Why I Preach
We have piped unto you and you have not danced. -Matthew 11:17
We recently watched a Christian movie during Wednesday night prayer meeting called "Play the Flute". I highly recommend it.
I often complained about the location of our church. Highway MM is very hilly and curvy. Yet, we have 100 cars or more drive by our church almost every day. I receive something on social media all the time wanting to help grow our church for a price.
Over the years, I have not succumbed to programs, gimmicks and activities in order to increase our attendance. I have knocked on most of the doors in a five mile radius including Warsaw with no success to speak of. I have not kissed a pig or preached on the roof. Moreover, I have not compromised the Word of God to increase our attendance.
We have held revivals, dinners and had singing groups come in. I have regretted some of those decisions.
I think of the upcoming election and the hurricanes in Florida. I think of the loss of my friends in the past month. I have empty pews and memories of the dead that rest in my mind from time to time.
I think of all of the distractions I have faced this week. Sometimes they distract me from Bible study and prayer.
I continue to preach for people who are spiritually dead.
I am Johnie J. Logue, pastor of Grace Baptist Church. You can reach me at (660) 281-4775.
Hopewell Baptist Church
In Matthew 26:57-75 Jesus is arrested and taken before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish court. They don’t have a crime to convict Him of and are looking for witnesses. Many false witnesses came forward but no two could agree on what Jesus had done that was deserving of death. Then two came forward and declared Jesus said He was able to destroy the Temple of God and rebuild it in 3 days. Jesus never said this. He never talks about destroying the Temple. He says they will destroy it, and He will rebuild it in 3 days. They know there is really no evidence, so Caiaphas asked if Jesus was going to answer. Jesus is silent. Their decision was already made so it would not matter what He said. The High Priest says, tell us if You are the Son of God. They don’t believe Jesus could be the Military leader they were looking for. Jesus replies, you have said so. Then he infuriates Caiaphas saying, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting on the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven. He is given all power to slay the giant, horrible beast. Jesus is saying Caiaphas has become the beast and Jesus has come to slay the beast. Caiaphas starts screaming, we must kill Him, and the crowd agrees. They can’t handle that they are wrong. They start beating Jesus with their fists and spit on Him. He is a threat to everything they hold dear.
Takeaway, stop trying to defend yourself to others. Just share the love of Jesus with them. Another person’s opinion of our lives should not mean so much. The Bible decides what is right or wrong, nothing else. The words of others are not enough. Only Jesus is enough. When we fail to put Jesus first, we follow willy-nilly ideas. You, Jesus and the scriptures determine what is right. We put our faith and trust in Jesus only! The Bible is God’s word. Let’s treat it like it has value.
Join us Sunday mornings for Sunday School at 10 a.m. with Worship at 11 a.m., regular Bible Study Wednesdays and Sundays at 6 p.m. with our Children’s Program Sundays at 5:30 p.m. Watch our service live at 11 a.m. Sunday mornings on Hopewell Baptist Church Facebook page.
Lincoln First Baptist Church
Shane’s teaching is a comforting reminder that what God requires from each of us is not numerical success but unwavering faithfulness. We must all introspect and ask ourselves: Are we earnestly striving to be faithful to the Lord Jesus? If our hearts are set on serving Him with fidelity, that is all He asks of us. The outcomes, be they growth or decline, are in His hands.
Of course, how your church grows or declines is not the pastor’s job alone but a task all share. Jesus told the Gadarene demoniac to return to his people and tell them what God had done for him. The Gaderene wanted to personally accompany Jesus, but Jesus said “No” to that request. As he faithfully obeyed what the Lord told him to do, many in that area came to believe in Jesus.
The pastor’s job is to preach and teach biblical truth faithfully, especially the Gospel of Jesus. Our job is to tell others what Jesus has done for us and encourage them to trust and follow Jesus. If we are faithful, God will take care of the results. Whether we are a mega-church or a small church, we want to be loyal to Jesus.
