Easy To Read The Verses, A Little Harder To Follow
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has
made me free from the law of sin and death.”
It was a beautiful Sunday morning as we gathered to worship at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Jerry Abercrombie greeted the congregation and opened our morning service with prayer. Special prayers were requested for David Anthony, Andy Williams, Jimmy Easter, Finley, the Denny Chenoweth family, Harvey, Ernestine, Angel, George, Wayne’s cousin and Dot’s cousin’s family. Kenny White shared praise and thanks and Wayne Holly shared a praise. Linda Abercrombie expressed thanks to Darlene Mitchell for beautifully decorating the sanctuary for the Christmas season.
Terry Lett taught the adult Sunday school lesson, “Planned,” a study of Luke 1: 13- 25. “God’s promises point to His redemptive plan for His creation. God has the power to do what He says He will do and believers can live with the confidence that God keeps His promises.”
Janet Chaney shared information about the Lottie Moon Christmas offering this month. She also shared a story about remembering that “the day you plant the seed is not the day you eat the fruit.”
Linda read Psalm 28:7 and shared the devotional, “His Grace,” about the sustaining grace that gets us through life’s difficult times. Let
God’s grace dethrone your fear and lead you home.
Steven Shaddox led the congregation in singing “What A Friend We Have in Jesus” and “Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.” We were blessed to have Steven and Kelli and family with us to share their testimony about going into the foreign mission field. They have been appointed to be longterm missionaries in the Czech Republic in central Europe. In his testimony, Steven told us that God calls us to bloom where we’re planted and sow the seed of the gospel. “We should be faithful to scatter and water the seed. God provides the growth. One waters and God gives the growth.” They asked that everyone pray for their mission.
Pastor Mark Hall shared God’s message, “What Chance Have I Got?” and read Romans 7: 14-25, and Romans 8: 1-2 which says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.”
Brother Mark told us that the fact is that we all fall short. “It is easy to read the verses, but a little harder to follow. We sin and then wonder why we did when we said we wouldn’t do it again. The problem is that we are a fleshly being even though we are a Christian.
We want to do good and honor God. Being saved doesn’t make you sinless, but it does make you sin less and less as you grow in Christ. We can’t serve God and still drag that old sin around.
In Romans 7: 24, it tells us of dragging around that body of death, that sin. “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” But verse 25 tells us, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.” If we were perfect, we wouldn’t need Jesus. It is our failures that make us realize how much we need Jesus, not our successes.”
In closing, Brother Mark told us that the bottom line is that there are no free passes. “It is the grace of God through Jesus Christ that is the payment for our failures. Someone has to pay our fines. We can’t just get the charges dismissed. Jesus paid the price. God is a righteous judge. You have one chance and that is Jesus. There is no grace or forgiveness without Him no matter how good or bad we have been.” Brother Mark referred to Romans 6:1-4.
Our hymn of invitation was “Wherever He Leads, I’ll Go.” Rick Lett gave the benediction.
As we begin the Christmas season in celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, we invite you to come worship with us at Mill Creek Baptist Church, located 3 ½ miles east of Noel, just off Highway 90. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. and worship service at 11 a.m. Everyone is welcome.
Romans 8:1-2