Everyone was glad to be back in church to worship and fellowship Sunday morning at Mill Creek Baptist Church. Mary McCaine was celebrating a birthday, Doug Cory greeted the congregation and special prayers were requested for the Larry Reece family, the Beverly Stidham family, Eldon Morgan family, Allen Brock, Jerry Abercrombie, Jimmy Easter, Janet's granddaughter and our country.
The business meeting will be held next Sunday evening. Thank you notes were read from Darlene Mitchell, the Mary McCaine family, and the McDonald Co. Senior Center. Wayne Holly expressed thanks for prayers for Finley; Linda and Jeanette shared praises and thanks.
The adult Sunday school class studied Luke 6:27-38 about showing compassion and mercy to others. The lesson focused on Jesus telling us to love our enemies, do good for those who hate us, bless those who curse us and pray for those who mistreat us. We are also not to judge and to be generous. The lesson made three points "believers are to treat all people with dignity and respect, including the unborn, love all people with pure intentions and exhibit God's character in the world."
Linda Abercrombie shared the devotional, "Getting the Facts Straight," and read Isaiah 40:28-29. The story talked of children learning and retaining information and how, as we get older, we have problems with memory. "Don't lose the memory of what God has done for you. Remember God's truth when life gets difficult."
Susan Cory and Karen Gardner led the congregational hymns, "At the Cross" and "Glory to His Name." We enjoyed special music, "My Name Is Lazarus," and praise music from Karen.
"The First Church" was the title of Sunday's message as Brother Mark Hall read from Genesis 28:10-22 and looked at the story of Jacob and Jacob's Ladder. Brother Mark told us there are a lot of us like Jacob who did wrong and God kept bringing him back to use him. Brother Mark told us that those verses are like the first church when Jacob dreams of a ladder.
Brother Mark asked, "If this is the first church, what is church? Church is a place we go to experience the presence of God. Verse 16 tells us this was the first time Jacob experienced the presence of God.
"Then Jacob arose from his sleep and said, 'Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.'" Brother Mark told us that Luz was a place of living, but Jacob changed it to Bethel which means "house of God." Brother Mark said, "The reason we go to church on Sunday is to intentionally experience the presence of God. Some are afraid to and others think they have better things to do. There are three things you should get when you go to church. You should get a connection to God, you should have conversation with God and you should get inspiration from God."
Brother Mark told us that being Abraham's grandson didn't make Jacob godly; it just made him well raised. "Jacob's first connection with Jesus was the ladder. Jesus was the ladder. Jesus is the ladder to heaven and the only way. Your first connection to God will always be Jesus. Church is about Jesus first."
Brother Mark said, "The second reason you go to church is for conversation. God wants to speak to you. In Genesis 28:13-15, the Lord speaks to Jacob. When you go to church, God will speak to you when you connect with Jesus. When God speaks to you, you should receive His correction, direction and inspiration. If God has a plan for you, you listen and connect, but if you ignore God's conversation, you get corrected. If you are a child of God, correction doesn't stop. You get direction when you ask God and then you get inspiration. When you are in church and intentionally in the presence of God, you can get correction, direction and inspiration, and then we form a commitment to God. Church should be the gate to heaven. We should make the connection. Jacob became a faithful follower and tither. God doesn't need our money, but tithing is commitment. Where your money is, your commitment is also." In Matthew 6:21, Jesus says, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
In closing, Brother Mark told us, "Your time, treasure and talent should be committed to the Kingdom of heaven. Church can help you experience the presence of God and that is life-changing. Experiencing God is like going to the creek and tiptoeing in or jumping all in. You can have all of God you want. It is all up to you. God has a plan for you when you decide. Everything you give, God gives back with interest. You can't out-give Him. What is God speaking to you and what are you going to do about it?"
Our hymn of invitation was "Jesus Paid It All," and Wayne Holly gave the benediction.
We invite you to experience the presence of God in church with us next Sunday. Everyone is welcome. Sunday school begins at 10 a.m. and worship service at 11 a.m. Mill Creek Baptist Church is located 3 1/2 miles east of Noel just off Highway 90.
Opinions expressed are those of the author.