Satan's Puppets

"When reproached and persecuted by wicked men, look beyond them.  Spend your wrath on Satan, who is your chief enemy.  Men are only his puppets." William Gurnall

Billy Graham - Daily Bible Reading

"Make the Bible part of your daily life, and ask God to engrave its truths on your soul." Billy Graham

Decline in the Global North Church & Growth in the African Church

"While 4,300 people may be leaving the church everyday in Europe and North America, 16,500 are coming to faith each day in Africa alone.  The growth rate in China is just as dramatic." (Theology in the Context of World Christianity, Timothy Tennent, p.271)

Billy Graham Quote - TV vs. Bible Knowledge

"Today there are more people who know the words to a television commercial than know the words in a Bible."

Jesus' Names

Have you ever looked at the names of Jesus?  Consider Jesus' question to his disciples, "Who do you say I am?" (Mark 8:29)

Here are some Biblical names for Jesus:

Who is Jesus?

Almighty † Author & Finisher † Beloved † Branch
Bread of Life † Bridegroom † Bright Morning Star † Carpenter
Chosen One † Chief Cornerstone † Door † Emmanuel 
Eternal Father † Faithful & True Witness † Firstborn † God
Head of the Church † High Priest & Apostle † Holy One † Hope
Image of the Invisible God † Jesus † Judge & Ruler
King of Kings † Lamb of God † Last Adam † Light of the World
Lion of the Tribe of Judah † Living Water † Lord of Lords
Man of Sorrows † Master † Messenger of the Covenant
Messiah † Prince of Peace † Prophet † Redeemer
Resurrection & the Life † Savior † Shepherd † Shiloh
Son of God † True Vine † The Way, The Truth, & the Life
Wisdom of God † Wonderful Counselor † Word † Yahweh

Jesus is the Christ!  To me, He is my Lord & Savior!

Who is Jesus to you?

The Olympics & Jesus

The Olympics are a great reference to understand the purpose of life!  How?  Well, simply look at how the apostle Paul spoke about them...

 [24] Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. [25] Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. [26] So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. [27] But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV)

Races, athletics, running, boxing...involve suffering, discipline, and joy.  The prize we race for in life is Jesus.  He never fades, never loses value, and never ends.  May we endure suffering in life by resting in Him...His power...His strength.

 [12] Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12 ESV)

Let's strive after the crown of life...found in Jesus through faith in His sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the grave.  Jesus is our crown.  Jesus is our life.  Jesus is our prize.  May we treasure Him more than any prize this world may offer!

The Importance of the Bible

"I learned the importance of the Bible and came to believe with all my heart in its full inspiration.  It became a sword in my hand to break open the hearts of men, to direct them to the Lord Jesus Christ." Billy Graham

Audio of Sermons

Here is a great place to check out the audio and outlines of our church's past messages!
http://www.southforkbaptistchurch.com/sermons/

Attitude Check (Mark 7:24-37)

Attitude Check (Mark 7:24-37)

LISTEN HERE

A Self-focused attitude…
Looks out for #1
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. [2] For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, [3] heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, [4] treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, [5] having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (2Timothy 3:1-5)

Doesn’t try to listen
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion. (Proverbs 18:2)

Thinks they know the answers
The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. (Proverbs 10:8)

Is too proud to ask for help
o A fool despises his father’s instruction (Proverbs 15:5)
o Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool (Proverbs 28:26)

Is destined for destruction
o a fool is reckless and careless. (Proverbs 14:16 ESV)
o a fool flaunts his folly. (Proverbs 13:16)

Hides their foolishness
o the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth. (Proverbs 17:24)
o the way of a fool is right in his own eyes (Proverbs 12:15)

A Christ-focused attitude…
Looks for Christ
[25] But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet.
[24] …he could not be hidden

Listens to instruction
[35] And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly.
Seeks the answers
[32] And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.

Is too humble not to beg for help
[26] And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.
[28] But she answered him, “Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”

Is destined for life
[30] And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.
Shares the foolishness of the Gospel
[36] And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it
For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV)