As we gathered Sunday to celebrate 110 years of worshipping our Lord and Savior at Mill Creek Baptist Church, we welcomed a full sanctuary and many visitors. Gene Gardner opened our homecoming service with prayer as Susan Albertson was celebrating a birthday and Gene and Loretta Mitchell were celebrating their anniversary. Special prayers of concern and healing were requested for Renae Sherman, Becky and Wayne Johnson, the Keith and Armstrong families and Virgil Winchester.
Tyrel Lett asked God's blessing and he and Mitchell Lett served as ushers and collected our offering with music from Becky Johnson. Karen Gardner led us in song. The Goulds provided special music as they sang hymns of praise during the morning and afternoon service.
Bro. Mark Hall began his sermon "Lost" by reading Matthew 18:11-12 about the parable of the lost sheep. As he reminisced of being lost as a child while on a shopping trip with his family, he told us that one word can inspire fear and dread. "None are so bad as the word 'lost' in the spiritual world without hope and God in the world. Like a lost child, who finds who?" Isaiah 53:6 says, "All we like sheep have gone astray." Bro. Mark told us, "It is no great sin to be lost. The lost just wander off, but they are still lost. I can love you and tell you about Jesus, but I can't save you. Only Jesus can do that. Just going to church and being baptized doesn't save you. Only Jesus can save you when you realize you are lost." John 14:6 says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
Bro. Mark continued by saying, "At home you're never lost, only in a strange place. Luke 16:9 talks about an everlasting home. We are strangers in a strange world which is not our home. We are just passing through like the song says. When we are lost, we call out for the one who can save us. We can't get home on our own." Romans 10:13 says, "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "You must first realize you are lost to be saved. Too many are lost because they don't realize they are lost and wandering. Jesus tells us it is OK, he's got us."
In closing, Bro. Mark asked, "Do you know that you are saved? If not, you're probably lost. Jesus doesn't save you and leave you wandering. Have you confessed in public?" Mathew 10:32-33 says, "Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven." Bro. Mark concluded, "The purpose of an invitation is to give you an opportunity to do so. The grace of God saves you. You can call on Jesus to save you anywhere, but no one can do it but Him."
Our hymn of invitation was "Lord, I'm Coming Home" and Tom Sharp gave the benediction. We then gathered in the fellowship hall for a wonderful lunch followed by more music and hymns of praise from the Goulds and the reading of our church history.
We invite you to worship with us on Sunday mornings as Mill Creek Baptist Church begins its 111th year of praising our Lord. You will be blessed as Bro. Mark Hall brings us God's message in a way that you will remember and can apply to your daily life. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. followed by worship service at 11 a.m. Everyone is always welcome.
Religion on 08/21/2014