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.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
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/
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/
Thursday, May 13, 2010
(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
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
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
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
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
Monday, April 5, 2010
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
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
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
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
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
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