Monday After The Sermon

Church & Baseball

A week ago I was in St. Louis and I attended a Cardinal baseball game. Whenever I have the opportunity, I try to attend a major league baseball game. But one of the things that has always impressed me is when the game nears the 7th inning stretch "Take me out to the ball game" is always sung. This song is always sung with joy and excitement by everyone in the stadium.

What if worship and church could have this same kind of joy and excitement. What if all who participated in worship participated with the same sense of joy, excitement and had fun doing so. Then again maybe the real difference between attending church and a baseball game is that we rarely attend a baseball game out of a sense of duty.

Rob Bell asked an interesting question in his book "Velvet Elvis": What would church be like if people attended because they wanted to be there?

Maybe we should attend church with the same attitude we share when attending a baseball game.

Just a thought; going to church and giving praise to God ought to be fun.

I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!” Ps. 122:1

PL

Installation service of a young pastor

This afternoon I had the opportunity to share in the installation service of pastor Bernard Pate who is serving his first church. It was an exciting time for him, his family and the fine people of the Pleasant Hill Baptist Church of Hamptonville, North Carolina. I was very honored to share in this service and preach the installation sermon. It reminded me of those days when I served as pastor of the Mt. Olive Baptist Church of Hustle, Virginia.

Lu. 4. 16-21

CHOSEN

1. CHOSEN TO PREACH THE GOSPEL.

2. CHOSEN TO PROVIDE COMFORT.

3. CHOSEN TO SET HURTING PEOPLE FREE.

PL

Sunday June 24, 2007/The Holy Spirit and Life of the Believer (Part 2)

The Holy Spirit and the Life of the Believer (Part 2)

Gal. 5. 16 - 26

1. THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCES CONFLICT: the Spirit vs the flesh (Gal. 5:17) (Eph. 6.1-12; 1 Tim. 6. 12; 2 Tim. 4.7; 1 Cor. 9.27).
A. We remain victorious by applying the Word of God to our new nature.
B. We remain victorious by yielding ourselves to the Holy Spirit.

2. THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCES FRUIT (Gal. 5:22-23)
A. The Holy Spirit produces a new nature in the believer if allowed:
1. Because of God we realize love, joy and peace.
2. We realize a new nature as we relate to each other: long-suffering, gentleness and goodness.
3. We exercise a new nature within ourselves: faith, meekness and self-control.

3. THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A NEW WALK (Gal. 5. 25, 26).

PL


Happy Fathers Day

Happy Father Day

I trust all of the fathers had a great day.

I called my father early Sunday morning.

I have a great father and he has always been there when I needed him.

Thanks for everything Dad.

I hope all have had a great weekend.

PL

Sermon Lessons at Pleasant Grove/St. Louis, MO

Sunday I preached at the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church. It was a great fellowship with my old friend Pastor Courtney Jones and his fine congregation.

Lesson from a blind man

MK. 10. 46ff.

1. Become sensitive to the presence of Jesus.

2. Know where to find help.

3. Do not be hindered by the crowd.

4. Understand when Jesus calls you may need to leave something behind.

2nd Service at the Pleasant Grove

Do you want to get well

JN. 5. 1-11

1. Get up.

2. Pick up your bed (the bed represent your testimony).

3. Walking (walking represents forward movement)

Sunday June 10, 2007/The Holy Spirit and the Life of the Believer

Gal. 3: 1-9

The Holy Spirit and the Life of the Believer

The life of the believer is greatly enhanced because of the Holy Spirit. On this Sunday, I shared how a believer’s life is made better because of the indwelling of the Spirit. On the previous Sunday I spoke about how the Holy Spirit brings new life to the believer, seals the believer and takes residence in the believer. The goal of this sermon was to give attention to what happens when the Holy Spirit lives on the inside of the believer.

*HOW CAN I KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT IS WITHIN ME? 



1. THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT PRODUCES FAITH
a. The believer’s life begins with faith.
b. Paul had been to Galatia and many had believed.
c. There had been evidence of their new life.

2. THE HOLY SPIRIT BRINGS YOU CLOSER TO JESUS

3. THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKS ON THE INSIDE

4. THE HOLY SPIRIT COMES IN RESPONSE TO OUR FAITH IN JESUS
CHRIST
a. He increases our faith through the written Word.
b. He is at work in us.

PL


Sunday June 3,2007/The Benefits of the Holy Spirit (Part 2)

Sunday, I shared on the Holy Spirit and the benefits of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. This was a continuation of the sermon that I shared on Pentecost Sunday. However, Sunday's sermon was more of a bible study lesson. I know that I broke many of the rules of good homiletics. But this was the message I was led to share. Much of the information gathered came from various sources through the years.

THE BENEFITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT (Part 2)

I. THE HOLY SPIRIT BRINGS NEW LIFE TO THE BELIEVER
(Titus 3:15).

II. THE HOLY SPIRIT TAKES UP HIS RESIDENCE IN THE
BELIEVER (I Cor. 6:19 - 20).

III. THE HOLY SPIRIT SEALS THE BELIEVER (Eph. 4:30).

IV. THE HOLY SPIRIT BAPTIZES THE BELIEVER (I Cor.12:13).

CONCLUSION
A. New life in Christ, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, Sealed by God and Baptized at conversion.

B. We are equipped for victory

PL