Dec 4, 2016 Christmas Party Breakfast

THIS SUNDAY

CHRISTMAS PARTY BREAKFAST

We need you to join us!!!!!

Bring your favorite breakfast dish !!!!!

Breakfast - Clocks - Lesson

THIS SUNDAY

IS 

BREAKFAST SUNDAY

ALSO 

SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK

NOV. 6: UNSTOPPABLE OPPORTUNITIES

NOVEMBER 1, 2016

By Justin Randolph
Pastor, Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville

Focal Passage: Acts 3:1-10

I am by nature a man of lists. I make a list the night before so the following day will be more productive. Now, there is nothing wrong with this. In fact, it allows me to separate the important from the urgent and eliminate wasted distractions that might keep me from finishing pertinent matters that require my attention. In other words, my list keeps me on track. However, there is a drawback to my list. I have a tendency to ignore or avoid interruptions. These interruptions are sometimes orchestrated by God and involve an unexpected opportunity to make Christ known.  While it is not a sin to be busy, it can be sinful to be too busy.

In our Scripture today, Peter and John are making their way to the temple complex for the afternoon prayer time that included animal sacrifices.  They could expect a crowd of people in attendance and their desire was to use this as a moment to share their newfound faith in their risen Lord. However, they were interrupted at the gate by the sounds of a beggar asking for alms. No doubt this is not the first time they had entered the temple through the gate called Beautiful and no doubt this man had been there before, but now Peter and John saw him not as an interruption, but as a divine appointment. No longer was he keeping them from something they needed to accomplish, he was the reason they were there. What was the difference?

The difference was the example of Jesus Christ. Jesus taught them to care for the individual and to see people not as interruptions, but as possibilities. So, when Peter looked intently at this man, he saw an opportunity to glorify His Lord. Many times we are guilty of focusing on not only how busy we are, but also on the overwhelming need around us.  When we do this, we feel helpless and hopeless. But, while it is true the need is great, our God is greater. Likewise, we are not responsible for meeting every need, just the ones to which He calls us.  In this case, Peter knew God had called him to give all he could to this man.  It was not what the man was expecting. We can almost feel his initial anguish at Peter’s response of “silver and gold have I none.” But, we can also imagine the joyful response when he realized the gift he did receive was so much greater.

Notice the ripple effect this miracle had on the crowd. This act of kindness and the divine encounter opened the door to the opportunity which Peter and John had initially sought, a platform to proclaim Christ. We must recognize that divine interruptions are there to further our mission and not deter it. This involves trusting the Lord in every circumstance.  We must intentionally look around us for these divine encounters.  In the flesh, we do not always see them.  But, in the Spirit we can not only see them, but take full advantage of them.  So, start your week with the excitement of knowing you are living not by fate, but by faith, and believe God will use you to accomplish His eternal plan.

"TELL SOMEONE" Is Coming -

Class Members,

In this week's lesson, Ms. Pat covered "One Great Task." That task is fulfilling the great commission that Jesus gave to us.

Matthew 28:18-20   18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying,“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 [a]Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you [b]always, even to the end of the age.”

How many of us are "good" at witnessing to family members, friends, acquaintances, and or strangers? If a stranger came up to you and asked you to tell him/her about the Gospel, could you do it? I must admit: I would stammer, mumble, and look for help from someone. That is the reason for "Tell Someone."

 

"Tell Someone" by Pastor Greg Laurie will be the new Wednesday Night Bible Study. 

• This study helps group members identify people and places already in their daily routines, encouraging and empowering them to share the good news of Jesus Christ. 
• Evangelism shouldn't be an artificial religious sales pitch. 
• We shouldn't be afraid of burning bridges with people we know and love. 
• Instead, we should build bridges with our stories to connect people to the heart of the Savior.  

This refreshing look at evangelism from Greg Laurie, one of the nation’s most prominent pastors and evangelists, will help Christians—new and old alike—discover the joy of evangelism as the good news of Jesus naturally overflows into their daily lives..

                                                                                                                  

I learned today, that approximately 95% of today's Christians have never spoken to anyone about the Gospel or led anyone to Christ. If we are not "sharers" of the Gospel, then we are"hoarders". Come join the "sharers" on Wednesday, Oct 26th, 2016. Come get "EQUIPPED" and "ENCOURAGED" to share the Gospel.

Wednesday Night October 26th @ 5:45 PM

                                                                            

Pat Howard

         Jim Arrington            

THIS SUNDAY - OCT 2

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!!!!!

Bring your favorite breakfast dish......

Enjoy the fellowship, great food, and a great lesson......

OCT. 2: ONE GREAT COMMITMENT

By Justin Randolph
Pastor of Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville

Focal Passage: Romans 10:1-3, 8b-13

I was in the Walmart checkout line recently, impatiently waiting my turn (don’t judge me), when I glanced at the shirt of the man in front of me. It made the observation that “only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you; Jesus Christ and the American soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.”

While I had seen this quote before, it took on new meaning as I prepared for this Sunday School lesson. Most religions in the world, including the Jews of Paul’s day, are very zealous for their beliefs. At the core of these beliefs is the idea good works can earn one favor with God.  Even in our churches, we can find people who are living their lives attempting to connect with God by the things they do. My thought as I read this shirt was this: why would God send His Son to die for us if being good was good enough?

Paul attempts to answer this question in chapter 10 of his letter to the church at Rome. He begins by expressing his great love for his fellow Jews and how he fervently prays for their salvation. This causes me to question myself: do I fervently pray for the salvation of my co-workers, neighbors, and friends? It is one thing to say you care about the lost, it is quite another to put action to our desires though prayer and intentional evangelism.

After confronting the fallacy that one can earn salvation for themselves, Paul turns to how one must be saved. He argues one must confess and believe. But, what does one confess? Namely a person confesses, or agrees, that Jesus is Lord. For the Jew, this connects the name used for God in the Old Testament with Jesus in the New Testament. In other words, it is the confession that Jesus is God and thus He has authority over my life.

Second, one must believe that Jesus died in their place so that their personal sins might be forgiven and rose again proving that His sacrifice for sin was acceptable to God.  Once this is done, a person is saved from the future wrath of God upon sin and saved unto good works for His God that will make a difference in eternity. These ideas do not stand alone, but are etched together.  For we cannot be saved without first accepting Jesus as our Savior and then embracing Him as Lord over our life.

Finally, Paul demonstrates the openness of this salvation. Christ loves all and died for all. This gospel is for Jews and Gentiles, slave and free, rich and poor, women and men alike. Christ is “rich unto all.” Salvation is free to all, but it is not automatic. Like any gift, salvation is bought and paid for, but it must be opened and received. We receive God’s gift of forgiveness and grace through confession and belief. This confession of Jesus as Lord and the belief in His death, burial, and resurrection is how we all are saved and it is the hope of all mankind.

Lesson for SEP. 18: ONE GREAT PROBLEM

By Justin Randolph
Pastor of Zion Hill Baptist Church, Sevierville, TN

Focal Passage: Romans 3:9-12,19-20, 23

It is popular today to discuss whether or not it is relevant or important to name the problem.  Does not identifying the problem make solving it easier? I would argue without proper identification of a problem, a solution is nearly impossible to find.

So, why do people today seem to find it so difficult to name a problem? I believe it is because of their feelings about the problem. It is easy to armchair quarterback, or in other words to offer solutions from the outside looking in. However, when a problem hits close to home and becomes personal, by invading your life or inner circle, it becomes so much harder to name the problem and take the necessary steps to solve it. 

This is why Paul takes such great pains in the first part of his letter to the church at Rome to identify the problem that plagues all of humanity. Paul clearly articulates that the problem mankind faces is inherent in his nature. In other words, he is born with it and can do nothing about it.  The word he uses 47 times to describe mankind’s problem is sin. To sin is to miss the mark or the target. It refers to missing the intended purpose for which we were created, namely to obey and glorify God. Anything we think, say, or do that opposes God or His character as revealed in Scripture is sin.

The main point made by Paul in the remaining verses of Romans 3 is that sin is a universal condition of all mankind and therefore we all stand guilty before a Holy God. Likewise, none of us can be saved by our own merit. I like how Paul puts it in the form of a question in verse nine: “What then are we better than they?” How many times have we compared ourselves by the standard of ourselves and looked across the street at our neighbor and said, “Well, at least I am not as bad as they.” And, yet in God’s eyes you are still sinful and still unable to be justified in His sight. You may not be as bad as some, but you may be worse than others. Regardless, simply one sin is enough to keep you apart from God.

So then, what is the purpose of the law? Paul says it is there simply to make us aware of our problem. Then, once the problem is identified, we can start searching for a solution.  But, this is where we run into an even bigger quandary because a solution cannot readily be found.  Enter grace through the redemption offered in Jesus Christ. Therefore, God is just in that sin is exposed and rightly punished, but man is justified by the perfect sacrifice of Christ on the cross.  One great problem solved and even greater solution.

AUG. 28: LOVE GETS INVOLVED

AUGUST 22, 2016

By Gene Price
Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason

Focal Passage: Luke 10:25-37

Jesus encounters an expert in the law. This expert knew the first five books of the Bible backwards and forward. Jesus uses this occasion to teach a very important truth. That truth is that a person cannot separate their relationship with God from their relationship with their fellowman. Jesus told the Parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate what loving compassion looks like. He coupled that with describing and illustrating how believers should go the extra mile to demonstrate acts of kindness.

When a person loves God, they will love others (Luke 10:25-28). This expert in the law asks the most important question anyone can ask; “How can a person inherit eternal life?” However this expert assumed some human responsibility was attached to this concept of attaining eternal life. His question implied that he had to do something in order to receive eternal life. Jesus answered his question by asking him a question, “What does God’s Word say?” Surely an expert in the Mosaic law would know the answer. He quoted “to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, with all your mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself.” Seen clearly is the fact that loving God and loving our neighbor are the two greatest commandments. All of the Ten Commandments can be summarized in those two commandments. Yet a person cannot love anyone else until he loves God. And a person cannot love God without having a faith relationship with Jesus first.

When a person loves God, their love for God will be demonstrated through their actions (vv. 29-32).  Now this expert wanted to know how far Jesus would go in demanding love for one’s neighbor. This expert’s attitude is wrong to begin with. It seems he wants to limit “neighbor” to as few people as possible. The neighbor is the one “nearby,” but how near? Does “nearby” include the one a mile away? Two miles? Jesus tells the story of a man on a journey from Jerusalem to Jericho who was beat up and robbed and was left half-dead. The priest and Levite (religious people) passed by on the other side and refused to help the man.  Their failure to help was a failure to love, and failure to love is a sin (James 4:17). Two people who professed to love God failed to help a needy person when they had the opportunity to do so. Neither man was a neighbor to the needy man. God calls every believer to demonstrate His love to others, even to those who are enemies or are undeserving.

When a person loves God, their love for God and for others knows no limit (vv. 33-37).  The crowd stood in disbelief when the hero of the story was a Samaritan. To a Jew in the first century, there was no such thing as a “good Samaritan.” This Samaritan took action (he had compassion) as he saw the wounded man lying in the road. He washed the man’s wounds with oil and wine. He put the man on his own animal and brought him to an inn. Then he paid the inn keeper to take care of the man and his needs.

Jesus told this story to teach that love for God is often demonstrated by loving others. Jesus tells all to “Go and do likewise.” It is easy to say we love people. The real challenge comes when love must be shown through actions. Many times a person wants to limit their love to certain people or situations, but Christ-like love knows no limits. To show love toward other people is always costly. This story is a model of what ministry should look like in our lives. Herschel Hobbs said, “Ministry is seeing an opportunity and, being moved by love, going into action to bring relief to someone in distress and need.”

LESSON FOR AUGUST 21, 2016

GIVE MONEY MORE GENEROUSLY

By Gene Price
Pastor, Tumbling Creek Baptist Church, Gleason

Focal Passage: Proverbs 11:23-29

Proverbs offers practical instructions on the use of money. Money is essential for living; however, believers are to recognize that God requires accountability. No matter how hard a person has toiled, in reality God is the source of all blessings. God’s blessings are not given to be hoarded but to be shared (II Kings 4:1-7). The blessing of God is promised to those who give generously to God’s work and God’s people.

A believer is to be generous with what God has given (Proverbs 11:23-26).  In v. 23 the desires of the righteous and the desires of the wicked are seen. The righteous desire what is good and beneficial. In contrast, the desires of the wicked lead to wrath. Verse 24 presents a paradox. A person who freely gives will always have plenty, but a person who is miserly and fails to help those in need will himself always be in need. If a person freely shares their resources with others, God will bless them with even more. Generosity is like a seed. In the spring the seed seems lost as it is planted in the ground. Yet, it springs up in time bringing even more seed with it. Jesus said, “give and it will be given to you” (Luke 6:38). God supernaturally blesses generosity.  If a person refuses to be charitable, they often find themselves working against God. Poverty usually will be the result. What seems prudent to the miserly person can have the opposite effect. When he opens his clenched fist, he may find that his increase has disappeared.

This Scripture presents two symbols of generosity: water and grain. Water was a precious commodity and something desired by those who were thirsty. In Matthew 10:38, Jesus said a person who gave a cold cup of water in His name would be blessed. In other words, God blesses those who are a blessing to others. The blessing is that the one who gives the cup of water is refreshed himself as well as the one who receives the cup of water. The second symbol is a person who has a supply of grain yet refuses to sell it until it is in short supply.  That short supply causes such exorbitant prices that the needy are unable to purchase the needed commodity.  Yet the righteous will do what will benefit everyone. People curse the greedy who put gain above the needs of others, but bless the man who values people more than profit.

A believer is to honor God by doing good with their money (vv. 27-29). Wealth gives a false security and can tempt a person to turn away from God. The person who trusts in wealth is like a branch broken off from a tree. That branch may be rich with fruit and green leaves, but only for a short period of time. The righteous will flourish because of the connection to the true source of life, God Himself. Wealth is not in and of itself bad.  However it was never intended to sustain life. Wealth is intended only to enrich life.  Often the ungodly will lose wealth through mismanagement which brings trouble to a household. In the end the ungodly is left with a handful of nothing.

Years ago a dear lady left her church a large sum of money. Shortly after her death, the church fell on hard financial times. That church would have closed its doors if not for the resources she had given the church through her estate.  Because of her generosity, the church is a thriving congregation today.