men and women of godly character and spiritual maturity, it takes time.  We must model godly lives for our children to see.

**As a church, we have chidlren who come that may not have godly examples at home.  Where are they going to get those godly examples unless we give them to them here? They must know that we love them and care about what happens to them. Programs like VBS, Camp Sonrise and Family Ministries provide opportunity to make memories that will last a lifetime.

It's Your Turn, Dad

Last week we heard a powerful message specifically to encourage fathers, but everyone can glean some powerful spiritual truths from this sermon.  We will be highlighting some of the sermon over a few blog posts.

An introduction encouraging men to stand up was shared...
"Once upon a time, men wore the pants, and wore them well. Women rarely had to open doors and little old ladies never crossed the street alone. Men took charge because that's what they did. But somewhere along the way, the world decided it no longer needed men. Disco by disco, latte by foamy non-fat latte, men were stripped of their khakis and left stranded on the road between boyhood and androgyny. But today, there are questions our genderless society has no answers for. The world sits idly by as cities crumble, children misbehave and those little old ladies remain on one side of the street. For the first time since bad guys, we need heroes. We need grown-ups. We need men to put down the plastic fork, step away from the salad bar and untie the world from the tracks of complacency. It's time to get your hands dirty. It's time to answer the call of manhood. It's time to WEAR THE PANTS."  from Dockers Pants

God has a plan for families and has designed the human heart in such a way that it desperately needs the input of a male role model.

The sermon was based on Luke 1;17  "And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

To 'turn' is to make a turn towards.  A reference to the establishment of the correct relation between fathers and children.

We are using the acrostic TURN to describe what it means for our generation of fathers to turn their hearts toward their children.  We will focus on four key principles reflecting the pressing issues for godly men to rise to the challenge..Time, Understanding, Responsibility and Nurture. 

Other posts will highlight each principle, but for our families sake, may be be in prayer and encourage our fathers daily to be all God has called them to be.

It's Your Turn, Dad

Last week we heard a powerful message specifically to encourage fathers, but everyone can glean some powerful spiritual truths from this sermon.  We will be highlighting some of the sermon over a few blog posts.

An introduction encouraging men to stand up was shared...
"Once upon a time, men wore the pants, and wore them well. Women rarely had to open doors and little old ladies never crossed the street alone. Men took charge because that's what they did. But somewhere along the way, the world decided it no longer needed men. Disco by disco, latte by foamy non-fat latte, men were stripped of their khakis and left stranded on the road between boyhood and androgyny. But today, there are questions our genderless society has no answers for. The world sits idly by as cities crumble, children misbehave and those little old ladies remain on one side of the street. For the first time since bad guys, we need heroes. We need grown-ups. We need men to put down the plastic fork, step away from the salad bar and untie the world from the tracks of complacency. It's time to get your hands dirty. It's time to answer the call of manhood. It's time to WEAR THE PANTS."  from Dockers Pants

God has a plan for families and has designed the human heart in such a way that it desperately needs the input of a male role model.

The sermon was based on Luke 1;17  "And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

To 'turn' is to make a turn towards.  A reference to the establishment of the correct relation between fathers and children.

We are using the acrostic TURN to describe what it means for our generation of fathers to turn their hearts toward their children.  We will focus on four key principles reflecting the pressing issues for godly men to rise to the challenge..Time, Understanding, Responsibility and Nurture. 

Other posts will highlight each principle, but for our families sake, may be be in prayer and encourage our fathers daily to be all God has called them to be.

Update on Billy Graham

As Franklin Graham visits all 50 states on the Decision America Tour this year, many of the people he meets ask him about his father Billy Graham.

At Franklin’s most recent stop in Juneau, Alaska, on July 1, he opened the prayer rally by sharing greetings from his father.

“He doesn’t think anybody remembers who he is,” Franklin said with a laugh, “so he’ll say, ‘If you meet anybody who remembers me, tell ’em hello.'”

Many ask about my father. He is still in his own home and often eats meals at the kitchen table, as he has always done. Approaching age 98, he lives with limitations typical of old age—his eyesight is very poor, his hearing is not good, and he uses a wheelchair. Someone is with him in the house at all times.

One of the things he enjoys is sitting on the front porch and looking out over the mountains on days when the weather is good and he feels up to it. He watches news with the help of a large-screen TV. His ministry now is praying, and he looks forward to reports of what God is doing around the world. He always responds by saying “Praise the Lord” as he points upward.

Billy Graham once said, “We have so many battles going on in America today that we should be a people of prayer. Our leaders need prayer. Our schools need prayer. Our youth need our prayers. Our families need our prayers.”

Will you join Billy and Franklin Graham in praying for the people of the United States of America to turn to God and His Son Jesus Christ?

Observation of the Lord's Supper

We will be observing the Lord's Supper on Sunday during the morning worship service.

This is such as special time as we gather as a church to observe this sacred ordinance. We hope you will set aside time to prepare heart and mind to worship and remember our Lord's great love and sacrifice, and come to church Sunday with a heart full of praise.

Remember, No Family Ministries Meal..

Don't forget, we will not be serving the Family Ministries Meal during July and August. Meals will resume in September. 

Please take this break to be in prayer for this and all ministries of the church.  In the fall, a new church year starts and we will need helpers in many areas of church service.  Be encouraged to pray and ask the Lord where He would have you to serve.

Some of the Ministries of Southern Baptists...

West Virginia was hit with unprecedented flooding last week.Twenty four people died, hundreds of homes were destroyed and President Obama declared it a major disaster.

The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) was quick to respond by offering aid as early as Saturday, even while the rain was still descending. The SBDR set up a command center in the Lewisburg, W.V., area, which is being staffed by volunteers from West Virginia, Kentucky and Virginia. The North America Mission Board also sent a semi-truck filled with bottled water, disinfectant and flood buckets, filled with supplies to meet immediate flood recovery needs. A feeding unit serving those displaced by the flood is also being set up in Ronceverte, W.V., at First Baptist Church of Fairlea. This is in addition to two SBDR mobile feeding kitchens that rolled out Saturday to feed people in other areas.

Another unique piece of equipment the SBDR has at its disposal is “mud-out” trailers “loaded with pressure washers, disinfectant, buckets, shovels and other equipment needed to treat a home after it has been flooded.” These trailers are very helpful because, one of the biggest threats to homeowners after a flood is the dangerous mold that starts growing in the home.

Southern Baptists are known for taking quick action when disaster strikes. They have “65,000 trained volunteers—including chaplains—and 1,550 mobile units for feeding, chainsaw, mud-out, command, communication, child care, shower, laundry, water purification, repair/rebuild and power generation.” In fact, the SBDR is “one of the three largest mobilizers of trained Disaster Relief volunteers in the United States,” rubbing shoulders with the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army.

Let us continue to pray for this area that has been so heavily hit and faces a long road to recovery.