Upcoming Events and Services at HBC!

Celebrate Jesus This Christmas Season!

This Sunday, December 19th our New Mexico Mission Team will share a report in both of the morning worship services.

Then, at 4:00 p.m. we will go Christmas caroling in our community. Come join us as we spread some Christmas cheer!

Sunday, December 26th in both morning services, the sermon text will be
Isaiah 9:1-7 (New International Version)

1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—

2 The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.

3 You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.

4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.

5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.

6 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Happenings at HBC Sunday, December 5th!

Sunday, December 5th, Brother Lonnie will be preaching in both morning worship services. Rhonda and I will be out-of-town for our 25th Anniversary! I will be back preaching on December 12th. On that Sunday I plan on beginning a special Christmas series of sermons from the book of Isaiah titled "Christmas in Isaiah." The messages will be based on the following Scripture passages from this wonderful Old Testament book:

December 12: Isaiah 7:1-17
December 19: Isaiah 9:1-7
December 26: Isaiah 11:1-9

Don't forget to join us this Sunday evening, December 5th at 6:00 p.m. in the church sanctuary for Hebron's Christmas presentation . . .
"Sing! Choirs of Angels!"
Presented by: The Worship Ministries of Hebron Baptist Church

Lottie Moon Christmas Offering
Our 5,110 International Missionaries receive over half of their support from the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. Pray about what God would have you give above your regular giving. Envelopes for this offering our in the pews.

ABC Angels
Last Sunday we had a great response to our Christmas ministry of blessing the elderly and disabled adults in our community who have little income and lack family support. There are still some available ornaments on the tree in the glassed foyer representing individuals in need. Remember, please bring in all your items before December 8th. Thanks for your incredible generosity and for being a blessing to others!


Have a Blessed Week!
Pastor Joe
"Phil. 1:3"

Happenings at HBC This Sunday, November 28th!

Sunday's Scripture Reading: Psalm 67, NIV

For the director of music. With stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine on us—

2 so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.

3 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.

4 May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples with equity
and guide the nations of the earth.

5 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you.

6 The land yields its harvest;
God, our God, blesses us.

7 May God bless us still,
so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.

Sermon Theme: "Are We There Yet?" Celebrating the 2010 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering

Happenings at HBC This Sunday, November 14th!

Plan on being with us this Sunday for a great day of worship!

Sunday is Operation Christmas Child Dedication day. Boxes for Samaritan's Purse should be brought with you this Sunday for this special time of dedication.

The Scripture for this week's message is Psalm 95. This is a tremendous Psalm of worship and thanksgiving. Mission flows from relationship. If this true, then who we are and what we do is determined largely by our relationship to God in worship. When the relationship is right, the mission will be too.

Psalm 95 (NIV)

1 Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD;
let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

2 Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.

3 For the LORD is the great God,
the great King above all gods.

4 In his hand are the depths of the earth,
and the mountain peaks belong to him.

5 The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.

6 Come, let us bow down in worship,
let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

7 for he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture,
the flock under his care.
Today, if only you would hear his voice,

8 “Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,
as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness,

9 where your ancestors tested me;
they tried me, though they had seen what I did.

10 For forty years I was angry with that generation;
I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray,
and they have not known my ways.’

11 So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

For His Glory!

Happenings at HBC This Sunday, October 31

This Sunday during the morning services we will be observing the Lord's Supper and hearing a report from the Gideons ministry. You will be blessed to hear from Randy Smith who is the International Chaplain for the Gideons and a gifted speaker for Christ. A love offering will be received for the Gideons at the conclusion of the services.

The theme for our observance of the Lord's Supper will be shared by the Pastor from the following passage in 1 John.

1 John 1:1-4 (New International Version)

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.

2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.

3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.

4 We write this to make our [a] joy complete.

Footnotes:

a. 1 John 1:4 Some manuscripts your

Sunday evening from 5:00-7:00 p.m. we will host our annual Fall Festival. This is a tremendous outreach ministry to the families in our community. Invite your family, friends, and neighbors to join us. There will be plenty of food, candy, games, fun, and there is no cost to attend. Best of all, participants will have an opportunity to hear God's life-giving Word.

See you Sunday for a great day in the Lord!
Pastor Joe

Foundations: Witnessing (Week #8) Mark 5:19

Our church-wide emphasis, Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living concludes this Sunday, October 24, 2010. This week's message and Scripture is "Witnessing" based on Mark 5:19, "Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you."

Be sure to check out previous sermons in this series at . . . http://joealainsermons.blogspot.com

Join us this Sunday for life-changing worship and practical teaching from God's Word.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Foundations: Good Works (Week #7) Ephesians 2:10

Our church-wide emphasis, Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living continues this Sunday, October 17, 2010. This week's message and Scripture is "Good Works" based on Ephesians 2:10, "For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Be sure to check out previous sermons in this series at . . . http://joealainsermons.blogspot.com

Join us this Sunday for life-changing worship and practical teaching from God's Word.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Foundations: The Church (Week 6) Psalm 122:1

Our church-wide emphasis, Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living continues this Sunday, October 10, 2010. This week's message and Scripture is "The Church" based on Psalm 122:1, "I rejoiced with those who said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord.'"

Be sure to check out previous sermons in this series at . . . http://joealainsermons.blogspot.com/

Join us this Sunday for life-changing worship and practical teaching from God's Word.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Foundations: Giving (Week 5) 2 Corinthians 9:7

Our church-wide emphasis, Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living continues this Sunday, October 3, 2010. This week's message and Scripture is "Giving" based on 2 Corinthians 9:7, "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Be sure to check out previous sermons in this series at . . . http://joealainsermons.blogspot.com/

Join us this Sunday for life-changing worship and practical teaching from God's Word.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Foundations: Love (Week 4) John 13:34-35

Our church-wide emphasis, Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living continues this Sunday, September 26, 2010. This week's message and Scripture is "Love" based on John 13:34-35, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another."

Be sure to check out previous sermons in this series at . . . http://joealainsermons.blogspot.com/

Join us this Sunday for life-changing worship and practical teaching from God's Word.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living (Week 3 Scripture)

Our church-wide emphasis, Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living continues this Sunday, September 19, 2010. This week's message and Scripture is "God's Word" based on Psalm 119:9, 11, "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word . . . I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

Be sure to check out previous sermons in this series at . . . http://joealainsermons.blogspot.com/

Join us this Sunday for life-changing worship and practical teaching from God's Word.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living (Week 2 Scripture)

Our church-wide emphasis, Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living continues this Sunday, September 12, 2010. This week's message and Scripture is "His Strength" based on Philippians 4:13, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength."

Join us this Sunday for life-changing worship and practical teaching from God's Word.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Church-Wide Emphasis -- "Foundations: Lessons on Christian Living"

BEGINNING SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH!

FOUNDATIONS PART II
Lessons on Christian Living

“Foundations” is a church-wide Christian growth emphasis that involves both the Sunday School/Bible Study hour and the Sunday morning worship services. “Foundations” is designed to teach and review basic Christian teachings that are essential for believers to grow into healthy followers of Jesus. Topics that will be covered include putting Christ first, learning to rely on God’s strength, discovering God’s plan through His Word, the power of love in our lives, the joy of giving, the importance of worship in the believer’s life, making a difference in the lives of others through good works, and how to share your story of what God has done for you. Plan on joining us each Sunday of this eight (8) week emphasis beginning Sunday, September 5th. Be sure to pick up the Bible study book, Growing in Christ this Sunday either in your Bible study class or in the church foyer.

If you're not currently in a Sunday morning small group study, now would be a great time to connect with a group of believers. We hope that you will join us so that together we can share in what God is doing in our world.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Sermon Text for Sunday, August 29, 2010 (Mark 16:1-8)

We will conclude our study of the Gospel of Mark this Sunday with Mark's account of the resurrection. The focal point of our worship Sunday will be our observance of the Lord's Supper.

I hope to see you this Sunday as we magnify the name of our risen Lord!
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Mark 16:1-8 (New International Version)

The Resurrection
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body.

2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb

3 and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.

5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

6 "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.

7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.' "

8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Sermon Text for Sunday, August 22, 2010 (Mark 15:33-41)

Mark 15:33-41 (New International Version)

The Death of Jesus
33At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"[a]

35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah."

36 One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down," he said.

37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and[b] saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son[c] of God!"

40 Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome.

41 In Galilee these women had followed him and cared for his needs. Many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem were also there.

Footnotes:

a. Mark 15:34 Psalm 22:1
b. Mark 15:39 Some manuscripts do not have heard his cry and.
c. Mark 15:39 Or a son

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Manhattan Declaration

The three defining moral and cultural issues of our day are the sanctity of all human life, traditional marriage, and religious liberty. The Manhattan Declaration speaks profoundly to these three issues in a way that is logical, biblical, and apologetical. This document drafted by prominent Christian clergy, ministry leaders, and scholars, issues a clarion call to Christians to adhere firmly to their convictions in these three areas.

To read, or share this declaration please visit www.manhattandeclaration.org
A limited number of copies are available in the church's glassed foyer area.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Sermon Text for Sunday, August 15, 2010 (Mark 14:27-42, 66-72)

Mark 14:27-42
27"You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written:
" 'I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.'[a]

28 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."

29 Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not."

30 "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice[b] you yourself will disown me three times."

31 But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same.

32 They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray."

33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.

34 "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."

35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.

36 "Abba,[c] Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?

38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.

40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.

41 Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

42 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

Footnotes:
a. Mark 14:27 Zech. 13:7
b. Mark 14:30 Some early manuscripts do not have twice.
c. Mark 14:36 Aramaic for Father

Mark 14:66-72
66 While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by.

67 When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
"You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said.

68 But he denied it. "I don't know or understand what you're talking about," he said, and went out into the entryway.[a]

69 When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them."

70 Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean."

71 He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about."

72 Immediately the rooster crowed the second time.[b] Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice[c] you will disown me three times." And he broke down and wept.

Footnotes:
a. Mark 14:68 Some early manuscripts entryway and the rooster crowed
b. Mark 14:72 Some early manuscripts do not have the second time.
c. Mark 14:72 Some early manuscripts do not have twice.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Sermon Text for Sunday, August 8, 2010 (Mark 13:1-37)

Mark 13:1-37 (New International Version)

Signs of the End of the Age
1As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, "Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!"

2"Do you see all these great buildings?" replied Jesus. "Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down."

3As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 4"Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?"

5Jesus said to them: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 6Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and will deceive many. 7When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

9"You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

12"Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.

14"When you see 'the abomination that causes desolation'[a]standing where it[b] does not belong—let the reader understand—then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 15Let no one on the roof of his house go down or enter the house to take anything out. 16Let no one in the field go back to get his cloak. 17How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! 18Pray that this will not take place in winter, 19because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again. 20If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them. 21At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ[c]!' or, 'Look, there he is!' do not believe it. 22For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform signs and miracles to deceive the elect—if that were possible. 23So be on your guard; I have told you everything ahead of time.

24"But in those days, following that distress,
" 'the sun will be darkened,
and the moon will not give its light;
25the stars will fall from the sky,
and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.'[d]

26"At that time men will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.

28"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. 29Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that it is near, right at the door. 30I tell you the truth, this generation[e] will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 31Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

The Day and Hour Unknown
32"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33Be on guard! Be alert[f]! You do not know when that time will come. 34It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.

35"Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house will come back—whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or at dawn. 36If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37What I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!' "

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Sermon Text for Sunday, August 1, 2010 (Mark 12:28-34)

Mark 12:28-34 (New International Version)

The Greatest Commandment
28 One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
29 "The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'
31 The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'There is no commandment greater than these."
32 "Well said, teacher," the man replied. "You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him.
33 To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
34 When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And from then on no one dared ask him any more questions.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Sermon Text for Sunday, July 25, 2010 (Mark 12:18-27)

This Sunday we will continue in our study of the Gospel of Mark with an interesting text that raises a variety of theological questions. For instance, what kind of relationships do we experience after this life in heaven? What does the Bible say about the nature of our resurrected state? And what does this text say to us about how we interpret God's Word. Obviously, according to Jesus the Sadducees were in error concerning their interpretation of Scripture. Are there some principles that Jesus offers us for correctly interpreting God's Word? I hope that you will join us this Sunday for worship as we open God's Word to hear a word from beyond ourselves, a word of life.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Mark 12:18-27 (New International Version)

18 Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question.

19 "Teacher," they said, "Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother.

20 Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children.

21 The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third.

22 In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too.

23 At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?"

24 Jesus replied, "Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God?

25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.

26 Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the book of Moses, in the account of the bush, how God said to him, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'?

27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!"

An Overview of Calvinism This Sunday, July 18th at 6:00 p.m.

There has been much discussion on the subject of Calvinism the last few years in Southern Baptist life. Just what is Calvinism? How does Calvinism relate to the Bible? What's the history of Baptists and Calvinism? This Sunday, July 18th at 6:00 p.m., I will present an overview of the doctrine of Calvinism. Hopefully, I will be able to shed some light on the main teachings of Calvinism and relate them to our historic Baptist understanding of Scripture. The format for this presentation will allow for your questions, so come with your questions and an open mind.

I hope to see you this Sunday.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Sermon Text for Sunday, July 11, 2010

Mark 10:1-12 (New International Version)

1 Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.

2 Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?"

3 "What did Moses command you?" he replied.

4 They said, "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away."

5 "It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law," Jesus replied.

6 "But at the beginning of creation God 'made them male and female.'[a]

7 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,[b]

8 and the two will become one flesh.'[c] So they are no longer two, but one.

9 Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate."

10 When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this.

11 He answered, "Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her.

12 And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery."

Footnotes:

a. Mark 10:6 Gen. 1:27
b. Mark 10:7 Some early manuscripts do not have and be united to his wife.
c. Mark 10:8 Gen. 2:24

Sunday, July 4th Details!

IMPORTANT!!!

Schedule Changes for . . .
Sunday, July 4th
Independence Day!

Schedule For The Day:
8:00 AM One Combined Worship Service (Sanctuary)
9:15 AM Sunday School/Bible Study
10:30 AM –? Games, Cookout, Fun! No Evening Activities or Service

Sermon Text for Sunday, June 13, 2010

Mark 8:31-38 (New International Version)

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.

32He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. "Get behind me, Satan!" he said. "You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men."

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

35 For whoever wants to save his life [a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.

36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?

37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels."

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Worship Scheduling Notes for Sunday, June 6, 2010

8:00 A.M. Classic Worship: Pastor Joe will be bringing a message based on Mark 7:31-37, "He Has Done All Things Well."

9:15 A.M. Bible Study for all ages!

10:30 A.M. Celebration Worship: Gray Pearson and his family from Vivian, Louisiana will be our guests. Gray will be bringing the message.

There will be a special Vacation Bible School Dedication in each of the morning worship services.

To give time for our folks to make VBS preparations and decorate the campus, there will be no evening activities or worship service.

Looking forward to seeing you this Sunday.
Pastor Joe

Sermon Text for Sunday, June 6, 2010

Mark 7:31-37 (New International Version)

The Healing of a Deaf and Mute Man
31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis.[a]

32There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged him to place his hand on the man.

33After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue.

34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, "Ephphatha!" (which means, "Be opened!" ).

35 At this, the man's ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

36 Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone. But the more he did so, the more they kept talking about it.

37People were overwhelmed with amazement. "He has done everything well," they said. "He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

Footnotes:

a. Mark 7:31 That is, the Ten Cities

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

"Sacrifice" Memorial Day Weekend, Sunday, May 30, 2010

Sacrifice: To sacrifice is to offer something up to God that is precious. Sacrifice involves surrender of something for the sake of something else. Sacrifice involves suffering, renouncing, and sometimes destruction for an ideal, belief or end.

On Memorial Day we remember the sacrifices made for an ideal, freedom. This is an ideal worth sacrificing for and we commemorate the men and women who gave their lives in defense of the liberty that we enjoy. Memorial Day reminds us that freedom isn’t free.

For Christians, Memorial Day also calls to our mind the sacrifice that Jesus made for us so that we could live free from sin. This Sunday, Memorial Day weekend, as we remember sacrifices made for earthly liberties, we will observe the Lord’s Supper, a reminder that who the Son sets free is free indeed (Jn. 8:36).

Our text for this Sunday is Mark 6:30-44. My focus is on the theme of “Sacrifice” that emerges out of verse 37. The disciples were confronted with a choice, to live selfishly or to live sacrificially. Jesus was teaching the disciples, and us, that nothing surrendered to God is really a sacrifice because first, God is the giver of all that we have, and second, nothing surrendered to God is ultimately sacrificed or lost. This Sunday, as we remember sacrifices made, may we rededicate our lives to surrender all that we are for the benefit of others and for the glory of our great God!

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Scripture Reading: Mark 6:30-44 (NIV)
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.

31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, "Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest."

32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.

34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

35 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late.

36 Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat."

37 But he answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?"

38 "How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see." When they found out, they said, "Five—and two fish."

39 Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass.

40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.

41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.

42 They all ate and were satisfied,

43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.

44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

This Sunday, May 23, 2010, Amy Morrow, Missionary to Zambia

Join us this Sunday as we are pleased to have sharing with us Amy Morrow, Missionary to Zambia. You might remember last year, Amy's husband Tom shared with us concerning the work in Zambia. Amy will be speaking in both morning services (8:00 & 10:30) and she will share a special presentation with our children and youth in the Sanctuary at 9:45 a.m.

We will receive a love offering for the work of the Morrow Family in Zambia.

Check out the Morrow's web site at http://missionaryfamily.com/

(Mark 6:14-29) Sermon Text for Sunday, May 16, 2010

Success? Or Significance?
What's the difference between success and significance? Do we desire to be successful or significant? How do our desires either for success or significance shape what we do and who we become? In the story of the death of John the Baptist, we find a man who lived courageously and who desired to be significant in the eyes of God. Mark 6:14-29 provides a stark contrast between John the Baptist on the one hand and Herod and his wife Herodias on
the other. While Herod and those who surrounded him prided themselves on being successful, it was really John, the one who loses his life that lives a life of significance. Are we willing to pay the price for significance? This Sunday we invite you to join us at HBC as we embark on the journey into significance.

Mark 6:14-29 (New International Version)
14 King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become well known. Some were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him."

15 Others said, "He is Elijah." And still others claimed, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago."

16 But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, the man I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!"

17 For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married.

18 For John had been saying to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to,

20 because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled; yet he liked to listen to him.

21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.

22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.
The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you."

23 And he promised her with an oath, "Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom."

24 She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?" "The head of John the Baptist," she answered.

25At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: "I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter."

26The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her.

27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison,

28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother.

29 On hearing of this, John's disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Time for a Fresh Encounter?

Hebron Baptist Church, Denham Springs, invites you to join them during their Spring revival, April 25-28th with Dr. David Hankins as guest speaker. Dr. Hankins is well known to Louisiana Baptists. He previously served as pastor of Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles where the church saw over 900 persons baptized during his tenure. Since 2004, Dr. Hankins has served as the Executive Director of the Louisiana Baptist Convention. Aside from serving in a variety of positions with the Southern Baptist Convention, Dr. Hankins writes for various SBC publications and is a frequent conference and revival speaker. You will be blessed by Dr. Hankins engaging and challenging messages. Destry McFearin and special musical guests will be featured each service.

Supper will be served M-W from 5:45-6:45 and everyone is welcomed to join us.

For more information, see HBC’s website at http://hebronbaptistds.org

Sermon Text for Sunday, April 18, 2010 (Preparing for Revival)

The text for this week's message will help us prepare for the upcoming series of revival meetings that begin April 25th. The theme for our revival is "It's Time for a Fresh Encounter." What God promised Israel was nothing short of a resurrection to national identity. God's promise to us today is that "Dry Bones Can Live Again!"

Ezekiel 37:1-10 (New International Version)
The Valley of Dry Bones
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.

2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.

3 He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?"
I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know."

4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!

5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath [a] enter you, and you will come to life.

6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "

7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.

8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' "

10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Sermon Text and Miscellaneous Stuff for Sunday, April 11, 2010

I haven't done a very good job of keeping up with my blog lately. Sorry for my lack of updates. I hope to do a better job of this in the future. This Sunday, we will continue our study of the Book of Mark by examining an interesting text in the life of Jesus when He visited his home town of Nazareth. Verses 5-6 are pretty amazing in light of the fact that Jesus is ministering to His own people. I wonder sometimes, "Does familiarity with Jesus in our lives hinder us from receiving from God?" "Does God work in spite of us?" Or "Does God do mighty works regardless of our response?" And "What is the 'human element' role in God working, if any?"

As a part of our 10:30 a.m. service, we will observe the ordinance of baptism. What a beautiful way to celebrate together our new life in Jesus Christ! I hope that you will join us this Sunday as we worship our risen Savior! He is worthy of worship!

This Sunday's Text
Mark 6:1-6 (New International Version)

A Prophet Without Honor
1Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples.

2 When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. "Where did this man get these things?" they asked. "What's this wisdom that has been given him, that he even does miracles!

3 Isn't this the carpenter? Isn't this Mary's son and the brother of James, Joseph,[a] Judas and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him.

4 Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor."

5 He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.

6 And he was amazed at their lack of faith.

Footnotes:

a. Mark 6:3 Greek Joses, a variant of Joseph

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Sermon Text for Sunday, March 21, 2010

Mark 4:21-25 (New International Version)

21 He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don't you put it on its stand?

22 For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.

23 If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."

24 "Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more.

25 Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Sermon Text for Sunday, March 14, 2010

Mark 3:20-35 (New International Version)

Jesus and Beelzebub
20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat.

21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."

22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebub[a]! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons."

23 So Jesus called them and spoke to them in parables: "How can Satan drive out Satan?

24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.

25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.

27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man's house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can rob his house.

28 I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them.

29 But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin."

30 He said this because they were saying, "He has an evil spirit."

Jesus' Mother and Brothers
31 Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him.

32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you."

33 "Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked.

34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!

35 Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."

Footnotes:
1. Mark 3:22 Greek Beezeboul or Beelzeboul

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Sermon Text for Sunday, February 28, 2010

Mark 2:13-3:6 (New International Version)

We continue our study of the Gospel of Mark this Sunday with a lengthy section (four paragraphs) of Scripture that illustrates both the kind of ministry that Jesus performed and the increasing hostility shown to Jesus because of His radical kingdom ministry. Jesus and the kingdom of God that He was ushering in may best be described with the analogy He Himself used as He argued for the validity of His methods. "New wine must be put into new wineskins" (v.22). Join us this Sunday for a refreshing look at the "New Wine Ministry" of Jesus. A fuller understanding of Jesus and God's kingdom might just surprise you!

The Calling of Levi
13 Once again Jesus went out beside the lake. A large crowd came to him, and he began to teach them. 14 As he walked along, he saw Levi son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," Jesus told him, and Levi got up and followed him. 15 While Jesus was having dinner at Levi's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the "sinners" and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: "Why does he eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" 17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Jesus Questioned About Fasting
18 Now John's disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, "How is it that John's disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?" 19 Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them. 20 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast. 21 "No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse. 22 And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, he pours new wine into new wineskins."

Lord of the Sabbath
23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?" 25 He answered, "Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions." 27 Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."

Mark 3
1 Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone." 4 Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent. 5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Sermon Text for Valentine's Day, Sunday, February 14, 2010

This Sunday is Valentine's Day! As a way to bless our young couples by giving them a worry-free night out, the church will be providing free and loving child care from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Please call the office at 665-6278 to reserve a spot for your child as soon as possible.

As a way to celebrate the love of God and the love He has placed in our hearts for one another, the theme of this week's message is "Love that Lasts," based on the following text:

Philippians 2:1-4 (New International Version)

1 If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

See You Sunday!

Pastor Joe

Sermon Text for Sunday, February 7, 2010

Mark 1:35-45 (New International Version)

Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!"

38 Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.

A Man With Leprosy
40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."

41 Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.

43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 "See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Sermon Text for Sunday, January 24, 2010 (Mark 1:21-34)

Mark 1:21-34 (New International Version)

Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.

22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,

24 "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"

25 "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!"

26 The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him."

28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.

30 Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her.

31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.

33 The whole town gathered at the door,

34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe

Sermon Text for Sunday, January 17, 2010

Mark 1:14-20 (New International Version)

The Calling of the First Disciples
14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God.

15 "The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

16 As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.

17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

18 At once they left their nets and followed him.

19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.

20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

For His Glory!

Sermon Text for Sunday, January 10, 2010 (Baptismal Celebration)

Greetings!
Start your new year off with life-changing worship! This Sunday we will begin to walk through some passages in the Gospel of Mark. We will also be celebrating the ordinance of baptism. If you have trusted in Christ and have not been baptized, this would be a great way to start your new year. If you need to be baptized or if you need more information, please call the church office at 665-6278. We would be glad to assist you in your walk with the Lord.

See you in worship this Sunday.
Pastor Joe

This Sunday's Scripture Passage:
Mark 1:1-13 (NIV)

1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in the Prophets:

“ Behold, I send My messenger before Your face,
Who will prepare Your way before You.”
3 “ The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘ Prepare the way of the LORD;
Make His paths straight.’”

4 John came baptizing in the wilderness and preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.

5 Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.

7 And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.

8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
John Baptizes Jesus

9 It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

10 And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.

11 Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Satan Tempts Jesus

12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.

13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.