We were greeted by Wayne Johnson as we gathered to worship Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Special prayers of healing were requested for Jimmy Easter, Cynthia Ross and Mildred Cook. In announcements, Brother Mark and Shelly will host the Widow/Widowers Luncheon next Sunday, March 25, after our morning service; a business meeting will be held next Sunday at 7 p.m.; and there will be an Easter egg hunt for the kids after the morning worship service on Easter Sunday, April 1. Becky Johnson asked God's blessing upon our service.
Janet Chaney shared a story, "Easter In My Hand Rainbow of Color," as she told about the colors of jelly beans and what they mean in our faith. "Oops" was the title of the devotional story about road rage and having self-control, kindness and patience with scripture from Luke 22:41-42, Titus 3:4-5 and Proverbs 29:11. We should be careful as Christians to show our love for others, to see and be careful that our actions reflect our Christianity and not otherwise. Janet also reminded us that we will be collecting the Annie Armstrong offering for the next two weeks.
Congregational hymns included, "Showers of Blessings" and "He Keeps Me Singing," with special music from Karen Gardner, who sang "For Those Tears I Died." Rick Lett and Tyrel Lett served as ushers and collected the offertory.
Our pastor, Brother Mark Hall, began God's message for us by reading Isaiah 53:6: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." The title of the sermon was "The John 3:16 of the Old Testament." Brother Mark told us that the sheep are the symbol of us. We are God's sheep, and he talked about several characteristics of sheep and us as God's sheep. "Sheep are good at going astray. Sheep are more likely to go astray when it is most dangerous to go astray. Sheep go astray, ungratefully wandering off from the shepherd who feeds and takes care of the them. They go astray repeatedly and they wander farther and farther each time."
Brother Mark told us there is a problem with sheep going astray, but the remedy is also in verse six: "And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." We are like sheep. Sheep go astray slowly and are led away by their own iniquity. We are prone to error and unable to return on our own. When we follow the crowd, we become prone to danger, mostly because we have gone astray. We stray through unbelief. Our evil heart can cause us to stray from God." Hebrews 3:12 says, "Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God."
Brother Mark said, "We stray because we trust in our own plan instead of God's. We focus on our own selfish desires instead of God's will. We trade faithfulness for flashiness. We gradually stop going to church and then we get used to not going to church. We get used to not praying and then we don't. We stray like sheep. It is time to get back to the fold.
"There are all kinds of ways to go astray and everyone has gone astray. Life's struggles, our background, our interests and our friends all have an impact on us going astray. When we go our way, we have rejected God's way. We are born wanting things on our terms and having it our way. When you are flat on your back, there is no other way to look but up. The problem is not our upbringing or our economics. The problem is sin. It separates us from God and causes us to go astray."
Brother Mark told us that Jesus carries our griefs and sorrows. Isaiah 53:4-5 says, "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; His chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed."
In closing, Brother Mark asked, "How do you know if you are one of God's sheep?" In John 10:27, Jesus tells us, "My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow Me." Brother Mark said the qualifier is that we hear His voice, He knows us and we follow Him. Do you hear Jesus's voice? Do you follow Him? Does He know you?"
Our hymn of invitation was "Lord, I'm Coming Home." During this Easter time, we invite you to come worship with us, praise God and share in the joy of knowing Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. and the worship service at 11 a.m. Everyone is welcome. Mill Creek Baptist Church is located three and one-half miles east of Noel, just off Highway 90.
Religion on 03/22/2018