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Devotional for January 1, 2025

Posted on Jan 1, 2025 in Devotions, Uncategorized |

Devotional for January 1

A New Commitment in 2025

Songs to Sing:

The Greatest Commands- http://y2u.be/FIdszDLf77Y

A Common Love- http://y2u.be/zeSrqEGwWok

Scripture to Read: John 13:34-35

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Questions to Consider & Discuss:

In 2025, how can I better…

1. show God’s love…

To my family? To my friends? To my coworkers/neighbors? To my church?

2. tell God’s story…

To my family? To my friends? To my coworkers/neighbors? To my church?

3. be a part of God’s family…

To my family? To my friends? To my coworkers/neighbors? To my church?

Sermon Notes 12-29-24 “IT’S ALMOST 2025… What Now God?” James Farris

Posted on Dec 29, 2024 in Sermon Notes, Uncategorized |

IT’S ALMOST 2025… What Now God?

Psalm 26:1-3

1 Vindicate me, O LORD,

for I have walked in my integrity,

and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

2 Prove me, O LORD, and try me;

test my heart and my mind.

3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,

and I walk in your faithfulness.

Ezekiel 36:27– And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.

Jeremiah 31:33–For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

ENJOY THREE GREAT GIFTS:

1) A NEW SPIRIT

2) A NEW HEART

Ezekiel 36:26– And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

3) A NEW COVENANT

Jeremiah 31:31-34– “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

DEVELOP AND DISPLAY YOUR FAITH IN 2025

YOU ARE BLESSED. ACT THAT WAY!
THE CHURCH IS GOOD. INVEST IN IT!
YOU NEED OTHERS, SO LOVE THEM!

Psalm 26– COME TO ME FOR A SPIRITUAL CHECKUP

David applies the remedy God gave him.

HOW GOOD DO YOU HAVE THE BE TO ASK THAT?

Psalm 26:1– Vindicate me, O LORD,

for I have walked in my integrity,

and I have trusted in the LORD without wavering.

Since God makes everything new, we are in the best place for a great 2025!

January 2025 Bible Reading- “Magnetic Christianity & the Power of Prayer”

Posted on Dec 28, 2024 in bible study, Uncategorized |

January Bible Reading- “Magnetic Christianity & the Power of Prayer”

Click on each chapter to read, listen to, and study the Scriptures via Blue Letter Bible.

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
			1 James 1	2 James 2	3 James 3	4 Proverbs 1
5	6 James 4	7 James 5	8 Exodus 1	9 Exodus 2	10 Exodus 3	11 Proverbs 2
12	13 Exodus 4	14 Exodus 5	15 Exodus 6	16 Exodus 7	17 Exodus 8	18 Proverbs 3
19	20 Exodus 9	21 Exodus 10	22 Exodus 11	23 Exodus 12	24 Exodus 13	25 Proverbs 4
26	27 Exodus 14	28 Exodus 15	29 1 Samuel 1	30 1 Samuel 2	31 1 Samuel 3

Full Year Bible Reading PDF

The Bible readings throughout the week will generally follow the 2025 sermons & Adult class topics.

Saturdays are books of wisdom, ending with 9 prophecies about Jesus.

If you would like to comment or discuss the reading, click here to join our Bible Reading Facebook Chat.

Devotional for December 25, 2024

Posted on Dec 25, 2024 in Devotions, Uncategorized |

Devotional for December 25

An Honest Reflection on 2024

Songs to Sing:

God is So Good- http://y2u.be/dj2QKwGfCaI

Amazing Grace- http://y2u.be/YXd-FyGMVto

Scripture to Read: Romans 5:1-11

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Questions to Consider & Discuss:

In 2024, how did I…

1. show God’s love…

To my family? To my friends? To my coworkers/neighbors? To my church?

2. tell God’s story…

To my family? To my friends? To my coworkers/neighbors? To my church?

3. be a part of God’s family…

To my family? To my friends? To my coworkers/neighbors? To my church?

Sermon Notes 12-22-24: James Farris The Birth of the King: One Fought It & One Brought It

Posted on Dec 22, 2024 in Sermon Notes, Uncategorized |

THE BIRTH OF THE KING: ONE FOUGHT IT & ONE BROUGHT IT

LUKE 2:11-14- 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Matthew 2:1-23 The Tale of Two Kings

ONE KING FOUGHT THE BIRTH OF THE KING

RAGING
PARANOID
MURDEROUS
SELF-PROTECTING

HE USED THE OLD TESTAMENT TEXT SELFISHLY

THE KING WHO BROUGHT IT

God sent his Son to Earth as the greatest gift ever.

Without the gift of Jesus, our finite minds could not grasp the infinite nature of God’s personality.

GOD EMBODIED FLESH SO WE COULD KNOW HIM

John 1:18– No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

John 12:44– And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me.

John 1:11– He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

Most don’t realize who they refuse.

THE GIFT OF JESUS REVEALS THAT…

GOD IS REAL

GOD IS CLEAR

THE GIFT OF JESUS REVEALS THAT…

God is Near

God is Love

HOW CAN I RECEIVE THE GIFT OF THE KING?

God’s salvation is a gift that we must receive by faith.

THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS CHANGE IS ADMITTING THAT YOU NEED IT.

NOTE TO SELF: BE GRATEFUL

HE CAME TO LIVE WITH US SO WE COULD CHOOSE TO LIVE WITH HIM

THE BIRTH OF THE KING OF KINGS

Luke 2:11– For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Stronger Together Family Seminar

Posted on Dec 19, 2024 in Announcements, Uncategorized |

Invest in your family during 2025 by joining us on January 25 and be “Stronger Together”.

Schedule:

8:30- Check-In
9:00- Session 1: Essentials for Family Unity
10:30- Session 2: Family Communication
12:00- Lunch
1:00- Session 3: Families at Risk

About our speaker:

Dr. Ryan Fraser is passionate about strengthening Christian marriages and families to the glory of God. He attended Freed-Hardeman University where he met Missy, his devoted wife of 35 years. They have two adult children and a son-in-law.

Ryan is an Associate Professor of Bible, Youth Ministry, and Pastoral Counseling at Freed-Hardeman University and has been teaching there since 2006. He coordinates the Masters in Pastoral Care and Counseling program as well as the Youth & Family Ministry undergraduate program.
Ryan holds an M.Div. from Abilene Christian University and a Ph.D. in Pastoral Theology & Pastoral Counseling from Brite Divinity School (Texas Christian University). He is a Licensed Clinical Pastoral Therapist and the Vice-President of the Tennessee Association of Pastoral Therapists. In addition to his private counseling practice, Ryan serves as the preaching minister and an elder for the Bethel Springs Church of Christ.
He enjoys barbecuing in the backyard, making music with his classic rock band (“Four Docs and a Jock”), and doing short-term mission work.

December 2024 Bible Reading- “Rooted in Jesus: Jesus is Here”

Posted on Nov 28, 2024 in bible study, Uncategorized |

December Bible Reading- “Rooted in Jesus: Jesus is Here”
Click on each chapter to read, listen to, and study the Scriptures via Blue Letter Bible.
If you would like to comment or discuss the reading, click here to join our Bible Reading Facebook Chat.

As I engage the Scriptures, what is the Holy Spirit teaching me about Who I am? Who God is? What I am created to do?

Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
1 Luke 1	2 Luke 2	3 John 1	4 Matthew 1	5 Matthew 2	6 Matthew 3	7 Matthew 4
8 Matthew 5	9 Matthew 6	10 Matthew 7	11 Matthew 8	12 Matthew 9	13 Matthew 10	14 Matthew 11
15 Matthew 12	16 Matthew 13	17 Matthew 14	18 Matthew 15	19 Matthew 16	20 Matthew 17	21 Matthew 18
22 Matthew 19	23 Matthew 20	24 Matthew 21	25 Matthew 22	26 Matthew 23	27 Matthew 24	28 Matthew 25
29 Matthew 26	30 Matthew 27	31 Matthew 28

Bible Reading Facebook Chat link: https://m.me/ch/Aba3p-NWTWuFQPPL/
Printable PDF Copy

Sermon Notes 11/24/2024 “Who is My Neighbor?” James Farris

Posted on Nov 24, 2024 in Sermon Notes, Uncategorized |

Who is My Neighbor?

Luke 10:25-27 –

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

We know the story very well

We cannot truly understand the Lawyer’s response to Jesus’ description of the GOOD SAMARITAN.

Life Perspectives

“YOURS is MINE and I’M TAKING IT.”

“MINE IS MINE AND I’LL KEEP IT.”

“Mine IS YOURS & I’LL GIVE IT”

Can we draw a line? Love your neighbor as yourself

To justify SELF: you must limit the law

Willing to love the unlovable?

So really, who is my neighbor?

It is possible to REALLY live like that?

WE HAVE TO SEE THIS PARABLE AS A PICTURE OF YOU AND ME

START WITH: I’M THE ONE BEGGING GOD FOR HELP
Do you really see yourself as the “Good Guy” in this parable?

YOU NEED A “SAMARITAN”
Who was despised, hated and rejected, and saved you anyway?

We Need a Savior

UNLOCK COMPASSION: See YOURSELF IN THE DITCH & RESCUED

Luke 7 Background

This MOTIVATES & TRANSFORMS

Luke 10:37 – He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

GO AND DO LIKEWISE

Sermon Notes 11/17/2024 “Come to the Feast” James Farris

Posted on Nov 17, 2024 in Sermon Notes, Uncategorized |

Come to the Feast

Luke 14:16-17- 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

IF GOD INVITED YOU TO BLESSINGS… WOULD YOU COME?

The Invitation

THE LORD IS EXPECTING YOU

EVERYTHING IS JUST RIGHT

THE MESSAGE WAS REPEATED

THE MASTER IS EXCITED WITH HUGE EXPECTATIONS

NOTICE THE EXCUSES THEY USE

“I have some property.”
“I gotta make a living.”
“I was just married.”
Matthew 22:4- Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’

ABOUT THEIR EXCUSES…

“I’ll be there…Just kidding.”
The call of discipleship affects now.
Any excuse will work for the moment.

GOD IS NOT LIMITED TO THE BEST PEOPLE.

GOD ALWAYS HAS ROOM FOR ONE MORE AT HIS TABLE.
He wants us to be part of something amazing!

God is not looking for perfect people. He’s looking for surrendered people.

Sermon Note 11/3/24- Jesus’ Power to Heal a Leper

Posted on Nov 3, 2024 in Sermon Notes, Uncategorized |

Jesus Power to Heal a Leper

WHY SHOULD A LEPER EVEN CONCERN US?

It is contagious like sin with a painful master.
It can’t be healed & creates instant separation.
Unless cured, eventually it ends in death.

Spiritual Leprosy

It was not just as a disease but an uncleanness. (Lev. 13) “living death”

There are well-known CASES of leprosy

Exodus 4:6-7
Num. 5:3, 12:10
2 Kings 5
Luke 17:12-14

LOOK WHAT JESUS DOES FOR HIM!

Jesus did not bypass Moses’ Law!
Our HIGH PRIEST has the prerogative to make us clean. (Mk. 16:15-16)
When we go to our High Priest we can be truly healed. (Heb. 5:9)

THE LEPERS’ JOY MOVED HIM TO TELL THE GOOD NEWS!

Where does your JOY lead you today?
DO YOU TELL EVERYONE GOOD NEWS? (Acts 8:35)
YOU HAVE BEEN TOLD TO TELL THE STORY!

WHAT WE SEE SHOULD MAKE US THANKFUL

There is healing in Jesus for all problems we face.
Mark 1:40-41

HUMBLING YOURSELF CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE INSTANTLY

A humble leper humbled let Jesus touch His life & was changed IMMEDIATELY.
Right now, Jesus wants to save you.
Come to Him and be made clean!