12/29/14 Sunday Sermon Notes

Well, the big Christmas celebrations have come to an end for 2014 and the new year is right around the corner. We've just come out of a season of thankfulness and praising the Lord for the precious gift of His one and only Son and now we are rushed right into a time of reflection; reflecting on what we've accomplished in the past year and what is to come in the new year.

Yesterday, Pastor Randy spoke about how God wants to use us in the coming new year. Sure, we like to make our own plans but God's plans are the ones that matter. He told the story of how he asked his grandfather-in-law (or maybe it was his father-in-law) “How can we write a plan that's pleasing to God?” and I loved his grandfather-in-laws reply: “Write things in pencil and keep a Big eraser on hand.”

Here are some of the verses that Pastor referenced yesterday in his sermon titled "Come, Seek, Call":

Isaiah 55:1-9

Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. 5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. 6 "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. (ESV)

Luke 2:22 -35 (Jesus presented at the temple)

Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 "Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." 33 And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed." (ESV)

2 Corinthians 4:5-6

For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness,"has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (ESV)

John 16:7-8

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment (ESV)

James 3:10-12

From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. (ESV)

Please let me know if I forgot any verses.

In closing, make prayer a priority in your life. Now is a good time to think about who you would like to see come to Christ in the coming year and pray fervently for them.

Have a happy and safe New Years Eve celebration,

Merry Christmas!

12/21/14 Sunday's Notes

Merry Christmas...No, let me try that again...MERRY CHRISTMAS! As December 25th draws so wonderfully close, my heart fills with joy.  As I mentioned in one of my last posts, I love celebrating Christ's birth and today just added to that joy.  Our church family enjoyed the most scrumptious Christmas brunch this morning and then topped it off with our annual Christmas program.  What a blessing to hear all of the singing and praising going on this morning.  I, myself, cannot sing worth beans and the only instrument I can play (as you can probably guess) is the radio! So, for me, I loved hearing all of the voices that can actually sing, along with the beautiful piano playing and then some banjo music to round it all out. Thank you to everyone that participated in today's festivities.

The program was filled with folks reciting poems about gifts.  Not the kind of gifts you'll find tucked under your Christmas tree, but a better more valuable kind of gifts.  The gifts are those that God gave to us and then in return the gifts that our feeble little selves can give back to God.  Here's a brief list of the ones I jotted down from today's program:

Gifts that God freely gave/gives to us:
  1.  Christ - The baby born to save us
  2.  Love - Sacrificial love
  3.  The Word of God - Clarity for us of Gods plan
  4.  Grace - The redeeming grace of God - comes by faith alone
  5.  Forgiveness of Sins - again, comes by faith alone
  6.  Rest & Peace - for those who belong to him
  7.  Eternal Life

Gifts we can give to God:
  1.  Empty Hands
  2.  Praise & Thanksgiving
  3.  Open Hearts - longing for the righteousness of God
  4.  Love - Surrendering our desires, our lives to God

Sure, this list could go on and on, but let's keep in mind that the gift of Christ is the greatest gift of all.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.   (ESV)

Have a blessed week and a very, Merry Christmas!

Away in a Manger

Have you seen our nativity decorations? I love it!  Thank you to all that had a hand in putting it together.  What a sweet reminder of what this season is all about.

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.    Luke 2:7 (ESV)

12/14/14 Sunday's Sermon Notes

I gotta tell ya, I LOVE Christmas.  I love the decorations, the lights, the baking of goodies, the pageants and plays and programs.  Oh, and lets not forget the music, I love the music, but most of all, I love the reason for this big celebration - JESUS.

Pastor Randy's message yesterday (12/14/14) was about how we, and others around the world, celebrate Jesus' birth.  As Pastor stated, all of our decorating and preparing should remind us of the simplicity of the birth of our Savior.  Just as we are preparing to celebrate, God also planned and prepared for the birth of His one and only Son.

Here are some of the verses I jotted down from Sundays sermon:

Matthew 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. 20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins." 22 So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." 24 Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 25 and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name Jesus. 

Hebrews 1:1-3
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; 3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,  

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.

Micah 5:2
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.

Isaiah 7:14
Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.    

Hebrews 2:1-4
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? 

John 3:16-17
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.  

Pastor also mentioned that he had read that the song  The 12 Days of Christmas had a hidden meaning for christians in the dark ages.  I have a children's book that tells this story.  I've added some notes from it HERE.

Finally, however you plan to spend this wonderful celebration, whether it be by going all out with decorating or by shunning all decorating, just DON'T FORGET THE SIMPLICITY OF THE CELEBRATION - JESUS.

Have a blessed week.

Sunday, 11/15/14 Notes

I trust you all had a wonderful weekend.  Yesterday, Sunday, Nov. 15th was a beautiful, yet chilly day here in northwest Montana and today looks like a carbon copy.

I hope you didn't miss Pastor Randy's teaching on "Justification by Faith" yesterday.  It was so good. Pastor taught about how Abraham was found faithful long before Judaism even existed. He explained that in the book of Romans, Paul is simply trying to show the readers that their Jewishness didn't save them, but it was their faith alone that saved them.   Here's a few of the verses I jotted down yesterday:  (If I've missed any please let me know)

Gen. 15:1-6
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great." 2 Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" 3 And Abram said, "Since You have given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir." 4 Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir; but one who will come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir." 5 And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
 
Rom. 3:28-31
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. 31 Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law. 

Rom. 4:1-3 
What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS."  

Rom. 4:9-25
Is this blessing then on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, "FAITH WAS CREDITED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS." 10 How then was it credited? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; 11 and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them, 12 and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.  13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith. 14 For if those who are of the Law are heirs, faith is made void and the promise is nullified; 15 for the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation. 16 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, 17 (as it is written, "A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU") in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. 18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, "SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE." 19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb; 20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. 22 Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, 24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. 

Gen. 15:8
He said, "O Lord GOD, how may I know that I will possess it?

Notes:  (these may not be verbatim)
Abraham's faithfulness was written for us - to show us that we are also justified by faith alone.

Are we prepared to share our faith with others?  The joy of the Lord should ooze out of us to others.  We are saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ - LIVE IT! Don't let fear or pride hold you back.  

Hope you all have a blessed week. 

Welcome to our blog

WELCOME to the First Baptist Church in Marion, Montana.  Our blog is brand new so it's lacking in content, but that will change as we're able to work out the bugs and get information posted.

Today, 11/9/14, we had a smaller than normal crowd for Sundays services. The lack in turnout was likely due to the steady down pour outside, that and hunting season is still in full force.  Whatever the cause, I'm certain it wasn't due to the teaching.  Pastor Randy is taking a well deserved break this week, so Mark led bible study and Ben led the morning service.  Excellent teaching gentlemen.  Our regular pianist, Carol, couldn't be there today either but Carlene played her banjo and sang along with Joe, Casey and Deseree.  Thank you so much to all of the men and women that step up to fill positions when needed, whether it be on a regular basis or stepping in to "pinch hit." 

I'll leave you with some of the verses I jotted down from today's service on HOPE:

2 Thes. 2 (whole chapter)  
1 Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed. 7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; 9 that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, 10 and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. 11 For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, 12 in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness. 13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, 17 comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

1 Cor. 13:13
But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Heb. 6:18-19
So that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.  This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, 

Psalm 146:5
How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, Whose hope is in the LORD his God, 

Job 13:15
"Though He slay me, I will hope in Him. Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.

Rom. 4:18
In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, "SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE."  

1 Cor. 13:7 
bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Titus 3:7
so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Col. 1:16 - 23
For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities -all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. 21 And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach - 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. 

Phil. 3:9 - 14 
and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; 11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Have a blessed week.