We thanked God for the beautiful spring morning, the rain and ripple of the creek and the shades of green as grass begins to grow for another spring season. Beautiful spring floral arrangements adorned our alter. Tom and Mildred Sharp were celebrating their 69th wedding anniversary as Gene opened our service with prayer. We welcomed visitors Mr. and Mrs. Higgenbothem and special prayers were requested for Calen, Betty Walker, Steve Peck, Kristen Crosby, Ben and Bertha Nichols. Praises from Becky and Mertie. Linda Jarvis thanked the congregation for the retirement gifts. Business meeting will be held the last Sunday of the month at 7 p.m.
We were reminded of the Annie Armstrong offering and Mitchell Lett asked God's blessing upon our offertory as he and Tyrel Lett served as offering attendants. Wayne Johnson and Karen Gardner led our song service and we enjoyed special music from Bob Obenshain, Becky Johnson and Karen.
The text of Bro. Mark Hall's message was taken from Geneis 3:1-13 and was entitled, "Where You At?" Bro. Mark prefaced the sermon by saying that the first consequence of sin is separation from God and the second consequence of sin is loss of peace. "We enjoy peace in our church at Mill Creek. Peace is happiness in a family or church. Sin prevents and destroys that." Bro. Mark's message focused on the Garden of Eden and the curses resulting from sin.
"The first thing you need to know to give someone directions is 'Where You At?' And then sometimes you have to ask yourself, 'How do I keep getting myself in these situations?' We should become smarter than to get in the same situation more than once. Then you ask yourself, 'Oh man, why did I do that again?' There will come a time when God gets tired of the bad situations you get yourself into."
"There are three things we can relate today to Adam and Eve when we give in to temptation. Although we may enjoy the pleasure of sin, there are three things it will make you do. First, it will make you look at yourself and what you've done. You become self-conscious for what you've done and embarrassed and you try to cover it up by being cool, having an attitude or being tough because we don't like what we see when we look at ourselves and don't want others to see it." Bro. Mark referred specifically to Genesis 3:7.
"The second thing sin will make you do is run for cover and hide out. (Genesis 3:8) When Christians get caught up in sin, they don't come to church, prayer meetings and run from the congregation. You can't hide from God by not coming to church. God knows where you're at. Until you realize where you're at, you don't realize how bad you need to be where God is at."
Bro. Mark asked the congregation to ask themselves, "Where am I at in relation to God and His call on my life? Have you made progress? Compared to a year ago, have you moved forward or stepped back? If you are following Jesus, He sets the pace."
"The third thing sin will make you do is blame someone else like Adam did in Genesis. That's when you just need to ask the Lord to forgive you. Adam and Eve messed up, but don't blame them for your mistakes because you don't live in the Garden of Eden. If they hadn't messed up, you would have."
As Bro. Mark closed the message, he told us, "When you mess up, come out of hiding, don't blame anyone but yourself and ask for God's forgiveness and help. We have Jesus to go to and confess to. Have you looked at yourself lately? Are you where you need to be or do you just keep getting yourself caught in the same old trap. You walked into that trap by yourself, but you can walk out holding God's hand. Peace goes out the door when your sin begins with lies. Just a little bit of deception can stray you from God. When you veer off just a little and get out of line, admit to God that you messed up. That's why we have Jesus to help us when we do."
Our hymn of invitation was "Softly and Tenderly" and Wayne Johnson gave the benediction.
We invite you to worship with us each Sunday morning at 11 a.m. as Bro. Mark Hall brings us God's word. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. Everyone is always welcome. Come see what you are missing.
Religion on 03/19/2015