|
| Excluded? |
| 7.6.08 |
Will having a "private prayer language" exclude a believer from being Reformed? The Southern Baptist Convention questions chaplain candidates and potentially others: missionaries and convention workers, etc.
Second question, does the Bible condemn alcohol in any form? For me alcohol is a sin. It is my personal conviction. However, my question is can a Christian ingest alcohol without sinning?
These are two issues that have crossed my path in the recent days. Any thoughts?Labels: Baptists, Reformed Theology |
posted by pregador27 @ 13:34   |
|
|
|
| Links From My Church |
| 21.4.08 |
Click on the following link to here our choir Singing "Just Over in the Gloryland."
Our church is Antioch Fellowship Baptist Church. My pastor is a man of God whom I respect greatly. We just celebrated his fifth year of ministry with Antioch. Though I am Reformed and he is not, our fellowship is wonderful and our work together is worthwhile. Praise God for His bringing my family into this church. Labels: Baptists, Music, Sermon |
| posted by pregador27 @ 20:25 |
|
|
|
| Mid-Week Service |
| 16.4.08 |
I was called by my pastor to lead the Mid-Week service again. I did not have much prep-time. I decided to have a Bible Study Quiz. I had a decent 10 question quiz with Scripture references. As the service started, we sang "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms." It was cool. Hymn number 211 in the National Baptist Hymnal I think.
Then I called on one of the men in the church to pray. Good stuff there. Next we sang "What a Friend We Have in Jesus." Not sure of that hymn number. Then I took prayer requests. There were a large mix of Prayer Requests and Praise Reports.
Then we sang another hymn. 244 I think. "Just over in the Gloryland." All four verses. I wished there were eight. God just filled my soul with peace and joy. As we were nearing the end of the song I realized God was leading me elsewhere.
We turned to Acts 8.4-8. And I preached. I was excited and felt the passion for God's Word and the zeal to be obedient to His direction. I preached without notes or preparation. This is not a testimony of my abilities. I am not that able. It was God working through me. Unfortunately, this means there is no customary outline. Fortunately, it also means that I ministered in a way I know was by the leading of God.
I praise God for His guidance. I thank Him for His Word. I thank Him for my pastor, a man who trusts me enough to allow me to fill his place of ministry when he is absent.Labels: Baptists |
| posted by pregador27 @ 22:00 |
|
|
|
| Facing Adversity: Gaza Baptist Church |
| 19.6.07 |
 In Gaza, not all the population adheres to the Islamic religion. It is true that out of almost one and a half million Palestinians only 2,000 claim to be some sort of “Christian,” and of that number about 200 would be classified “evangelical.”
Today, I would like to focus on one group. The Gaza Baptist Church is the center of worship for between 150-200 Christians. These Christians live daily in the midst of adversity. They live with bombs going off around them and amid persecution from Muslims and nominal “Christian” groups.
According to a WorldNetDaily article, the pastor, Hanna Massad, also holds a United States citizenship and is eligible to return to the USA. He will not leave, however. Pastor Massad is staying where God has called him- to the place where he leads a small remnant of believers. It reminds me of the attitude of Paul:
To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. (1 Corinthians 4.11-13 ESV)
This small band of Palestinian Baptists endure hardship as good soldiers of Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2.3-4). They serve as a shining example of how to walk through adversity. I must say, their example has spoken to me personally. I pray that God strengthens me through any adversity I may face in my life. Whether it be the threat of death or just political persecution. The same God that strengthens the Gaza Baptist Church is the God that strengthens me and my family.Labels: Baptists, Churches |
| posted by pregador27 @ 16:41 |
|
|
|
|
|
