We had a wonderful crowd and several visitors as we gathered to worship on a beautiful Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Tom and Mildred Sharp were celebrating their 71st wedding anniversary. What a milestone and a blessing to have them with us! Special prayers were requested for Kirsten Crosby and Nate Miller. Steve Mason and Eileen Hawkins shared praises. Dot invited the church to the Noel Senior Citizens' volunteer dinner at 5:30 p.m., March 25, at the Center in Noel.
Janet Chaney reminded us of the Annie Armstrong Easter offering and shared one of her favorite poems with us: "He Was One of Us." It talked about how our Savior was once a child like us and was tempted, lonely and sad. He didn't experience anything that we haven't. God knows everything we face today on earth because He has also faced it.
Tyrel Lett asked God's blessing upon the offertory and he and Rick Lett served as ushers. Becky Johnson and Karen Gardner led the congregational hymns, and Karen sang about God's forgiveness. We were blessed with special music from the Cory's grandchildren as they sang "Praise God from Whom All Blessings" and "Jesus Loves You." Ronnie and Amy Senseny shared a bluegrass hymn. Ronnie shared testimony, and he and Amy sang a hymn about eternity and our choices. "What does it profit to gain the world and lose your soul? Life has many choices. Eternity has two." To coincide with Brother Mark's sermon, Ronnie also sang the song, "Excuses," and asked if Satan had anything for us to do on Sunday besides come to church.
Pastor Mark Hall then brought us God's message, "No Excuses," with scripture from Ecclesiastes 5:1-7. Brother Mark shared a personal story about how it takes just a blink for you to get over yourself and remember you are completely dependent on God. He began by telling us that our country needs a healthy dose of fear from God and asked God to help us realize who He is and what He can do for us.
Brother Mark began the sermon by telling us that we make all kinds of excuses to everyone and mostly ourselves. "We complain about all the excuses we hear, but actually we make just as many and then try to justify them. Feeding excuses to your conscience is like feeding sleeping pills to your watch dog." Brother Mark talked about life before four-wheel drive and getting stuck and going no where. "That is how we look making excuses to God. We learn to justify our excuses and actions to make it right in our own eye. We think if it is OK in our eye, then it is OK with God. What does God really see when we do that?"
Brother Mark read Hebrews 10:19-27 as Paul tells there is a new Priest, Jesus Christ, that we can go to. Brother Mark said, "There are three reasons we go to the House of God. First, to worship the great High Priest, Jesus Christ. Second, we go there for help; and third, we go there to help or to work. Christians should go worship. When you don't go to worship, there is always a dark spot in God's house and He sees it."
Brother Mark talked about the contrast of going to sports games and how easy it is for us, and then the excuses we make for not going to church. "We excuse ourselves by blaming others, our past or evil spirits. The devil gets more credit than he deserves. It is like working cattle with someone and then, when something goes wrong, they get the blame. God knows us from the inside. Our excuses look weak under God's light. God would rather forgive our sins than hear our excuses.
"Until we stop making excuses to ourselves, we will never quit making excuses to Him. What we say with our lips is not as important as what we have in our heart."
Luke 14:15-24 talks about the man who gave the supper and God sent Jesus Christ out with the invitations. The Jews got the first invitation and made excuses. God sent Jesus back out to the "highways and the hedges" to compel them to come. Brother Mark told us that invitation still applies to us. "We are still invited. There is still room at the table for you if you will quit making excuses. There is no excuse for anyone to go to hell. God set the table, paid for the dinner and sent the invitation. He is still doing that. You just need to accept the invitation.
"God compels us to be saved. What excuse do you still have? Are you coming to the table or not? We never know how long the invitation will be open. You need to answer the call and confess before men, and Jesus Christ will confess you before the Father."
We invite you to worship with us on Sunday mornings at 11 and hear God's word. Everyone is welcome at Mill Creek Baptist Church, located 3 1/2 miles east of Noel, just off Highway 90. We will have quarterly business meeting next Sunday evening at 7 p.m.
Religion on 03/23/2017