God's Vision: The State of the Ministry AddressVision and Strategy
Welcome To BARAH MINISTRIES
Rory Clark Pastor-Teacher
Good Morning!
Welcome to Barah Ministries…an intimate, local Christian Church with a worldwide impact. My name is Pastor Rory Clark. Thanks for listening to this Bible lesson!
TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON The State of the Ministry Address
LESSON INTRODUCTION
Barah Ministries has been around for over a quarter of a century. What do we stand for? Where are we headed as a ministry? In today’s lesson, you’ll find out.
And as we do regularly, honoring the Lord’s command, we’ll celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Get your bread and your wine…settle in…and join the celebration.
OPENING SONG INTRODUCTION
Let’s hear some music! James, Chapter 2, Verse 23 describes the value of the ultimate friend…
JAMES 2:23 …and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God (the Lord…God the Son…Jehovah Elohim)…and his faith in the Lord was credited to his account as righteousness,” and Abraham was called the friend of God.
As a believer in Christ, you are a friend of God as well. You are on His team. You can call on Him as a friend anytime you want. Why do we call on friends in times of need? According to Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder, THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR!
MUSIC OPENING SONG Let’s Sing the Lord’s Praises
THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR Dionne Warwick, Elton John, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder
OPENING PRAYER
Let us pray...
We’re grateful, Heavenly Father, for the privilege of studying Your absolute truth...the Word of God…
Father, we are grateful for many things…for Your “so great” salvation…for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…for a fresh start every morning…for a life filled with purpose…for beauty in the world…for the ability to worship in freedom…for peace in all circumstances that surpasses human comprehension…for a full life… for the Bible…for suffering which shapes our appreciation of You and Your provisions…and for God the Holy Spirit’s constant guidance and comfort…keep us mindful, Father, of all the spiritual wealth You have gifted to us…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s name...Amen.
TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON The State of the Ministry Address
Barah Ministries is a gift from God.
It was created to provide for all the hearers God would bring to the ministry. God put leaders in place to run the ministry and move it toward effective service.
God expects those he puts in leadership positions to be great. In one of the gospels, the Lord Jesus Christ gives a treatise on the good and the bad of leadership…Matthew, Chapter 23, Verse 11…
MATTHEW 23:11 …the greatest among you shall be your servant.
In Barah Ministries there are four people at the head of the organization…Deacon Denny Goodall…Denise Jones…Al Gleason…and me…Pastor Rory Clark.
We have never really told you formally what we think about the ministry and its future, so today seemed like a good day for it. This year, we find ourselves in a position to grow the ministry, which has been at the forefront of our minds during this year's monthly leadership meetings.
Barah Ministries was conceived in the mind of an eight-year-old boy after an act of rebellion. My Mom was having a conversation in our kitchen with family friends—on-duty detectives…and I saw it as an opportunity to escape from the confines of home. I sought to take advantage. I asked Mom, "Can I go out into the front yard?" She said, "Yes, you can…but don't leave the yard."
I left the yard. I went to the playground of my grammar school on the south side of Chicago, and a bunch of my friends were playing a game we called “knock out.” It was an ironic name considering what happened that fateful day.
It's a game most major league baseball players engage in before every game. A batter takes a ball, throws it in the air, and hits it to a group of fielders. They catch the ball and throw it back to a "catcher," who gives the ball back to the batter. I was the catcher.
Unbeknownst to the batter, as he prepared to knock the ball out to the fielders, I had crouched down behind him as he threw the ball up to hit it out to the fielders. On his follow-through, he hit me in the forehead with the bat. I was knocked down but not out.
I got up…threw my hand over the wound…and ran for home. As I crossed the street, I was almost hit by a car. It just so happened that my Mom checked to see if I was in the front yard, and when I wasn’t, she sent my sister looking for me. My sister was coming around the corner as I was dashing for home. She screamed… ran to me…and helped me get the rest of the way home.
We didn’t have a car, so it was divine providence that the on-duty detectives were at the house. They loaded me into their squad car and headed for Michael Reese Hospital, about five miles from my house. The siren of the police car wailed.
I was in the squad car's front seat, laying across my Mom’s lap with a white towel over the wound. It was a deep crimson, filling slowly with my blood. She had a worried look on her face.
No one said a word. I asked my Mom, “Am I going to die?” She said, “No… you’re no going to die.” I told her, “If I live, I’m going to dedicate my life to God.” I kept my promise. Little did I know. Forty-eight stiches from a plastic surgeon later, Barah Ministries was born.
Bara is a Hebrew word. It is the fifth word of the Bible. Genesis, Chapter 1, Verse 1…
GENESIS 1:1a In the beginning, God created (bara)…
Bara means created. It means…
BARA (a Hebrew Word) To speak something into existence…to make something from nothing.
It’s what the Lord, God the Son. Jehovah Elohim did when He created the heavens and the earth. Creation of the earth and the universe did not take seven days. The Lord spoke the heavens and the earth into existence. Bara!
It seems that’s what God does with each of us. It’s His desire to make something from us nothings! So the name of the ministry got its start. Barah Ministries is a place where God makes nothings into somethings. If you ever wondered why the break song stays the same for most lessons, listen to the words…
BREAK SONG
NOBODY Casting Crowns featuring MATTHEW WEST
The lyrics say, “I’m just a NOBODY…trying to tell everybody…all about SOMEBODY who saved my soul.” In other words, we are just nothings who want to be somethings, and we know the Lord Jesus Christ is the One who can make it happen.
In the beginning, people were pronouncing the ministry “bear-ruh,” so the letter “H” was added to the end of “bara” so people would pronounce Barah correctly.
Formal lesson began at an Ethan Allen dining room table in my first Arizona home at 1903 West Aspen Avenue in Gilbert. At the time, 29,000 people were living in Gilbert. Today there are nearly four hundred thousand residents. For three years in a row in the early years of this century, Gilbert was the fastest growing city in the world.
The ministry began with me teaching my wife and two sons the Word of God. I wanted my fathering to be judged on whether or not my evangelism to my wife and children was effective. It was. They are believers in Christ.
Reggie Schimpff, the boy’s Montessori School teacher asked if she could join with her girls, Nicole and Leah, and Barah Ministries was born. Like most ministries, it began in a house and grew from there. I’ll spare you the details of the ups and downs that have led us to this day, but to say the least, it has been an interesting and tumultuous journey.
What is our VISION as leaders of this ministry? The word VISION asks the question. “What does Barah Ministries look like in perfect condition?”
BARAH MINISTRIES VISION
We provide an accurate gospel message to unbelievers in every lesson, giving them a chance to respond to the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ’s salvation offer, so they know exactly what happens to them when they close their eyes in this life.
BARAH MINISTRIES VISION
After hearing the gospel message, unbelievers have all the information they need to be saved, and they have a simple choice to make. They can stay an unbeliever or they can become a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, beginning a relationship with Him.
BARAH MINISTRIES VISION
We teach the Word of God…the Bible…verse-by-verse to believers in Christ who are serious students of the Word of God.
It has taken us a while to achieve this vision, yet we are fulfilling it.
What is the OBJECTIVE of Barah Ministries? The word OBJECTIVE defines the singular, specific, measurable, time-bound outcome of every lesson.
BARAH MINISTRIES OBJECTIVE
In every lesson, the hearers God provides get accurate teaching from one of the twenty-seven letters of the New Testament.
Currently, we are teaching Paul's letter to the believers in Christ in first-century Ephesus…the epistle is called Ephesians.
What is the STRATEGY of Barah Ministries? The word STRATEGY outlines the single thing we are doing for distinctive advantage.
BARAH MINISTRIES STRATEGY
We teach the Word of God…the Bible…from God’s perspective and not from man’s perspective so believers in Christ can get to know the exact thinking of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
FACILITY PLANS
In 2011, we bought a piece of property on “Church Row” at 573 East Guadalupe Road in Gilbert, Arizona, large enough to host a five-thousand-square-foot building. We bought the property for 0,000 in a short sale. Today, Zillow estimates the property is worth 0,000. There is a dilapidated house on the property, and we are thinking of ways to fund the construction of a building on the property.
I know this is a dream the Lord will turn into a reality.
Shortly after we bought the property, we hired Nick Tsontakis Architecture to create architectural plans for its use. Nick is a great man and an architectural genius. We paid him ,000 to create the plans. If you'd like to see Nick's conception of what the building will look like, go to YouTube and type in Barah Ministries Flyaround. It's breathtaking.
Nick has created plans for several churches around the world, and his conception of our building's appearance is gorgeous.
Since he created the plans, I have been thinking of ways to pay for the building's expenses once it is built. In the fall, I’ll be talking to Nick about a second story on the building. We could rent out office space on the second floor to pay for the building's expenses.
From the beginning, my estimate has been that the building would cost three million dollars to build and furnish. I don't know if that's accurate, but in the fall, we'll see what the real numbers look like. In the meantime, if you have three million dollars lying around that you'd like to contribute, or if you know of organizations that funds these kinds of facilities, the leaders of Barah Ministries are all ears.
We want to build this facility debt-free to the glory of God.
Our tactical concerns are many.
BARAH MINISTRIES TACTICAL CONCERNS
How do we raise funds for the ministry's operation?
How do we attract new congregation members?
When parents bring their children to Barah Ministries, how do we teach the gospel message and the Word of God to young people in way they can understand it?
BARAH MINISTRIES TACTICAL CONCERNS
How do we pay full-time staff when we need them?
What kind of music ministry do we want?
How will we evangelize within the community?
BARAH MINISTRIES TACTICAL CONCERNS
What resources do we want to provide to people who come to the ministry?
How will we nurture the relationships when new people come to the ministry?
BARAH MINISTRIES TACTICAL CONCERNS
What kind of internet approach best serves the informational needs of prospective congregation members?
Website – APP – Newsletter - Publications - Social Media
BARAH MINISTRIES TACTICAL CONCERNS
What interest groups do we want to serve?
What organizations can we assist with the spiritual growth of their members?
These are just a few of the many things floating around in the minds of your Barah Ministries leaders. Seldom is the Pastor the one who drives the growth of a ministry. We Church Age believers are the “BODY OF CHRIST,” and every one of us who calls Barah Ministries home are called by God to help disseminate the gospel message and the Word of God to people in our periphery.
It’s time for us to make our voices heard. We are ready. The next few years are the next steps in a journey the Lord Jesus Christ has been orchestrating from eternity past. We’re looking forward to fulfilling His desires. If you have ideas to advance this vision, we’d love to hear from you. Your leaders are excited! When we return from the break, we’ll take the offering and we’ll celebrate The Lord’s Supper.
FIVE-MINUTE BREAK NOBODY Casting Crowns
TODAY’S BIBLE LESSON The State of the Ministry Address
OFFERING INTRODUCTION
Deacon Denny Goodall is on a well-deserved vacation. He’ll be back next week.
As for the offering, God appreciates generosity because it is consistent with His own character. Generosity reflects unconditional love, compassion, and a desire to help others, all virtues that are favorably impressive to our God. Proverbs 11, Verse 25 says…
PROVERBS 11:25 The generous person will be prosperous…and the one who waters others will be watered by God.
Today, we ask that you are more generous in your mid-year offering than you are normally. We can use the help. In fact, we would not exist as a ministry without your financial support. I’d be spending my weekends on the golf course pretending that one day I might have mastery over the game.
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts for always being there for us financially…and for always providing enough. Your giving is an instrument of our Lord. Thank you!
OFFERING SONG THERE IS NONE LIKE YOU Instrumental Version
THE LORD’S SUPPER CELEBRATION At the Cross, the Lord Jesus Christ Gave Us What We Didn’t Deserve
Welcome to The Lord’s Supper Celebration, the most intimate expression of our deep, intimate, and personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
In this celebration, the Lord reminds us of the unity all believers in Christ possess by sharing His body and His blood with us. In First Corinthians, Chapter 11, Verse 26, the apostle Paul says, on behalf of the Lord…
FIRST CORINTHIANS 11:26a …as often as you eat this bread (representing His body) … and as often as you drink this cup (representing His blood) … as part of the Lord's Supper Celebration…
FIRST CORINTHIANS 11:26b …you proclaim as a reality and you announce the significance of the Lord Jesus Christ's death on the Cross…and His resurrection from the dead…until He comes again at the second coming.
Every month, we celebrate The Lord’s Supper to REMEMBER. We are reminded that we are believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, dependent on Him for our so great salvation…that we are in union with Christ and nothing can separate us from our union with Him…that the Lord Jesus Christ loves us unconditionally…that we are forgiven for every sin, past, present, and future…and that we have the Lord’s grace to help in times of need, especially when we make mistakes.
The Lord’s Supper Celebration is often called communion. It’s our chance to commune with the Lord.
The Lord’s Supper Celebration is sacred, so we must not take it for granted. We must not do it “on the fly.” So have your bread and wine in front of you, and as we enjoy the elements, let’s remember our dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ for physical and spiritual sustenance.
As we celebrate The Lord’s Supper, we ask ourselves in reflection, "What did the Lord Jesus Christ do for us at the Cross?"
This month, we acknowledge that the Lord Jesus Christ gave us what we didn’t deserve at the Cross. We call it GRACE.
When we hear about grace, the thought is that grace is… GRACE God giving His creatures something they can’t earn and they don’t deserve.
The definition of EARN is easy.
EARN To gain something in return for work or effort…to become worthy of something through actions.
We can’t earn God’s grace…we can’t work for it. It’s a gift.
The definition of DESERVE is one we don’t hear often.
DESERVE To do something worthy of reward or punishment.
There is nothing inherently good in human beings that makes us worthy of reward. Because of sin in our lives, we are much more deserving of punishment. In GRACE, the Lord Jesus Christ came to earth to give us rewards and to pay the price of any punishment that could easily be directed our way.
In the last passage of study, Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verses 1 to 10, there are two verses that can probably be recited verbatim by every Christian who has had any exposure to the Bible. Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verses 8 and 9…
EPHESIANS 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith (saved is the Greek word sozo… we are saved in the past with the result that our salvation is finished forever)…and that grace…that faith…and that salvation are not from the source of yourselves…it is a gift from God…
EPHESIANS 2:9 …not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
As believers in Christ, we have mind-boggling spiritual wealth as a gift from the Lord. These two verses highlight three of God’s gifts…faith, grace, and salvation.
What is FAITH? Hebrews, Chapter 11, Verse 1 tells us…
HEBREWS 11:1 …faith is the assurance of things hoped for…the conviction of things not seen.
By giving us the gift of faith, the Lord Jesus Christ made us free to choose objects in which to place our faith. When we choose to become believers in Christ, we are placing our faith in Him. We are expressing full assurance and total conviction that we are saved because of the work the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished for our benefit on the Cross. We have total confidence in His promise that if we believe in Him, we are saved. We simply invest our faith in His Word and rest in its truth.
How big does our faith have to be? In Mark, Chapter 4, Verses 30 to 32, the Lord tells us…
MARK 4:30 The Lord Jesus Christ said, “How shall we picture the kingdom of God…or by what parable shall we present it?”
MARK 4:31 “The kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, which when sown upon the soil… though it is smaller than all the seeds…”
MARK 4:32 “…once it is sown…grows up to become larger than all the garden plants…and it forms large branches so the birds of the air can nest under its shade.”
A tiny bit of faith produces big results because God powers our faith. Romans, Chapter 5, Verses 1 and 2…
ROMANS 5:1 Therefore, having been justified on the principle of faith in the past, we believers in Christ now and forevermore keep on having peace with God the Father through our union with the Lord Jesus Christ…
ROMANS 5:2 …and now we believers in Christ have direct access to a Person of privileged rank…God the Father…who placed us into a sphere of grace in which we presently stand…and through our union with Christ also we keep on exulting in the future hope of the glory of God.
Wow! The Lord says a little faith moves mountains! Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verses 8 and 9…
EPHESIANS 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith…and that grace, that faith, and that salvation are not from the source of yourselves…it is a gift from God…
EPHESIANS 2:9 …not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
What is GRACE? We heard the definition earlier…
GRACE God giving His creatures something they can’t earn and they don’t deserve.
The Bible has much to say about grace. Psalm 103, Verse 8 speaks about the Lord as a graceful Person…
PSALM 103:8 The Lord is compassionate and full of grace…slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
First Peter, Chapter 5, Verse 10…
FIRST PETER 5:10 After you believers in Christ have suffered for a little while…the God of all grace who called you to His eternal glory IN CHRIST…will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
The Bible speaks of grace as the Lord’s policy toward His creatures…Second Timothy, Chapter 1, Verse 9…
SECOND TIMOTHY 1:9 …the Lord has saved us believers in Christ and has called us with a holy calling… not according to our works…but according to His own purpose and His grace which was granted to those of us IN CHRIST Jesus from all eternity…
Best of all, grace is a power…it’s an influence…it’s a force…and it’s an all- sufficient provision the Lord puts at our disposal…Second Corinthians, Chapter 1, Verse 9…
SECOND CORINTHIANS 12:9a And the Lord Jesus Christ has said to me (Paul), “My grace is sufficient for you… for divine power is perfected in human weakness.”
Amazing! This thing called GRACE.
Finally, even though the Lord’s gifts can’t be ranked or prioritized because they all matter, SALVATION easily is one of the Lord’s greatest gifts to those to whom He has given the breath of life. Ephesians, Chapter 2, Verses 8 and 9…
EPHESIANS 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith…and that grace and that faith and that salvation are not from the source of yourselves…it is a gift from God…
EPHESIANS 2:9 …not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
What is SALVATION?
In the Biblical sense, it is deliverance from a catastrophic result, namely deliverance from the wrath of God the Father…it is protection from harm…it is the gift of eternal life in heaven when we close our eyes in this life.
For those who reject a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, their eternal fate is The Lake of Fire, a place described in Revelation, Chapter 20, Verse 10…
REVELATION 20:10 And the devil who deceived the whole world was thrown into The Lake of Fire and brimstone…where the beast and the false prophet are also…and the three of them will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
Satan, the beast, and the false prophet are the counterfeit Trinity.
For those who place their confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ, their eternal fate is quite different…Acts, Chapter 4, Verse 12…
ACTS 4:12 “…there is SALVATION in no one else…for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved (except the name of the Lord Jesus Christ).”
Hebrews, Chapter 7, Verse 25…
HEBREWS 7:25 The Lord Jesus Christ is able to save forever all those who draw near to God the Father through Him…since the Lord always lives to make intercession for those who draw near (to believe in Him).
Grace and faith and salvation are gifts from the Lord Jesus Christ…the One who gave His life for us on the Cross. It’s a pleasure today and every time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper to remember the depth of affection the Lord has for His creatures. Take some time out, both today and every day, to remember who the Lord thinks you are, because He knows what He is talking about.
THE LORD’S SUPPER CELEBRATION Enjoying the Elements
Bread and wine.
The Lord gave us these things to remember Him. In a few moments, we will enjoy the elements together as we listen to The Lord's Supper Song.
Matthew, Chapter 26, Verses 26 to 28 tells us the reason the Lord wants us to celebrate this meal together…
MATTHEW 26:26 While the apostles were eating, Jesus took some bread…and after a blessing…He broke the bread, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take…eat…this is My body which is being broken for you.”
MATTHEW 26:27 And when Jesus had taken a cup and given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it…all of you…”
MATTHEW 26:28 “…for this is My blood…the blood of a new covenant (the new testament)…My blood…poured out for WHOSOEVER…for the forgiveness of sins.”
We celebrate to REMEMBER…that Jesus Christ’s BLOOD paid for our sins…that Jesus Christ died as our sin substitute…that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead to prove His Deity…that Jesus Christ saved us from the wrath of God the Father… and that Jesus Christ will come again to gather us unto Himself.
As believers in Christ, we are grateful for His work on the Cross…it gives us hope...the assurance of an amazing future.
Enjoy the elements as we listen to Rosemary Siemens sing AMAZING GRACE.
THE LORD’S SUPPER SONG
AMAZING GRACE Rosemary Siemens
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE The Good News of Jesus Christ’s Salvation Offer to the Human Race
The next ten minutes could be the ten most important minutes of your life. You’ll be introduced to the good news concerning how you can spend all eternity in heaven when you close your eyes in this life. We want you to know that…
GOD WANTS YOU! He Wants You Make the Most Important Decision of Your Life
…and what He wants for you is that you make the most important decision of your life.
The Lord Jesus Christ gave you a powerful weapon and a perfect gift from the moment of your physical birth…CHOICE. You get to choose the life you want to live. The life you are living right now is the sum of all the decisions you have made so far.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the Sovereign God of the Universe and the Savior of all mankind, says there are only two choices for your eternal future…either heaven (the small gate and the narrow way) or the Lake of Fire (the wide gate and the broad way) … described in Matthew, Chapter 7, Verses 13 and 14…
MATTHEW 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate…for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction…and there are many who enter through the wide gate (into the Lake of Fire).”
MATTHEW 7:14 “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to the resurrection life (in heaven) … and there are FEW who find the small gate.”
MOST PEOPLE CHOOSE THE BROAD WAY according to the Lord. Which road will you choose for your eternal life? You have the chance to be the eternal hero of your own life by making the right choice.
Those who are on the broad way that leads to destruction believe there is safety in numbers. It is not true. Believing what everyone else believes does not save you. Learning the truth saves you. Investing your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation will save you.
The Lord Jesus Christ is 100% God…that’s why we call Him Lord…and He is 100% Man…true humanity like you and me…that’s why we call Him Jesus…and He is the promised Messiah…that’s why we call Him Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ says HE is the small gate, which makes Him your guide to heaven. John, Chapter 14, Verse 6…
JOHN 14:6 Jesus said to the doubting apostle, Thomas, “I am the way (to salvation) … and I am the truth (through the gospel message in the Word of God) … and I am the resurrection life (eternal life) … and no one comes to God the Father in heaven but through believing in Me.”
God the Father’s plan for your life is simple…BELIEVE in His Son and it is your ticket to eternal life. Acts, Chapter 16, Verse 31 says…
ACTS 16:31 “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved by God, you and everyone in your household who also believes.” Those on the broad way that leads to destruction place their confidence in liars. The Lord Jesus Christ warns about them in Matthew, Chapter 7, Verse 15…
MATTHEW 7:15 “Beware of the false prophets (false teachers) … who come to you in sheep’s clothing (appearing harmless) … who inwardly are ravenous wolves (out to destroy your eternal future).”
As ravenous wolves, false teachers want you to choose to follow a false gospel message. Proverbs, Chapter 14, Verse 12 illuminates the issue…
PROVERBS 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man (saving yourself by thinking good deeds will earn your salvation) … but its end is the way of death (the second death in the Lake of Fire).
The Lord Jesus Christ offers the true gospel message and an invitation to be saved in John, Chapter 3, Verse 36…
JOHN 3:36 “He who believes in the Son has the resurrection life (eternal life) right at that moment…but he who does not obey the command to believe in the Son will not see the resurrection life…instead the wrath of God (the Lake of Fire) abides on him.”
RIGHT WHERE YOU SIT…RIGHT NOW…you can tell God the Father that you are believing in the Lord Jesus Christ for your salvation, and that is the moment of eternal life for you.
Who is this God who saves you? The apostle Paul describes the Lord Jesus Christ in First Corinthians, Chapter 15, Verses 3 and 4…
FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:3 For I (Paul) delivered to all of you as of primary importance the gospel message I also received from God…that it was Jesus Christ who died for our sins according to the Old Testament Scriptures…
FIRST CORINTHIANS 15:4 …and that He was buried…and that He was raised from the dead on the third day…according to the Old Testament Scriptures… God’s enemy…Satan…is the sponsor of false teachers, false teaching, and a false gospel message. You have to be able to discern the difference between God’s truth and Satan’s lies…John, Chapter 8, Verses 31 and 32…
JOHN 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word (the Word of God from a true teacher), then you are truly disciples of Mine…”
JOHN 8:32 “…and you will know the truth (the true gospel message) … and the truth will make you free.”
Another warning for those who choose the broad way is Matthew, Chapter 7, Verses 21 to 23…
MATTHEW 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven…but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven (by obeying the gospel message) will enter heaven.”
MATTHEW 7:22 “Many will say to Me on that day (of judgment at The Great White Throne), ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name…and in Your name did we not cast out demons…and in Your name did we not perform many miracles?’”
MATTHEW 7:23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you…depart from Me (into the Lake of Fire) … you who kept on practicing a lifestyle of lawlessness.’”
Don’t wait until it’s too late to consider what road you are on! Mark, Chapter 1, Verse 15 says…
MARK 1:15 “The time is fulfilled…and the kingdom of God is at hand…so repent…(change your mind about having a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ) … and believe in HIS gospel message.”
The will of God the Father is that you believe in His Son so you can have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who choose the narrow way have decided that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone is the ONLY ticket to heaven.
Get off of the broad way that leads to destruction! Get yourself on the narrow way that leads to eternal life in heaven RIGHT THIS MINUTE. Jesus Christ is ready to save you.
THE GOSPEL MESSAGE The Good News of Jesus Christ’s Salvation Offer to the Human Race
CLOSING SONG INTRODUCTION
Let’s close with music! Being IN CHRIST…the status of all believers in Christ… is special. It give us hope. Romans, Chapter 15, verse 13 says…
ROMANS 15:13 …may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the enabling power of God the Holy Spirit.
It is the Lord’s intention that we abound in every good thing through Him…or as Laura Daigle says, in Him…in her song IN CHRIST ALONE.
MUSIC CLOSING SONG Let’s Sing the Lord’s Praises
IN CHRIST ALONE Lauren Daigle
CLOSING PRAYER Let us pray...
Almighty God and Father…
Thank you for Barah Ministries…thank you for Your perfect provision and Your perfect timing…we ask You to give us the funding to take this ministry You have been preparing and nurturing to the next level…and give us the courage to see our dreams and Yours come to fruition…
…we ask this through the power of God the Holy Spirit…in Christ’s name...Amen.
THE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Please make it a habit to listen to the announcements. They are posted separately. Keep current on the things going on and coming up in Barah Ministries.
DISCUSSING THE LESSON AND PRAYER CIRCLE
Resumes June 22…enjoy today and Father’s Day off
GOT BIBLICAL QUESTIONS?
Ask the Pastor pastor@barahministries.com
WANT US TO PRAY FOR SOMEONE?
Send your request to pastor@barahministries.com
KEEP ON STUDYING THE WORD OF GOD DAILY!
Thanks for coming! Thanks for watching! Thanks for listening!
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