Thursday, November 11, 2010
Veterans Day and Romans 13:7
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Things to Consider as You Approach Worship this Sunday (and Every Sunday!)
Before the Service
- Read the passage in advance - Our text this week is 2 Thess 1:11-12.
- Pray for the gathering
- Arrive Early
- Greet newcomers (act like you are the host)
- Think strategically about who you should sit with
During the Service
- Sing with gusto (even if you can’t sing)
- Help with logistics (if there’s a problem, help fix it)
- Don’t be distracted
- Listen carefully
- Be aware of your facial expressions (you may affect others and discourage preachers)
After the Service
- Connect newcomers with others
- Get newcomers information
- Start a conversation about the sermon
- Ask someone how they became a Christian
- Stay late
Source: www.9Marks.org
Thanks to my buddy Duane for Posting!
Monday, July 5, 2010
Fighting Against Unbelief - Version 0.5 & Errata
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Did Christ Really Rise from the Dead? [Resource]
Sunday, May 23, 2010
On the Physical Death and Suffering of Jesus Christ [Article]
Friday, May 21, 2010
John 19:30 [Fighter Verse]
Sunday, May 9, 2010
2 Timothy 2:2 [Fighter Verse]
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Elders, Treasurer, Church Clerk
Please use the nomination form in the bulletin to recommend potential officers to the Elders. As mentioned in the business meeting on May 2, 2010, please speak to any candidate for any office (especially Elder) before you nominate them. All candidates should be willing before they are approached by the Board of Elders.
As mentioned, here is the document on elections, and the qualifications of Elders, in both Word and PDF format.
Thank you for your cooperation and participation!
Pastor Keith
Thursday, April 29, 2010
First Catechism - For Baptists [Part Two]
Friday, April 23, 2010
1 Timothy 6:11-12 [Fighter Verse for 04/25/10]
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
1 Cor 15:58 [Fighter Verse]
- This is how Paul sums up an entire chapter thinking about the resurrection. The implications of this central event in the scriptures are a challenge for us to be undisturbed, to remain firmly planted, to be fruitful in ministry.
- The gospel, as Paul preached it (1 Cor 15:1-5), is that Christ died, was buried, was raised, and appeared to many witnesses. This is a historical reality. Our faith isn't in faith, or in our feelings, or in the music we sing or the fact that we don't watch R rated movies. Our faith is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness... we dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus name. Our faith is in this historical reality. He was dead, and was raised, and appeared.
- Be Steadfast! No matter what happens to you, don't be thrown off the truth. No matter what kind of articles you see in Time or Newsweek, or the specials on the History Channel, know that the apostles gave their lives for the gospel because they saw Him alive. Alive!
- Be Immovable! No matter the political or economic climate, no matter your health or wealth, no matter if you feel like being loving or you are warmly loving the Lord, be immovable in your commitment to Him. He was raised, you will be too (1 Cor 15:20-28). Your body is wearing out, but He will give you a new one (1 Cor 15: 35-49). Death may claim those whom you love, but death has no true hold on the one who knows God (1 Cor 15:50-57).
- Abound in the Work of the Lord. Be about the business of His kingdom. You are a soldier in a war. You are a member of a team. You are a stone in God's holy temple. Be abundantly working for Him. Don't let your zeal for Him be drowned out by suffering or pain or doubt. Abound... He will rescue you at the proper time.
- Knowing that Your Labor in Him is Not in Vain. What you do, do for Him. Don't share the gospel for the sake of the one you're speaking to. If they reject it, won't that make you sad? Don't serve others for the sake of receiving praise. If they fail to perceive it, won't that reduce your motivation? Don't work hard at your job for the sake of a promotion. If your boss passes you over, won't that make you angry? Instead, share the gospel for the honor and glory of God. Even rejection is success, then. Serve for the sake of honoring the one who came not to be served, but to serve. Work, not as unto men, but as unto the Lord... and serve your boss as if he were the Lord, and know that God will honor it. No moment of life, lived for His glory, is wasted. Not one.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Practical Theology: New Life For Hurting Families
Open a Door to Change from LYDIA Home Association on Vimeo.
Check out an innovative and practical way to help families in need without government interference or going it alone. Watch this video!
Interested? Let me know. This is coming to the Eastern Shore.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Why Expositional Preaching? [Thursday Theology]
Why is expositional preaching an important value at Harvest? Pastor Mark Dever teaches why this is the central mark of a healthy church.
Right click here and click 'save link' download the file.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God [Monday Morning Messages]
It's the classic sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, by Jonathan Edwards.
http://www.listenersbible.com/free_downloads/ipod_download
Friday, March 19, 2010
2 Corinthians 5:21 [Fighter Verse]
- Mercy and grace to the wretched drip all over this passage. This is good news! Break it down clause by clause, as you would divide an orange into pieces, and delight in the sweetness in each section.
- For our sake - Why did God act in the gospel? For His own glory, yes, but also for our sake. The gospel is for us, because God is good and for us! Feel the love of God in this clause.
- He made him to be sin - Jesus is pure and holy, the unblemished lamb of God who comes to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Jesus accomplishes this by being made sin, the very thing that God hates, so that God could crush sin in the form of His Son, so that he would not have to crush us. It sounds wicked, to punish the innocent, but we exult in the grace of God that the Son loves the Father's mission and was willing to be made sin.
- Who knew no sin - Jesus never sinned. He is a perfect and pure priest. He has never sinned, and never will... and this makes Him a perfect offering, and makes His righteousness a perfect covering for our sinfulness. Our impurity cannot blot out His perfection.
- So that in him - When we repent and believe in the gospel, the cross of Christ, His death as our death... when we are 'in him', under his protection... He as our Savior:
- We might become the righteousness of God. The gospel means that we are viewed, by God, as though we are as righteous as God. To me, that strikes me as insanity as I type it. I am sinful, worthy of scorn, and shame, and punishment. I deserve hell. Yet in the gospel... in Christ... I am counted righteous.
- Fight against a feeling of condemnation and despair and unworthiness and all that fills you with fear with that. God views you as righteous through Christ! Praise be to God for His gracious gift! Thank you, Lord Jesus.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
1 Corinthians 10:13 [Fighter Verse]
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Twitter... In Church?
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
John 15:18-16:4 [Sermon Text]
John 15:18-16:4 (ESV)
18 "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: 'They hated me without a cause.'26"But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning.
John 16
1"I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.
"I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.Friday, March 5, 2010
Psalm 27:1 [Fighter Verse for 03/05/10]
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
How To Fight:
- Are you afraid? Experiencing some kind of fear that is robbing your joy or that is dragging you down? Is there a sinful tendency that you lapse into because of fear?
- Contemplate the fact that God is your light... brighter than any other, driving away all darkness. Call upon Him, and trust Him for light in this present circumstance.
- Contemplate the fact that God is your salvation... He will rescue you, and has rescued you time and again. Call upon Him, and trust Him that He will save you out of this present trouble.
- Contemplate that God is called the stronghold of our lives... impenetrable. Solid. Trustworthy. Safe. What reason do we have to fear? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Preaching the Gospel to Myself [Handout]
I've included the handout I have made to keep myself on target, and I share it here for your use. Several of the scriptures are slightly edited, but none so changed as to change the meaning.
Preaching the Gospel to Myself Handout
Abide in Him,
Keith
Friday, February 26, 2010
1 John 5:13 [Fighter Verse for 02/28/10]
How to Fight:
- Explanation: Rather than just posting the verse, I am going to provide just a little bit of commentary to encourage your meditation on the truth of the scripture. The point of memorizing these verses is not to know the words and have them locked up in your mental RAM so you can spit them out again, but so that you can use them to fight off all manner of sins: Unbelief, anxiety, anger, lust, bitterness, depression, etc... I hope to encourage you in the way you lay hold of the verse. What truths are in it? What does it teach? What does it promise? What conditions are there? How should it make you joyous? Feel free to email me and share additional applications for each passage. Every passage has one defined meaning, but there can be many implications found in every truth of God's Word.
- Fighter Truths: 1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.
- The truths written in 1 John are written to those who believe in the name of Jesus. If you believe in Him, the promises and blessings and encouragements of 1 John are addressed to you. Believe them! Receive them! Live in them and let them embolden you!
- The letter is written for a purpose... "that." So that. John writes to give us certainty regarding the truths he is speaking about.
- The truths are given to give us assurance of our eternal life. Let there be no question in your heart or mind. Do not let your heart be anxious or discouraged. Do not listen to the voice of the devil, the self-defeating voice of the flesh, or the taunting discouragement of the world: If you believe in the gospel, if you are abiding in Christ, if you trust in the work of Christ on the cross, and that God will credit the righteousness of Christ to you if you trust in Christ's sacrifice, then you have eternal life.
For His glory and your joy,
Keith
First Catechism Revisions for Baptists [Thursday Theology]
To make the catechism fully accessible to our kids, my wife and I rewrote the 'questionable questions' and I am posting them, along with a link to the First Catechism. We're currently working through the questions with our kids, writing the questions on 3x5 cards, and then doing pop-quizzes after dinner. Mom and Dad get quizzed too in order to make it fair. (Mom is doing better than Dad so far... Dad is going to study a bit more and pull out a surprise victory!)
I commend the catechism to you as a basic discipleship tool. Let me know how you put it to use!
First Catechism Revisions
126. How many ordinances are there?
Two.
127. What are they?
Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
128. Who appointed these ordinances?
The Lord Jesus Christ.
129. Why did Christ appoint these ordinances?
To distinguish his people from the world, and to comfort and strengthen them.
Immersion in water.
131. What does this immersion in water represent?
That we are buried with Christ, cleansed from sin by his blood, and raised to walk in newness of life.
132. Into whose name are we baptized?
Into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
133. Who are to be baptized?
Believers only.
134. Why are only believers to be baptized?
Baptism is a symbol of union with Christ and so baptism is reserved for those who by faith have united with Christ.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
John 15:1-17 [Sermon Text]
John 15:1-17 (ESV)
15:1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
12 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17 These things I command you, so that you will love one another.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Jude 1:1 - Called by CJ Mahaney [Monday Message]
One beggar sharing with others where the bread is,
Keith
http://www.covlife.org/resources/3573594-Called
Friday, February 19, 2010
John 15:7 [Fighter Verse for 02/21/10]
If you abide in me,
and my words abide in you,
ask whatever you wish,
and it will be done for you.
(Follow this link to see the verse on the ESV page, which will also enable you to check the verse out in other versions, if you prefer to memorize in another translation.)
Also, I plan to coordinate with our Sunday School teachers so you can have an up-to-date knowledge of what your kids should be memorizing, and to help you set the pace for them. If dad and mom store the Word up in their hearts, and use it to fight back against sin in their own lives... then the kids will do it too!
For Your Joy,
Keith
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Preaching the Gospel to Myself [Thursday Morning Theology]
Found this recently after mentioning this quote twice in the pulpit. Brilliant, encouraging wisdom on an important spiritual practice.
EBA Disaster Relief [Event]
Disaster Relief Training
@ Harvest Baptist Church
119 South Blvd., Salisbury, Maryland
Friday, February 26, 7:00 PM
Introduction – Yellow Hat Training
Saturday, February 27, 9:00 AM
Recovery Unit Training
or
Field Kitchen Training
(You must complete introduction course before taking courses on Saturday)
Cost is $20.00 and includes instructional material, yellow hat & shirt & ID card
Lunch included
Please RSVP by February 22 to the EBA office @ 410-749-1820
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Flock Food [Monday Messages]
Enjoy! And don't forget to begin at the beginning... start working on memorizing Psalm 119:11!
For His Glory, and Our Joy,
Keith
Sunday, February 14, 2010
The APTAT Card
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Fighter Verse for February 14th, 2010: Psalm 119:11
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Service / Superbowl Cancellation for 02-07-10
Enjoy your family, Trust in Him. He is gracious, merciful and righteous!
Pastor Keith
Friday, January 8, 2010
Winter Weather, Just In Case!
After the recent snowfall and winter weather, I think it's wise to clarify our policy in terms of winter weather.
In general, it will not be our policy to cancel our main service at 10:30. We have a contract with a snow removal company who will clear and salt the parking lot in time for service, so the church will be accessible.
Sunday school, which depends on a greater number of volunteers to function, may be canceled, since our volunteers may be unable to make it. The decision to cancel sunday school (or the main service, in the case of truly horrific weather conditions) will be made by 7:00 AM on sunday morning. In the recent snowfall, the advance speculation served little or no purpose, and the day and main roads to church were actually quite nice.
Cancellations or Revisions to the schedule will be communicated via WOLC 102.5 fm, WBOC ch 16, and WMDT ch 47. We'll also post a notice right here on the website. If you are unable to watch the listed stations, please contact an Elder or Pastor Keith.
Use caution when making a decision to travel in snow. I live on major roads, and so the weather will have to be horrible to prevent me from attending, but if conditions keep you from traveling, then please take caution and stay home.
Thanks for taking the time to read this... looking forward to worshiping with you this coming Sunday!
In Him,
Pastor Keith