Holiday Choir Survey #2

Question for choir folk?!?

Joni and Friends. Wow.

My job is to preach the traditional way.  You know, open the Bible, expound on a passage and make the right applications.  It is convenient in that it is a nice “package” of ministry for people.  But, it does not compare to the random, unexpected preaching that goes on all around me these two weeks.

Imagine being in a place where joy fests break out without warning.  Where people laugh about missing their mouths with food (the dining hall gets messy).  Where it is a thrill to simply be held in water, to be pulled up a rope, or to nap without worrying about your disabled child.

That is Joni and Friends.  And though I am preaching my guts out, giving all I have to the teaching of the Word, I watch others living it with ease.  There is a special kind of grace here that permits us to have life-branding moments.

I watched a cup stacking presentation at the talent show and I cried.  Four paraplegic young adult men wheeled up to the platform and waited for their “buddies” to stack up Dixie cups into pyramids.  Then they simply wiggled their arms just enough to touch the cups and knock them down.  That was the talent.  That was the show.  The crowd went absolutely nuts.  The men (all non-verbal) grinned and cackled.  It was as if they had just won a gold medal in Olympic swimming.  And, you want to know why?  Because they had.

With so much inability in their lives each day, knocking down a stack of cups is a feat of amazing strength.  They cannot walk, talk, sing, dance, or do most of the things we would consider “talents.”  But, they can knock down cups the way Superman can fly through a wall.

So, cheers to the Supermen at Joni and Friends.  They glorified God with what ability they had.  And that, will preach.

Past Sermons?!?

Did you know that you can access sermon archives on our website?? check out some great teachings @ http://ow.ly/2hHQ3 from Pastor Clint, Bill Crowder, Mike Faris and others!!

Workmanship…

“For we are his workmanship, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we may do them.”
– Ephesians 2.10 (NET)

“Be strong in the LORD and in the power

“Be strong in the LORD and in the power of his might!” Eph 6.10 – sermons posted from Sunday http://ow.ly/2evVY great teaching!!

Eternal Security- God has a strong grip

I had promised the congregation of First Baptist Zeeland that I would publish a brief doctrinal statement about eternal security.  These are my convictions based upon what the Bible teaches.

I believe that because God purposed and chose to freely exercise grace to undeserving sinners through the blood of Christ, and by subsequent belief in the eternal work of redemption, that believers shall be kept saved forever.¹ And though His children may continue to sin, that sin is chastened but atoned for by the promise of God.² I believe that by the very nature of the life of God through faith in Christ that all believers will be eventually presented before God without fault and received into glory^.3

I believe that the believer is directed toward the promises in God’s Word through the direction of the Holy Spirit, ⁴ giving all who are saved confidence that their position before God as justified sinners is eternal and unalterable,⁵ fostering a joy and peaceful assurance.

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¹John 5 24

²I John 1-9

³Romans 8:29-30

⁴Romans 8:16 and I John 3:24

 ⁵Hebrews 9:24-27

⁶Romans 5:1 and I Peter 1:8

John 10:28,

Clint