Surviving or Thriving

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning service December 27, 2015:

“Remember, everyone will wind up somewhere. In a word, at their destiny. Few people get there on purpose.” -Clayton King

The search for fulfillment alone should tell us that there is an actual fulfillment to be had.

Scripture: John 10:10

Abundantly – Life that never ends; yet this abundance can also be enjoyed now in this present life.
Peace, security, purpose for living, joy of facing any adversary (including the grave) without fear and the ability to endure hardship with confident assurance.
“Eternal life is given – Abundant life is granted”

1. Surviving Life

A. Allow the past to control the future

  • Scars remind us of where we have been.
  • They don’t have to dictate where we are going
  • According to James Rinehart – “Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.”

B. Live in fear of the “what ifs”

  • Faith is not about everything turning out okay; Faith is about being okay no matter how things turn out.
  • The basis of faith is not knowing, but in trusting.

C. Live for the temporary and not the eternal

  • “The bigger game is the game of life – That’s the important one to win.” -Tammy Fitzgerald

D. Ignoring the Challenges

  • Not considering God’s will over your own plans
    • “When someone desires what God wants more than what they want, they position themselves to hear what God truly wants.” Pastor Peyton
  • Sin that needs to be dealt with
    • Dr. Charles Stanley asks two thought provoking questions –
    • “Why would anyone who genuinely loves God want to live for the very sins that cost Jesus His life?”
    • “How could any believer glory in what God abhors?”
  • Not doing those things that you know you need to be doing – James 4:17
    • “To him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

2. Transiting to a Thriving Life

A. Understand that “Your daily choices have consequences”

B. Pursue God’s Ultimate Priority – Your Relationship with Christ
“Make your ultimate goal your own personal relationship with Him” -Oswald Chambers

C. Follow God’s calling for your life
Become Christ-like – Romans 8:29; Galatians 5:22, 23

D. Participate in God’s Mission
Use the gifts and abilities God has given you for His glory – 1 Peter 4:10, 11
God does not equip us to stagnate but to serve

Be equipped!
Planning: “Making preparations today for tomorrow’s opportunities” (Dr. Charles Stanley from “A Touch of His Wisdom”)

When Life Seems to Have Derailed

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning Service December 20, 2015:

Scripture: Luke 1-2

The setting of Jesus birth was far from ideal.

1. As we live out the call God has for our life, we may be misunderstood and ridiculed

  • The shame Mary would endure as she accepted the calling God had for her being a young virgin carrying the very Son of God – Luke 1:26-35

2.God’s plans do not always match our plans, but God’s plans are ultimately far better

  • The stock and sense of betrayal Joseph would experience as Mary confided in him about her pregnancy – Matthew 1:18-25

3.God is in complete control and will arrange the right circumstances for us to accomplish His will

  • The timing of the trip to Bethlehem that was mandated by Rome was less than perfect (Mary was nine months pregnant) – Luke 2:1-5
  • “Obey God and leave all the consequences to Him.” – Dr. Charles Stanley

 

4.God does not call us to do what He does not enable us to complete

  • The transportation was nowhere near appropriate for a four-day, approximately ninety-mile trip on donkey – Luke 2:6

5.God works all things together for good to them that are His and that love Him

  • The accommodations in Bethlehem were less than perfect: A cave being used as a stable had to serve as a nursery – Luke 2:7
  • The picture of the infant Son of God tolerating a stable’s dirt and foul odors is a fitting metaphor for the later scene of the Savior bearing the stench of sin as He died at Calvary. – John MacArthur
  • “God assumes full responsibility for our needs when we obey Him.”

6.God’s provision comes in ways we may not expect, but it may require our humility

  • The place Mary laid Jesus was far from what a new mother would want for her newborn baby: a feeding trough – Luke 2:7
  • “As children of a sovereign God, we are never victims of our circumstances”  -Dr. Charles Stanley

7.God’s calling may require us to adjust our plans and schedule

  • The abrupt news of the babe’s life being threaten and the need to flee to Egypt – Matthew 2:13, 14
  • “Listening to God is essential to walking with God.”

Quote of the Week – December 14, 2015

“While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night,
Behold throughout the heavens,
There shone a holy light:

Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus
That hailed our Saviour’s birth:

Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.

Down in a lowly manger
Our humble Christ was born
And God send us salvation,
That blessed Christmas morn:

Go, Tell It On The Mountain,
Over the hills and everywhere;
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.”

-Adapted by John W. Work

Hanging of the Greens Service – December 6, 2015

Our annual Hanging of the Greens service for 2015 was held on Sunday evening, December 6th.  It was a wonderful time to come together as a church family and lift praise to God for sending His Son Jesus Christ to be born those many years ago in Bethlehem.  We sang hymns and decorated the church sanctuary while Pastor Peyton described the Biblical significance to each decoration or ornament displayed.  Afterwards, we all gathered in the Family Life Center for a time of fellowship and delicious food!  Thanks to all who worked so hard to make this such a wonderful time.

Hanging of the Greens Logo

Hanging of the Greens Order of Service

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the new born King;
peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations, rise;
join the triumph of the skies;
with the angelic hosts proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold him come,
offspring of the virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
hail the incarnate Deity,
pleased as man with us to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
risen with healing in his wings.
Mild, he lays his glory by,
born that we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth.

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

-Charles Wesley, 1739

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Oh Little Town of Bethlehem

O little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting Light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.

For Christ is born of Mary,
and gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King,
and peace to all on earth.

How silently, how silently
the wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to man hearts
the blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive him still
the dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray.
Cast out our sin and enter in;
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel.

-Phillips Brooks, 1868

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O Come All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem!
Come and behold him, born the King of angels;

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Sing, alleluia, All ye choirs of angels,
sing, all ye blissful ones of heaven above:
“Glory to God, all glory in the highest!”

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing;

O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him,
O come, let us adore him, Christ the Lord!

-John Frances Wade (Translated by Frederick Oakeley), 1841

Quote of the Week – December 7, 2015

“Joy to the world! the Lord is come: let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare him room,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven and nature sing,
and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns: let all their songs employ,
while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat the sounding joy,
repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

No more let sin and sorrow grow nor thorns infest the ground;
he comes to make his blessings flow
far as the curse is found,
far as the curse is found,
far as, far as the curse is found.
He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove
the glories of his righteousness
and wonders of his love,
and wonders of his love,
and wonders, wonders of his love.”

Isaac Watts

Politically Incorrect

Here are the completed notes from the Sunday Morning Service December 6, 2015:

Scripture:  John 1:1-17

P/C: Speaking what is socially acceptable and tolerant

1. Jesus was far from politically correct

The Pharisees:

  • A religious and political party in Israel in NT times
  • About 5 thousand in number
  • Fundamentalists of Judaism
  • Their zeal to apply the OT Scriptures directly to life led to a complex system of tradition and works

Examples of Jesus being Politically Incorrect:

  • Took time to speak to a Samaritan Woman – John 4
  • Ate with sinners – Luke 15:1, 2
  • Healed on the Sabbath Day – Luke 6:6-11
  • Strongly denounced the Pharisees – Matthew 23

Other Examples – Mark 2:23-28 (pluck corn on the Sabbath)

2. Believers are called to follow Jesus and be conformed to His image Not compromise with the world and culture around us

3. Truth is not politically correct but it does exist

A.Truth is absolute (that which is ultimately true)
B.Truth is discovered not invented
C.Truth is unchanging
D.Truth extends to all people, at all times, and in all places regardless of a person’s perspective or beliefs
E.Truth corresponds to reality
F.Truth claims are narrow and exclusive

  • If something is true, then its opposite is false

Tolerance: Be open minded, accept everyone, be careful not to offend anyone, and accept all religions and viewpoints as equally true

This is not an accurate understanding of tolerance

  • Instead of “Merry Christmas” it is “Happy Holidays”
  • Removal of Nativity scenes from public places (even some private places)
  • Don’t use the phrase “Radical Islamic Terrorist”
  • Confederate flag
  • Washington Redskins
  • Guns (Gun free zones)
  • Believing that marriage is between one man and one woman

The Christian’s Position

Real Tolerance: Understanding the position of others, knowing why you disagree, living alongside them, loving them, and confronting their false ideas with Biblical truth

4. Understand what you believe and why you believe it

5. Expect to be misunderstood by some and attacked by others

  • Racist, bigot, intolerant, judgmental, homophobe, hate speech
  • John 15:18-25 – If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me. If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin. He that hateth me hateth my Father also. If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father. But this cometh to pass, that the word might be fulfilled that is written in their law, They hated me without a cause.

2015 Amherst County Christmas Parade

Corner Stone Baptist Church entered two floats in this year’s Ray Puckett / Amherst County Lions Christmas Parade.  Many thanks to all in our church who made this possible spending hours building the floats, organizing everyone, and especially for the youth who gave out candy and information about our church to those in the audience.  GREAT JOB CORNER STONE – AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OF OUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS HERE IN AMHERST COUNTY!

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Hanging of the Greens

 

Make plans to attend this years’

Hanging of the Greens

at Corner Stone Baptist Church

December 6, 2015 at 6:00pm

Join us as we enjoy the beautiful music of Christmas and the timeless message of Jesus’ birth and decorate our church with traditional decorations.  Afterwards, we will gather together in the Fellowship Hall for homemade goodies and punch.

Quote of the Week – December 1, 2015

“The first Noel the angel did say
was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
in fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
on a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
born is the King of Israel.

They looked up and saw a star
shining in the east, beyond them far;
and to the earth it gave great light,
and so it continued both day and night.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
born is the King of Israel.

And by the light of that same star
three Wise Men came from country far;
to seek for a king was their intent,
and to follow the star wherever it went.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
born is the King of Israel.

This star drew nigh to the northwest,
o’er Bethlehem it took its rest;
and there it did both stop and stay,
right over the place where Jesus lay.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
born is the King of Israel.

Then entered in those Wise Men three,
full reverently upon the knee,
and offered there, in his presence,
their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
born is the King of Israel.”

-Anonymous