Steel-Toed Boots

As we gathered to worship Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church, Kenneth White was celebrating a birthday and special prayers were requested for Judy, Andy, Mertie, Ruth and all of those in care facilities. Wayne Johnson opened our service with prayer and Linda Abercrombie gave the devotional, "Circuit Breakers."

After reading I Corinthians 6:19-20, which tells us that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, Linda told a story about the construction of an old farmhouse and it's upkeep. "Old wiring can become faulty over time and the circuit breaker will trip when it is overloaded and serves as a valuable warning. Just like us when we get overloaded, we tend to blow a fuse. We have natural checks to alert us when we are on overload. Things like headaches, fatigue, irritability, illness and weight gain. These inconvenient interruptions are our circuit breakers and serve as a warning to us. We need to ask God to help us get our priorities in line to prevent blowing a circuit."

Becky Johnson and Jerry Abercrombie led the congregation in singing hymns of praise, and it was a blessing to hear Jerry sing "Unspoken Request." Rick Lett and Tyrel Lett served as ushers and collected the offertory.

Brother Mark Hall brought us God's message, "Steel-Toed Boots," and read Romans Chapter two. Brother Mark began by asking if there are days when you just don't get anything done? We all have days when we don't have the right material, tools, help or knowledge to get something done. Romans, chapter two, is Paul's sermon to the church of Rome and their sins. He asked the church people who they thought they were, judging someone else when they did the same things except they were just sneaky about it. It is called hypocrisy.

In Luke 12:1-3 Jesus says, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed nor hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops."

Brother Mark said you can make a good Christian mad by calling them a hypocrite. "You can take the best Christian, get saved, toe the line and then we become self-righteous and a hypocrite. It becomes easy to find fault with your neighbor, but you never see it in yourself. We need to evaluate ourselves, not those around us."

Brother Mark talked about five things that indicate a self-righteous hypocrite.

First, they judge the sins of others while overlooking their own. In Matthew 7:5 Jesus tells us, "Hypocrite! First remove the plank from you own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

Second, a self-righteous hypocrite judges others based on selective standards and not on all of God's words. Brother Mark said, "We pick and choose loopholes in God's word for ourselves." He read Matthew 23:23.

Third, a self-righteous hypocrite worries more about how they look on the outside than they do through inner godliness. Brother Mark read Matthew 23:28 where Jesus said, "Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness."

Fourth, Brother Mark told us that the self-righteous hypocrite is more concerned with filling pews than growing disciples. "They don't care about people's hearts, just filling the clubhouse." Scripture was from Matthew 23:15.

And last, the self-righteous hypocrite justifies himself by comparing himself to others or blaming others for his sins. Brother Mark read Luke 18:9-14.

In closing, Brother Mark told us God doesn't grade on the curve even though we want Him to. "We are only graded on His word. Sin is sin. There are no loopholes or justifying it. The self-righteous hypocrite likes to criticize. We are so critical of others. The worst symptoms of a self-righteous hypocrite is stubbornness and a unrepentant heart.

The excuses of the self-righteous hypocrite seem ridiculous to everyone but himself." Brother Mark read Romans 3:23 and said, "Sometimes the hardest verses for a Christian to remember are the ones we know by heart. We have all sinned, so if it weren't for Jesus, we would never make it to heaven."

Our hymn of invitation was "Have Thine Own Way, Lord," and Rick Lett gave the benediction. Gracie Allison and Jake Allison came forward to be baptized, and we welcome Doug Cory as the newest member of Mill Creek Baptist Church. We are blessed to have them as a part of our church family.

Saturday, July 29, we will have vacation Bible school from 12 to 5 p.m. All children, ages 4 to entering the sixth grade, are welcome to attend CC Camp-creation to the cross. Lunch will be served, there will be crafts, music and amazing Bible stories told. Family time will be at 5 p.m., with ice cream and watermelon.

Mill Creek is located 3 1/2 miles east of Noel, just off Highway. 90. Just follow the signs. Everyone is welcome.

Our annual Homecoming will be held on Sunday, Aug. 20, with lunch on the grounds and special bluegrass gospel music by "Spring Street" from northeast Oklahoma. We invite you to come worship, eat and enjoy the music with us.