Christmas Day Message, 2016

“That’s What Christmas Is All About”

Scripture Reading: Luke 2:7-20, ESV

Since time began, people have wanted to see God, to touch him, to talk to him, to know him in a personal way. In the Old Testament there were many Scriptures (prophecies) that gave the people hope that one day God would be with them in a very real way and when He came the world would be different, it would be just, it would be right, there would be peace on earth, no longer would we live in a broken world, there would be the fulfillment of all our desired happy endings. Some of those hopeful verses of Scripture we have read in worship this Advent season.

What the prophets described was nothing short of heaven on earth, the Lord God reigning in the lives of all people, making the world what He always designed it to be. That’s what Christmas is all about, God appearing so that we could know Him, that we could be empowered to be like Him, so that we could be His instruments of peace, of healing, of reconciliation, so that we could see what our world will be one day and “is,” to the extent that we follow Jesus, the Prince of Peace.  

We invite you to join us this Sunday, Christmas Day as we worship the living Christ of Christmas. What better way to celebrate Christmas than gathering with God’s people to celebrate, “The Word” becoming flesh and living among us!

Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. There will be no regular Bible Study before worship this Sunday. I hope to see you this Sunday at CBC as we lift up the Lord Jesus! And don’t forget, we will have a very special Christmas Eve Communion Worship Service at 6:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

 

Pastor Joe

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3

Hope in the Hard Place of Depression (Psalm 42, 43)

“Hope in the Hard Place of Depression”

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God.” Psalm 42:5, NIV

Scripture Reading: Psalm 42:1-11; 43:1-5

The dark night of the soul is the title of a poem written by the 16^th century poet and Roman Catholic mystic, Saint John of the Cross. It is used as a metaphor today to describe a phase in a person’s spiritual life marked by a sense of loneliness and desolation. This is how many refer to times of depression among God’s people.

Hope is the belief that regardless of your circumstances, God is going to come through. When you’re depressed you lose the sense that God is near and that things are going to turn around. You feel spiritually dry, there is the absence of joy, and a feeling that God has forsaken you. It truly is a “dark night” for your soul.

The author of Psalm 42 and 43 is going through one of those “dark night of the soul” experiences. This Sunday, October 16^th during our morning worship service, we will use the framework of the Psalmists spiritual struggle to identify those characteristics of the dark night of the soul (what all believers experience at times), and second, we will look at how God renews our hope, how we move from the dark night of the soul to the light of day.

I hope that you will join us for worship at Carrollwood Baptist Church where all are welcome! Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. Bible study for all ages begins at 9:15 a.m. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we gather to exalt our wonderful God and Savior!

 

Pastor Joe

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3

 

"Hope in the Hard Place of Disappointment" Jeremiah 29:11

“Hope in the Hard Place of Disappointment”

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,

Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11, NIV

Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 29:4-7, 10-11

Sunday, October 9^th we begin a new series of messages that will look at some of the hard places in life that we find ourselves in. This Sunday we are looking at the hard place of disappointment. To disappoint is “to fail to meet the expectation or hope of.” What do you do when your expectations of how God should act on your behalf don’t come to pass?

In Jeremiah chapter 29, exiled to Babylon (removed from their land), God’s people were living in disappointment. God wasn’t coming through in the way that they had hoped for. Jeremiah’s letter to the exiles contains God’s instructions for how His people were to live while in Babylon. God wanted His people to know that He does have a plan for their future and that His plans are for His glory and their ultimate good. “Because God has good plans for your present and future, you can have a sure hope in the hard times of disappointment.”

Jeremiah 29:11 of course is a tremendous promise but it must be considered in light of its context. But rather than diminish its significance, understanding the context makes God’s promise even richer and more meaningful. I hope that you will be able to worship with us this Sunday as we explore this time in Israel’s history where in the midst of their diminished hope, God brought a message of encouragement and meaning in their suffering. God’s people would discover that they indeed had a tremendous hope and future, mapped out by God Himself!

Worship at Carrollwood Baptist Church, “Where All Are Welcome!” begins at 10:30 a.m. Bible study for all ages begins at 9:15 a.m. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we corporately exalt our wonderful God and Savior, for He is worthy!

Pastor Joe

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3

"For Our Good, For His Glory" Sunday's Message, Romans 8:28

“For Our Good, For His Glory”

There are many joyful moments in life where we easily see the evidence of God at work. We experience the beauty of his creation, we see the evidence of his handiwork and we know God is at work creating and sustaining his creation. We experience the joy of love and we experience his goodness and blessings in the daily care and favor he shows towards us. Creation, love, daily blessings, the birth of a child, fulfillment in life, his presence with us, all “things” for which we see God’s hand.

But life also has its rainy seasons where God is clouded from our view, when the sun doesn’t seem to be shining. Maybe it’s the loss of a family member, the loss of a job, the pain of a family breakup, heartache over a struggling child, a debilitating illness, or caring for a family member. All “things” for which we struggle to see God at work. And yet, the great affirmation of Romans 8:28 is that “in all things,” the good and the bad, the joyful and the unpleasant, God is at work for our good and for his glory.

I hope that you will join us this Sunday as we spend some time unpacking this tremendously encouraging verse of Scripture. If you’ve ever wondered what God is up to during your difficult trials (and who among us hasn’t wondered), I believe this message will speak to you. Worship at Carrollwood Baptist Church where all are welcomed begins at 10:30 a.m. and Bible study for all ages is offered at 9:15 a.m. CBC is conveniently located at 5395 Ehrlich Road, 1 mile east of the Veterans Expressway and 2.5 miles west of Dale Mabry Hwy. For more information, check out our website at Carrollwoodbaptist.org

Looking forward to sharing the Word of life with the family of God this Sunday.

 

Pastor Joe

“I thank my God every time I remember you.”

Philippians 1:3

 

Be Transformed! (Bible Reading Helps)

This Sunday, September 18, 2016 I will be preaching from one of my favorite verses, Romans 12:2. "Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will." I hope you will join us as we explore how God powerfully renews our mind through His Word of truth.

Below are some helps on getting started in God's Word.

Getting Started in God’s Word

Choosing a Bible Translation
Why do translations read so differently from one another? The challenge for Bible translators is that they are working with texts that are tied to ancient cultures that are vastly different from that of today. Each translator or team of translators must make a choice concerning how they will bridge the gap between the original language of the Bible (Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek) and the language that they are translating into (for us, English). The act of translation means that the translator will make judgments based on his or her understanding of the original languages and the language they are translating into. 

Three Theories of translation have been generally followed in bridging the gap between the original languages and the receptor language, in our case English.

Literal or Formal Equivalency (“Word Correspondence”). Following this process, the translator attempts to translate by keeping as close as possible to the exact words (Word Correspondence) and phrasing in the original language, yet still make sense in the receptor language (English). This makes for a very good translation but sometimes it is disjointed sounding and awkward because of the differences between the two languages.

            Literal/Formal Examples

            KJV, NKJV, RSV, NRSV, NASB, HCSB, ESV

Dynamic Equivalency (“Functional”). Following this process, the translator attempts to translate words, idioms, and grammatical constructions from the original language into precise equivalents in the receptive language (English). This is considered a thought-for-thought translation. Such a translation keeps historical distance on all historical and most factual matters, but “updates” matters of language, grammar, and style. Meaning takes precedence over matters of structure and style.
           Dynamic Equivalent Examples

NIV, NLT, CEV, GNB, NEB

Free (Paraphrases). Following this process, the translator attempts to translate the ideas from one language to another, with less concern about using the exact words of the original. Free translations, also called paraphrases, are not technically translations and should not be treated as such.

            Free Examples

            The Message, The Living Bible                                                               

Practical Considerations

*For general use in daily devotional reading and worship, I would recommend a literal/formal equivalency such as the English Standard Version (ESV) or a dynamic equivalency Bible such as the New International Version (NIV) which I commonly preach from in worship.

*For in-depth Bible study, a literal/formal equivalency Bible with the focus on biblical words is indispensible. Supplement your study with a dynamic equivalent translation like the NIV or NLT.

*Use translations that contain helpful notes in the margin that reflect modern scholarship.

*Paraphrases may be helpful for devotional reading and for clarifying difficult passages.

*Once you decide on the translation that you like, there are many different types of Bibles to choose from. You will have to decide if you want just the biblical text or if you would like the text plus study helps. A “Study” Bible will often contain articles, book introductions and other useful commentary and notes on the biblical text. I have several very good study Bibles; however, the downside is that some can be quite heavy to lug around. Some popular “Study” Bibles include: The ESV Study Bible, Thompson Chain Reference Bible, and Life Application Study Bible. Many other “Specialty” study Bibles and study Bibles that include commentary and notes from well-known Christian Pastors are available too.

Regardless of the Bible you choose, with so many excellent translations available today, and a variety of helpful study Bibles, the Christian has a variety of great choices for both devotional reading and serious study.

Where Do I Start Reading?
There are many helpful plans for reading the Bible and an array of resources to help you. Shown below are just a few web sites that will help you get started off right.

http://www.ligonier.org/blog/bible-reading-plans/

A great resource, includes fifteen (15) different reading plans that you can download and print.

http://www.bibleplan.org/

Thirteen (13) different Bible reading plans to choose from.

http://www.oneyearbibleonline.com/

This is the premier site to read the Bible online in the Bible translation of your choice. Includes a link to a one year Bible Blog. This excellent resource includes historical background of the day’s passages and elaborates on the Scriptures that you are reading.

Other Great Bible Reading Resources

http://www.biblegateway.com/
Indispensable for Bible study! Access over fifty (50) complete English versions of the Bible. Search the Bible, print Scripture, and find links to other resources.

http://www.backtothebible.org/one-year-reading-plans

Five complete reading plans (Chronological, Historical, Old and New Testament Together, Beginning to End, and Blended). Includes other Bible study resources too.

http://www.odb.org

A favorite devotional, now online! Listen or read “Our Daily Bread” daily devotionals.

 

 

"Given Over but Not Given Up" Romans 1:24-32 (Sunday's Message)

“Given Over but Not Given Up”

In Romans 1:24-32 we find a troubling phrase repeated three times, “God gave them over” (vv.24, 26, 28). Does God give up on people? In what sense does God ever abandon people? The truth of this expression is that we abandon God who in turn leaves us to our determined course of action. Even so, while there are times when God gives people over to their decisions, it doesn’t mean that he’s giving up!

Another way of expressing this truth is, sometimes God will give you what you want but when you get it, you may not want it. “Absolute” freedom is not freedom at all.  C. S. Lewis said about the end of this chosen course of living without God. “The lost enjoy forever the horrible freedom they have demanded, and are therefore self-enslaved.”

This Sunday we will conclude our series on Romans chapter one by digging deeper into the truth of Romans 1:24-32 and how it applies to our lives. Come join us this Sunday at Carrollwood Baptist Church where all are welcomed! Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. and Bible study for all ages is offered at 9:15 a.m. CBC is conveniently located at 5395 Ehrlich Road, 1 mile east of the Veterans Expressway and 2.5 miles west of Dale Mabry Hwy. For more information, check out our website at Carrollwoodbaptist.org

Looking forward to sharing the Word of life with the family of God this Sunday.

 

Pastor Joe

“I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3

"Can People Live without God?" (Romans 1:21-23)

“Can People Live without God?”

This Sunday, September 4^th I will pick back up in our series on Romans chapter one, “Hope for a Prodigal Planet.” This week’s message is based on Romans 1:21-23, “Can People Live without God?” The Scripture passage is shown below.

While most people are not card-carrying Atheists, a great number of people are living their lives without any acknowledgement or honor of God. They are their own source of strength, and their faith is in people alone to solve the world’s problems. But increasingly, it’s obvious that living life without God is a bankrupt philosophy and it doesn’t deliver what it promises, well-being and happiness.

This message will explore Paul’s description of living without God and the fundamental problem with the human race that the Gospel addresses – the failure to acknowledge and honor God as God. What stops the natural and inevitable descent into idolatry is living a God-centered life found in Jesus Christ. This would be a great Sunday to invite someone who has questions about God.  

Come join us this Sunday at Carrollwood Baptist Church where all are welcomed! Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. and Bible study for all ages is offered at 9:15 a.m. CBC is conveniently located at 5395 Ehrlich Road, 1 mile east of the Veterans Expressway and 2.5 miles west of Dale Mabry Hwy. For more information, check out our website at Carrollwoodbaptist.org

Looking forward to sharing the Word of life with the family of God this Sunday.

Pastor Joe

“I thank my God every time I remember you.”

Philippians 1:3

Romans 1:21-21, NIV

²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

New Series on Romans 1 Begins Sunday, August 14, 2016

Series: “Hope for a Prodigal Planet” (Romans 1)

Does it seem to you that our world is more out-of-control than ever before? That our world is moving in the wrong direction morally and spiritually? Each day brings fresh stories of violence, terrorism, shootings, and heartbreak. The dark evidence of living in a broken world is all around us and can easily overwhelm us. I have asked many times, as I’m sure you have too, “Why is the world the way it is?” And I’ve wondered, “What is the solution to our problems?” Repeatedly I have found perspective and hope from the first chapter of the book of Romans. Although Paul paints a vivid picture of the darkness of sin, he unapologetically shares the only hope for our prodigal planet – Jesus Christ! Over the next four weeks on Sunday mornings we will take a look at this theologically rich and relevant chapter that speaks God’s truth to our culture on many levels.

 This Week's Sermon:

“The Gospel: God’s Power to Make Right Our World”

¹⁶ “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. ¹⁷ For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed – a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” Romans 1:16-17

 

Join us this Sunday and bring a friend with you. Looking forward to sharing God's Word of truth with the family of God this Sunday!

 

Pastor Joe

"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3

 

"Standing on the Promises" Sunday's Sermon, August 7, 2016

“Standing on the Promises”

Scripture Reading: Genesis 50:15-26

This Sunday, August 7^th we will conclude our series on “Becoming a Person of Integrity.” Our study of Joseph wraps up in Genesis 50:15-26 where we have the conclusion to the book of Genesis and the life of Joseph. Joseph, as his father Jacob, requested that his bones would be brought from Egypt to the Promised Land when God visited them (he was speaking of the Exodus). Joseph had spent most of his life in Egypt, but his real roots were in Canaan. Nearing the end of his life on earth, Joseph stood on the promises of God, especially the promise stated in Genesis 50:24, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob” (my emphasis).

In this final scene in the drama of Genesis we find some differing outlooks from Joseph and his brothers. What made Joseph a great man of God is revealed mainly in the attitudes that he displayed during his life. “Attitude is everything.” Through this passage of Scripture we will explore the kind of attitudes of faith that give glory to God. We invite you to join us for worship this Sunday at Carrollwood Baptist Church where “All Are Welcome!”  

Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. Bible study for all ages is held at 9:15 a.m. CBC is conveniently located at 5395 Ehrlich Road, 1 mile east of the Veterans Expressway and 2.5 miles west of Dale Mabry Hwy. For more information, check out our website at Carrollwoodbaptist.org

Looking forward to worshiping our faithful Lord this Sunday!

For His Glory, By His Grace!

Pastor Joe

 

"God's Way to Get a Promotion" (Genesis 41:39-41)

“God’s Way to Get a Promotion”

Scripture Reading: Genesis 41:1-57 (Key Text: 41:39-41)

Even though he suffered unjustly in an Egyptian prison, Joseph continued to be blessed by the Lord. He went from taking care of Potiphar’s household to being in charge of all the prisoners. In prison Joseph soon found himself cellmates with the Pharaoh’s cupbearer and baker. These two men had a dream while they were in prison (see Gen. ch. 40). Joseph knows a few things about dreams and he was able to help Pharaoh’s cupbearer to be restored to his position. The cupbearer was supposed to remember Joseph but he forgot all about him (see 40:14, 23). Now 2 years have passed and Joseph is still waiting and wondering (41:1). While Joseph is probably discouraged and wondering what God is up to, God is far from through with him. In yet another sign of God’s providence, the Pharoah of Egypt has two unusual dreams. These two dreams and Joseph’s interpretation of them are going to propel him from the dungeon to the throne room, from the pit to the palace. Because of Joseph’s skill and faithful service to God, he was elevated to a position of prominence in Egypt. Joseph is a biblical example of God’s way to get a promotion.

This Sunday, June 26^th we will continue our series of messages, “Becoming a Person of Integrity” based on the account of Joseph in Genesis chapters 37-50. If you don’t have a church home, we would love to have you worship with us at CBC where “All Are Welcome!” Worship begins at 10:30 a.m. Bible study for all ages is held at 9:15 a.m. CBC is conveniently located at 5395 Ehrlich Road, 1 mile east of the Veterans Expressway and 2.5 miles west of Dale Mabry Hwy. For more information, check out our website at Carrollwoodbaptist.org

Looking forward to worshiping the living Lord this Sunday!

For His Glory, By His Grace!

Pastor Joe