Podcast - TBCTulsa

This page features the podcast publication of the preaching ministry of Trinity Baptist Church. We generally publish a Sunday-morning, Sunday-evening, and Wednesday-evening sermon.

As each sermon is recorded and published it’s audio file will show up here first. The most recent messages are at the top of the page. Feel free to listen directly from this page, or if you love to listen to the messages on the go, subscribe to the podcast for listening on your favorite mobile device whenever you want.

“Lessons on Presumption (6/16/2021)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:56 — 41.4MB)
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This message by Pastor Rod Harris from Genesis 20 was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, June 16, 2021.
Ancient Insights for Current Controversies (6/14/2021)

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This message by Pastor Rod Harris from Paul’s epistle to Philemon was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, June 13, 2021.
Judges #9: A Surprising Response to a Hesitant Faith (6/13/2021)

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Saved, But by Fire (6/12/2021)

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June 9th, 2021 (6/12/2021)

What a great day Sunday! We again, welcomed back some familiar faces. Folks continue to return after the long COVID exile. Participating online is a great blessing but being together is far better! It was also, wonderful to return to Sunday evening services. It has been over a year since we gathered on Sunday night, it felt good. We had the first of our “1st Sunday Family Gatherings.” We sang some hymns, heard reports of Sunday School, Sherwood Manor Ministry and VBS. We also took time to pray together about our ministry in those three areas. We will use the same format for the first Sunday of each month.

As we think about things getting back to normal – we have VBS in just 2 weeks. June 21-25 we will be gathering with our kids and kids from the surrounding area to dig into God’s Word and discovering amazing things about the Lord Jesus with Destination Dig. There will be songs, Bible lessons, crafts, recreation and snacks. It will be great and it’s been 2 years since we had VBS. Let your kids, grandkids, neighborhood kids, fat kids, skinny kids, kids who climb on rocks…sorry, I’m a child of the 60’s and commercial jingles never go away! If they have completed pre-K through those who have just completed 6th grade, they are welcome to attended. It will be 5 evenings of fun, fellowship and learning. We’ve got a great group of volunteers ready to go.

Finally, we had a great kickoff to our first new Sunday School class. Ron had 15 in class this past Sunday and there is still time for you to join. It is summer and that means folks will be in and out of the next several weeks. I hope you all have an opportunity to “get away,” relax and enjoy yourselves this summer. Don’t forget, you can still join us remotely on Sunday mornings (that is if you don’t have opportunity to join with another body of believers where you are visiting). Vacation is a great time to visit with brothers in sisters in Christ and worship with them, even it you’ve never met them before!

Pray for our VBS workers as they seek to finalize preparation. Help us spread the word. And I’ll see you and your family as we gather this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Judges #8: Marks of a Biblical Faith (6/8/2021)

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This message from Judges chapter 5 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 6th, 2021.

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A Questioning Faith (6/4/2021)

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This message by Pastor Rod Harris from Genesis 18 was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, June 2, 2021.
Judges #7: Essentials of the Biblical Gospel (5/31/2021)

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God of the Impossible (5/27/2021)

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There is that part of us that stands in awe of biblical characters as if they were incapable of struggling like mere mortals such as ourselves. That somehow, they had a little something extra to carry them through the struggles of believing and trusting. Sort of a divine royalty as payment for allowing their names to appear in the book! I hope that our look at Abraham is dispelling that notion. I hope that you are seeing that Abraham was indeed a frail child of dust who struggled greatly and yet God did extraordinary things in and through him.

He had to be considered an odd duck in his day. We know him as “Father Abraham,” the “Father of Faith” and “the Friend of God.” But he was a man out of step with the world of his day. He was a monotheist in a world of polytheist. He was a man who walked and talked with God! Not in chants or riddles but plane old, everyday language – he didn’t even use the “authorized King James” language! I think he was the regular topic of conversation down at the local doughnut shop. And yet we greatly admire and revere Father Abraham. Why? Because Abraham believed God. In spite of the struggle, in spite of the difficulties, he believed. This evening we will continue our look at the life of Abraham as we consider Genesis chapter 17…
Judges #6: Lessons From an Obscure Savior (5/27/2021)

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Heirs with Christ (5/20/2021)

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More than a Footnote (5/16/2021)

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God Sees Even the Unseen (5/13/2021)

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Do you ever feel small or insignificant? Do you ever get discouraged? Do you ever feel that life has dealt you a rotten hand? In other words, are you alive? Who hasn’t felt small or insignificant? Who hasn’t felt that they got the short end of the stick or have been dumped on? That is the universal condition isn’t it? Our favorite song is “Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen.” And we all tend to think; “nobody cares.” Sometimes we even begin to wonder if God cares. “I’m not the head of a country – I’m not a mover or a shaker – what difference does my life make?” But one of the most encouraging insights from the Scripture is how often we find God has taken note of the insignificant. Remember that little widow’s gift to the temple treasury in Luke 21? Or who could forget that nameless woman with the issue of blood who reached out to take hold of our Lord’s garment as he passed by? Instantly she was healed and Jesus stopped in the midst of that great crowd and said, “Who touched me?” The disciple responded, “Lord who hasn’t touched you – this is a great crowd.” Jesus said, “No, someone genuinely
touched me” and then his eyes met hers. But you know that is not just a New Testament phenomenon
we find it in the Old Testament as well. This evening I want us to see the grace of God in action – seeing the unseen, taking note of the un-notable…
Judges #4: The Old Testament Gospel (5/9/2021)

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God’s Grace: The Basis of our Assurance (5/8/2021)

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Do you ever struggle with believing? Not that you find yourself wondering if God is really there. You know he is there. But maybe wondering if he really meant all that stuff he said? Wondering if all those things he has promised are really true? Do you sometimes find yourself
saying, “This sure sounds too good to be true?” I don’t want to sound sacrilegious but there are times when I think, “You know I didn’t just fall off the turnip truck yesterday – no one just gives things away like this!” But that is the message of the Gospel. Salvation is the free gift of God’s grace. It is the result of God’s unmerited, undeserved favor. It is God’s saying, “Here take this.” “No, you don’t deserve it, in fact you deserve my wrath but I choose to make you my child instead.”

The idea of the Sovereign King of the universe coming and living a perfect life and then dying a horrifying, agonizing death on the cross for stupid, wicked, ungrateful humanity was a stumbling block to the Jews and little more than a joke to the Gentiles! But for those who were willing to believe – it was the power of God unto salvation.

Sometimes we struggle to believe. We know the truth, and we have embraced the truth. Yet sometimes we struggle. Most often we struggle because deep down we want to be responsible. We want to pay our own way and the Gospel just does not allow for that…
Judges #3: Amazing Grace (5/3/2021)

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This message from Judges 2:16-3:6 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 2, 2021.

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Living by Faith, from Genesis 15:1-6 (5/1/2021)

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Living by Faith, from Genesis 15:1-6 This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, April 28, 2021.

It is a very popular teaching. You hear it broadcast daily. In fact several times a day! The bookstore shelves are loaded with its message. What is this great message? It is that believers are to “walk by faith.” Walking or living in faith is, in many respects, the central issue in many evangelical churches today. The problem is what these teachers often mean when they speak of “walking by faith” bears little or no resemblance to the biblical notion of living by faith. Today’s emphasis includes such things as “calling those things that are not as though they are.” Which seems to me to be a life of denial rather than a life of faith. Or maybe you are familiar with the concept of “your life today is the result of your speaking yesterday.” This idea is that you must speak “faith-filled words” and that your success or failure rides on your ability to stay positive and focus on the Word of God. That sounds more like sorcery and incantations than trust in the Sovereign God.
The issue before us is – what does the Scripture teach? How does the Word of God handle this? What does the Bible say?
What does it mean to walk by faith? How is the life of faith lived out? What is required of me if I am to live by faith? To answer these questions we must go to the Word of God. And I think it would be extremely valuable to examine the life of Abraham – the Father of Faith…
Our Only Hope: A Merciful God (4/26/2021)

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The Slippery Slope of Compromise (4/22/2021)

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We’ve all seen it. Unfortunately, it is all too common. Folks who begin well in the faith but who stumble and fall away from the church. The falling away, most often, is the result of a gradual drifting. It is the result of a slow erosion of their commitment. It began innocently enough. Something needed to be done. There was somewhere they wanted to go – something they wanted to do – it wouldn’t hurt to miss this once. Before long there is more and more to do. And it is less and less difficult to ignore their spiritual duty…Once they quit meeting with the people of God – the things of God were less and less important to them. Oh, they still believe the truth. They still consider themselves in fellowship with God but the things of God are less and less binding upon them. Before long they allow things in their lives they would never have allowed before. Before long they find themselves in a “far country” and wonder how they got there…

This evening we consider a classic example of the subtle dangers of compromise…
Partial Obedience, from Judges 1:1-2:5 (4/20/2021)

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Abram: A Portrait of Unbelief? (4/16/2021)

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The Believer’s Refuge (4/14/2021)

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Pilgrim Lessons (4/14/2021)

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This message from Genesis 12:4-9 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, April 7, 2021.
From Unbelief to Glory (4/5/2021)

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Walking by Faith (4/3/2021)

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A Horrifying Beauty (4/1/2021)

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This message from Mark 15:33-39 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 28, 2021.

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The Making of a Hero (3/27/2021)

This message from Genesis 12:1 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, March 24, 2021.
Rejected (3/26/2021)

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This message from Mark 15:1-20 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 21st, 2021.

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When Will We Ever Learn? (3/22/2021)

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This message from Genesis 11:1-9 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Bapitst Church on Wednesday evening, March 17, 2021.
The Essence of Our Great Savior (3/17/2021)

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This message by Pastor Rod Harris from Mark 14:43-72 was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning March 14, 2021.
When Heros Fall (3/12/2021)

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The evidence is all around us. We’ve been reminded again and again that we have feet of clay. Idols tumble. Heroes are knocked off their pedestals. Not due solely to “cancel culture” but due to the fact that we are sinners. The headlines reveal the downfall of New York’s governor. The halls of congresses echo with scandal, Hollywood has its own embarrassments but the church is not immune. The church has been rocked in recent days by the report of the sinful conduct of an internationally known evangelist and apologist beloved by millions. This own the heels of popular pastors.Bible teachers forced to resign over abuses. It’s hard when heroes fall.

But we want our heroes to go out on top. We want to see Barry Sanders leave at the top of his game. Like Ted Williams with a home run at his last at bat. Michael Jordan with another championship. No one likes to see a hero tarnished. Wouldn’t you rather remember Bud Wilkinson as the winning coach of the Oklahoma Sooners instead of the hapless coach of the St Louis Cardinals? We hate it when our heroes fall…
True Happiness (3/10/2021)

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This exposition of Psalm 1 by Brother Devin Wilkins was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 7, 2021.
God and Government (3/10/2021)

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This message by Pastor Rod Harris from Genesis 9:1-7 was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening March 3rd, 2021.
High Priestly Parayer #3: Our Lord’s Prayer for His Church (3/3/2021)

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This message from John 17:20-26 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 28, 2021.
Tragedy: The Backdrop for Worship (3/1/2021)

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This message from Genesis 8:1-22 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, February 24, 2021.
High Priestly Prayer #2: One Holy Obsession (2/10/2021)

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This exposition of John 17:6-19 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 7, 2021.
The Flood, from Genesis 7:1-24 (2/5/2021)

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This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, February 3, 2021.
High Priestly Prayer #01: One Burning Passion (2/1/2021)

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This exposition of John 17:1-5 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 31, 2021.
A Flawed, Yet Admirable Model (1/29/2021)

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This exposition of Genesis 6:9-22 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, January 27, 2021.
Colossians #4: Everything in Jesus’ Name (1/26/2021)

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This message from Colossians 3:18-4:18 by Devin Wilkins was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 24, 2021.
Some Thoughts on Inauguration Day (1/22/2021)

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This exposition of Titus 3:1-15 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, January 20, 2021.
Ruth #5: Providence and Purpose (1/21/2021)

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This exposition of Ruth 4:1-22 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 17, 2021.
A Portrait of Grace, from Genesis 6:5-8 (1/17/2021)

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This Message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, January 13, 2021.
Ruth #4: Trusting Our Redeemer (1/11/2021)

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This exposition of Ruth 3:1-18 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 10, 2021.
Forgiven, from Ephesians 1:7 (1/9/2021)

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This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, January 6, 2021.

What is the most pressing need in the world today? An end to the virus? Racial harmony? An end to political in-fighting? A return to moral decency? Or is the answer closer to home? Maybe the greatest need is to restore the family. Build stronger relationships between husbands and wives. Between parents and kids, brothers and sisters. Well, all of the above and many others are worthy objectives but they don’t belong at the top of the list. The great need is peace with God.

If the Bible is reliable – and I believe it is – we’ve got a big problem. We are sinners. By nature and by choice. We are living in rebellion against the Creator. We live in rebellion against His law. And we are going to answer to Him. That is not a pleasant thought. “The soul that sins, it will die” (Ezekiel 18:20). I qualify. In fact I’m over qualified. The Bible says that, in our sin, we are the enemies of God. There are some people that you don’t want to be mad at you. Put God at the top of that list.
Ruth #3: Providence and Provision (1/4/2021)

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This exposition of Ruth chapter 2 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 3, 2021.
Resolved: Treasure Christ (12/28/2020)

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This message from Colossians 3:1-17 by Devin Wilkins was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 27, 2020.
Unto Us Is Born a Savior (12/24/2020)

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This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 20, 2020.
Christmas, What Exactly Are We Talking About? (12/18/2020)

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This exposition of John 8:12-30, 48-59 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, December 16, 2020.
Ruth #2: Sin, Heartache and Redemption (12/15/2020)

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This exposition of Ruth 1:6-22 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 13, 2020.
Who Is This Lottie Person and Why Are We Still Giving Her Money? (12/11/2020)

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This message by Pastor Rod Harris from Psalm 67:1-7 was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, December 9, 2020.
Ruth #1: It’s a Matter of Sovereignty (12/7/2020)

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This exposition of Ruth 1:1-6 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 6, 2020.
Serving God: A Different Perspective (12/6/2020)

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This message from Mark 14:3-9 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, December 2, 2020.
All You Need Is … Christ! (12/1/2020)

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This message by Devin Wilkins from Colossians 1:24-2:23 was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 29, 2020.
Beatitudes #9: Gospel Influence (11/23/2020)

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This message from Matthew 5:13-16 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 22, 2020.
Our Sure and Certain Hope (11/20/2020)

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This message from Psalm 118 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, November 18, 2020.
Beatitudes #8: Happy Are the Harassed? (11/16/2020)

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This message from Matthew 5:10-12 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 15, 2020.
Happy Are the Peacemakers: Beatitudes #7 (11/9/2020)

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This message from Matthew 5:9 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 8, 2020.
Some Thoughts Following the Election (11/8/2020)

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This message from Hosea 10:1-15 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, November 4, 2020.

Stakes are high in this election. Both sides in the presidential race made statements about not “accepting” the results and “lawyered up” weeks before. Now, we are faced with possibly not knowing the outcome for days or weeks.

I just want to share some thoughts about how we, the Church, relate to the nation. We have a responsibility to speak to the nation – both the government and its citizens. We must not allow partisanship to distort our vision or silence our voice. Corruption is corruption, evil is evil and injustice is injustice regardless of who is in “power.” And we must not fail to hold the moral rope. We must not fail to point to a higher standard. We must speak the truth with passion and conviction. We must fulfill our prophetic role.
The Beatitudes #6: Happy Are the Pure in Heart (11/3/2020)

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This message from Matthew 5:8 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 1st, 2020.

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Overcoming Life’s Storms (10/30/2020)

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This Bible study by Pastor Rod Harris from Job 42, was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, October 28, 2020.

It was the only thing he could do. When you’re flat of your back the only thing you can do is look up. Beaten, battered and bruised Job looked to heaven. He had gone from “riches to rags.” He lost his family, wealth, influence and his respect. His friends despised him and his wife urged him to curse God and die. He became an unwitting participant in an experiment…

Early on Job’s faith shines bright, “Shall we receive good from God and not receive evil?” Job was trusting in the sovereignty of God. This is not “blind fatalism” it is trust in the goodness God and His sovereign purposes. Thus the biblical text says, “In all this Job did not sin with his lips” (Job 2:10).
The Beatitudes #5: Happy are the Merciful? (10/26/2020)

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This exposition of Matthew 5:7 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 25, 2020.

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The Fear of God, part 2 (10/23/2020)

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This message from Isaiah 40:12-31 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, October 21, 2020.

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” That was Paul’s conclusion regarding those who were “outside of Christ.” It is equally appropriate today. In fact it is increasingly true among those “inside the church!” God has definitely been made “user friendly.” He has been made safe. We need not fear the Almighty. But is that true? Is that a safe position?

I would argue it is an extremely dangerous position. In fact I am becoming convinced that until you learn to fear God – you cannot trust God. You can only trust Him to the extent you have learn to fear Him. I think there is biblical precedent for such a belief.
The Beatitudes #4 (10/19/2020)

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This message from Matthew 5:6 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 18, 2020.

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The Fear of God, Part 1 (10/17/2020)

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This message from various texts by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, October 14, 2020.
Genesis 28:12-15, Luke 5:1-11, Revelation 1:12-17.
The Beatitudes #3: Meekness, the Means of World Dominance? (10/12/2020)

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This message from Matthew 5:5 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 11.

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2000 Baptist Faith and Message #18 (10/11/2020)

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This lesson on Peace/War, Religious Liberty & The Family by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, October 6, 2020.

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2000 Baptist Faith and Message #17: The Christian and Social Order (10/11/2020)

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This lesson by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, September 30, 2020.

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The Beatitudes #2: Happy are the Unhappy? (10/7/2020)

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This exposition of Matthew 5:1-4 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 4, 2020.

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The Beatitudes #1: The Path to Profound Happiness (9/28/2020)

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This exposition of Matthew 5:1-3 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, September 27, 2020.

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2000 Baptist Faith and Message #16: Cooperation (9/25/2020)

This study of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, September 23, 2020.

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Philippians #17: Giving Seen Properly (9/25/2020)

This exposition of Philippians 4:14-20 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, September 20, 2020.

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The Secret to Christian Fruitfulness (9/14/2020)
This message from Colossians 1:1-23 by Devin Wilkins was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, September 13, 2020.

Message Outline:
The gospel of Christ is the ongoing source of Christian fruitfulness.
1. The Fruitful Gospel (1:1-8)
2. The Fruitful Gospel Continues to Bear Fruit (1:9-14
3. The Fruitful Gospel Distilled (1:15-23
2000 Baptist Faith and Message #15: Education and Stewardship (9/9/2020)

This lesson by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, September 9, 2020.

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Philippians #16: Biblical Contentment (9/9/2020)

This exposition of Philippians 4:10-13 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, September 6, 2020.

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2000 Baptist Faith and Message #14: Evangelism and Missions (9/3/2020)

This lesson by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, September 2, 2020.

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Philippians #15: Experiencing the Presence of God (9/1/2020)

This exposition of Philippians 4:8-9 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 30, 2020.

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2000 Baptist Faith and Message #13: The Kingdom and Last Things (8/31/2020)

This lesson by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, August 26, 2020.

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Philippians #14: Overcoming Life’s Cares (8/24/2020)

This exposition of Philippians 4:4-7 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 23, 2020.

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An Exposition of Psalm 145 (8/19/2020)

This message by guest preacher Devin Wilkins was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 16, 2020.
2000 Baptist Faith and Message #11: The Ordinances (8/13/2020)

This lesson on the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, August 12, 2020.

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Philippians #13: Responding to Conflict within the Church (8/13/2020)

This exposition of Philippians 4:1-3 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 9, 2020.

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Philippians #12: The Demands of Biblical Faithfulness (8/3/2020)

This exposition of Philippians 3:17-21 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 2, 2020.

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2000 Baptist Faith and Message #10: The Doctrine of the Church (8/2/2020)

This study of the Baptist Faith and Message 2000 by Pastor Rod Harris, was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, July 29th, 2020.

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Philippians #11: Life in Tension (7/28/2020)

This exposition of Philippians 3:12-16 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, July 26, 2020.

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2000 Baptist Faith and Message #9: God’s Purpose of Grace (7/28/2020)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, July 22, 2020.

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Philippians #10: A Gospel-Worthy Faith (7/23/2020)

This exposition of Philippians 3:1-11 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, July 19, 2020.

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2000 Baptist Faith and Message #8: The Doctrine of Salvation (7/15/2020)

The Doctrine of Salvation: This study of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, July 15, 2020.

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Philippians #9: Examples of a Gospel-Worthy Life (7/15/2020)

This exposition of Philippians 2:19-30 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, July 12, 2020.

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2000 Baptist Faith and Message #7: The Doctrine of Man (7/8/2020)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, July 8, 2020.

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Philippians #8: The Demands of a Gospel-Worthy Life (7/8/2020)

This exposition of Philippians 2:12-18 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, July 5, 2020.

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2000 Baptist Faith and Message #6: God the Holy Spirit (7/8/2020)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, July 1, 2020.

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Philippians #7: A Hymn to Christ (7/1/2020)

This exposition of Philippians 2:5-11 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 28, 2020.

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2000 Baptist Faith and Message #5: God the Son (6/24/2020)

This study of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, June 24, 2020.

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Philippians #6: A Call to Unity (6/24/2020)

This exposition of Philippians 2:1-4 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Bapitst Church on Sunday morning, June 21, 2020.

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Baptist Faith and Message #4: God the Father (6/19/2020)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, June 17, 2020.

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Philippians #5: The Call of the Citizen Soldier (6/15/2020)

This exposition of Philippians 1:27-30 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 7, 2020.

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Baptist Faith and Message #3: The Doctrine of God (6/12/2020)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, June 10, 2020.

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Philippians #4: A Joyful Faith (6/12/2020)

This message from Philippians 1:18b-26 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 7, 2020.

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Philippians #3: Gospel-centered Joy (6/2/2020)

This exposition of Philippians 1:12-18 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 31, 2020.

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Baptist Faith and Message #1: Introduction (6/1/2020)

This study of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, May 27, 2020.

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Philippians #2: Marks of a Christian (5/27/2020)

This exposition of Philippians 1:3-11 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 24, 2020.

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Philippians #01: What Does it Mean to be the People of God? (5/25/2020)

This exposition of Philippians 1:1-2 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 17, 2020.

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A Gospel People (5/15/2020)

This message from Acts 16:16-40 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 10, 2020.
The Heart of God in Salvation (5/4/2020)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris from from Luke 15:1-24 was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 3, 2020.

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Exodus #91: Obedience and Sovereignty (4/26/2020)

This exposition of Exodus 40:1-38 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 26, 2020.

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Exodus #90: God’s Blessing: The Result of Obedience (4/26/2020)

This exposition of Exodus 39:32-43 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 19, 2020.

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Resurrection Hope, from Matthew 28:1-10 (4/13/2020)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Easter morning, April 12, 2020.

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Exodus #89: A Righteous Redeemer (4/12/2020)

This message from Exodus 39:1-31 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 5, 2020.

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Exodus #88: Gospel Essentials (3/30/2020)

This eposition of Exodus 38:1-31 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Saturday evening, March 28, 2020, and was broadcast over the internet on Sunday morning, March 29, 2020.

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Haggai #1: An Important Word from a Little Known Prophet (3/15/2020)

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This exposition of Haggai 1:1-11 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 15, 2020.

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Exodus #87: The God Who Saves (3/15/2020)

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This exposition of Exodus 37:1-29 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church onSunday morning, March 15, 2020.

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Exodus #86: The Tabernacle of God (3/8/2020)

This exposition of Exodus 36:8-38 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morningb, March 8, 2020.

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Heaven: Redemption’s Goal (3/4/2020)

This exposition of Revelation 21:22-27 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, March 4, 2020.
Habakkuk #4: Heaven-touching Prayer (3/2/2020)

This exposition of Habakkuk 3:1-2 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 1, 2020.

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Exodus #85: Called, Gifted and Commanded (3/1/2020)

This exposition of Exodus 35:30-36:7 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 1, 2020.

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The Holy City (2/27/2020)

This exposition of Revelation 21:9-27 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, February 26, 2020.
Habakkuk #3: The Just Shall Live by Faith (2/23/2020)

This exposition of Habakkuk 2:2-20 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, February 23, 2020.

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Exodus #84: Heartfelt Giving (2/23/2020)

This exposition of Exodus 35:4-29 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 23, 2020.

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All Things Made New (2/23/2020)

This exposition of Revelation 21:1-8 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, February 19, 2020.
Habakkuk #2: When God’s Way Does Not Make Sense (2/16/2020)

This exposition of Habakkuk 1:12-2:1 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, February 16, 2020.

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Exodus #83: Reflecting the Glory of God (2/16/2020)

This exposition of Exodus 34:29-35 and 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 16, 2020.

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Heavenly Worship, Part 2 (2/12/2020)

This exposition of Revelation 5:8-14 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, February 12, 2020.
Habakkuk #1: An Answer for a Troubled Heart (2/9/2020)

This exposition of Habakkuk 1:1-11 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, February 9, 2020.

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Exodus #82: Our Response to Saving Grace (2/9/2020)

This exposition of Exodus 34:18-28; 35:1-3 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Churtch on Sunday morning, February 9, 2020.

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Exodus #81: Fruit of a Genuine Encounter with God (2/3/2020)

This exposition of Exodus 34:8-17 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 2, 2020.

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A Roaring Lamb? (1/30/2020)

This message from Revelation 5:1-7 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, January 1, 2020.
A Call for Authentic Faith, from Matthew 23:1-39 (1/28/2020)

This exposition of Matthew 23:1-39 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, January 26, 2020.

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Exodus #80: God’s Glory Revealed (1/28/2020)

This exposition of Exodus 34:1-7, by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 26, 2020.

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Heaven-Centered Worship, from Revelation 4_8-11 (1/28/2020)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris wasdelivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, January 22, 2020.
Philemon: A Lesson in Forgiveness (1/28/2020)

This message from Philemon 1-25 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, January 19, 2020.

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Exodus #79: Life Together (1/28/2020)

This exposition of Exodus 33:12-23 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 19, 2020.

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Exodus #78: Cancel My Reservation (1/12/2020)

This exposition of Exodus 33:1-11 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 12, 2020.

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Heaven: a God-Centered Place (1/9/2020)

This exposition of Revelation 4:1-11 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, January 8, 2020.
A Call to Holiness (1/9/2020)

This message from multiple texts by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, January 5, 2020.

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Looking to Christ, from Hebrews 8:1-13 (1/7/2020)

This message from Hebrews 8:1-13 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 05, 2020.

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Walking in the Light (12/30/2019)

This exposition of 1 John 1:5-2:2 by guest preacher Devin Wilkins was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 29, 2019.
The Birth, from Luke 2:1-20 (12/22/2019)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 22, 2019.

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All in the Family, from Matthew 1:1-17 (12/18/2019)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, December 18, 2019.
Our God’s Incomparable Gift, from Hebrews 1:1-3 (12/15/2019)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 15, 2019.

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Conceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary, from Matthew 1:18-25 (12/11/2019)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, December 11, 2019.
Christmas: The Unexpected Gift, from Genesis 3:15 (12/9/2019)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, December 8, 2019.

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Exodus #77: The Demands of Salvation (12/9/2019)

This exposition of Exodus 32:25-35 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 8, 2019.

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Why All This Money for Miss Lottie? (12/5/2019)

This message from Isaiah 6:1-8 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, December 4th, 2019.
Exodus #76: Sin in the Camp (12/1/2019)

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This exposition of Exodus 32:15-24 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 1, 2019.

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1 Timothy #16: A Christian Perspective on Wealth (11/24/2019)

This exposition of 1 Timothy 6:9-10, 17-19 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 24, 2019.

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The Gift of God: from Romans 3:21-31 (11/24/2019)

Celebrating the LORD’s Table: this message from Romans 3:21-31 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 24, 2019.

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Lessons from a Dysfunctional Family (11/21/2019)

This exposition of Genesis 27:41-28:9 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, November 20, 2019.
Exodus #75: The Sinner’s Only Hope (11/17/2019)

This exposition of Exodus 32:7-14 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 17, 2019.

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Many Paths to God? I Don’t Think So! (11/14/2019)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, November 13, 2019.
1 Timothy #15: The Agony and the Ecstasy of the Christian Life (11/10/2019)

This exposition of 1 Timothy 6:11-16 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 10, 2019.

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Exodus #74: A Biblical Look at Sin (11/10/2019)

This exposition of Exodus 32:1-6 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 10, 2019.

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1 Timothy #14: A Well-Rounded Ministry (11/5/2019)

This exposition of 1 Timothy 6:3-10 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 3, 2019.

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Exodus #73: The Sabbath, Again? (11/3/2019)

This exposition of Exodus 31:12-18 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 3, 2019.

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1 Timothy #13: Living Out Your Faith (10/30/2019)

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This exposition of 1 Timothy 6:1-2 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 27, 2019.

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Exodus #72: Called and Gifted (10/28/2019)

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This exposition of Exodus 31:1-11 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 27, 2019.

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I Believe in Jesus Christ, His Only Son, Our Lord (10/24/2019)

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This exposition of John 8:12-30, 48-59 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, October 23, 2019.
1 Timothy #12: The Church and Her Leaders (10/20/2019)

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This exposition of 1 Timothy 5:17-25 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 20, 2019.

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Exodus #71: Gospel Reminders (10/20/2019)

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This exposition of Exodus 30:11-33 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 20, 2019.

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1 Timothy #11: Practical Godliness (10/14/2019)

This exposition of 1 Timothy 5:1-16 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 13, 2019.

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Exodus #70: The Altar of Incense (10/14/2019)

This exposition of Exodus 30:1-10 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Cburch on Sunday morning, October 13, 2019.

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The Doctrine of God #18: Sovereignty and Suffering (10/12/2019)

This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, October 9, 2019.
2019 1 Timothy #10: Good and Faithful Servant (10/7/2019)

This exposition of 1 Timothy 4:6-16 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 6, 2019.

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Exodus #69: Seeing the Forest in the Midst of the Trees (10/6/2019)

This exposition of Exodus 29:22-46 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 6, 2019.

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The Doctrine of God #17: Responding – Fear and Trust (10/2/2019)

This message from Isaiah 40:12-31 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, October 2, 2019.
1 Timothy #9: The Danger of ‘Don’t Touch’ Religion (9/29/2019)

This exposition of 1 Timothy 4:1-5 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, September 29, 2019.

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Exodus #68: The Gospel in Ritual (9/29/2019)

This exposition of Exodus 29:1-21 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, September 29, 2019.

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The Doctrine of God #16: The Fear of God (9/26/2019)

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Responding to the Doctrine of God: This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, September 25, 2019.

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The Doctrine of God #15: Our Jealous God (9/19/2019)

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This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, September 18, 2019.

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1 Timothy #7: Godly Servants (9/19/2019)

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This exposition of 1 Timothy 3:8-13 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, September 15, 2019.

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Exodus #66: Finding the Will of God (9/19/2019)

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This exposition of Exodus 28:15-30 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, September 15, 2019.

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The Doctrine of God #14: The Love of God (9/19/2019)

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This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, September 11, 2019.

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Exodus #65: Our All-sufficient Savior (9/1/2019)

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This exposition of Exodus 27:20-28:14 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, September 1, 2019.

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The Doctrine of God #13: The Goodness of God (8/28/2019)

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This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, August 28, 2019.

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2019 1 Timothy #6: Godly Leadership (8/25/2019)

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This exposition of 1 Timothy 3:1-7 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, August 25, 2019.

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Exodus #64: Hard Yet Necessary Truth (8/25/2019)

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This exposition of Exodus 27:1-19 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 25, 2019.

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The Doctrine of God #12: The Wisdom of God (8/21/2019)

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This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, August 21, 2019

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2019 Timothy #5: An Old Fashion Notion? (8/18/2019)

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This exposition of 1 Timothy 2:11-15 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, August 18, 2019.

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Exodus #63: A Gospel Structure (8/18/2019)

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This exposition of Exodus 26:1-37 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on August 18, 2019.

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The Doctrine of God #11: The Omniscience of God (8/15/2019)

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This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, August 14, 2019.

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1 Timothy #4: A World Impacting Ministry (8/11/2019)

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This exposition of 1 Timothy 2:1-10 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, August 11, 2019.

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Exodus #62: Gospel Furnishings (8/11/2019)

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This exposition of Exodus 25:23-40 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 11, 2019.

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The Doctrine of God #10: Our Omnipotent God (8/7/2019)

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This study of the Doctrine of God by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, August 7, 2019.

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2019 1 Timothy #3: Fighting the Good Fight (8/5/2019)

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This message from 1 Timothy 1:18-20 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, August 4, 2019.

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Exodus #61: A Gospel Picture (8/4/2019)

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This exposition of Exodus 25:9-22 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 4, 2019.

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The Doctrine of God #9: The Omnipresence of God (7/31/2019)

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This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, July 31, 2019.

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Grace Results: 1 Timothy #2 (7/28/2019)

This message from 1 Timothy 1:12-17 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, July 28, 2019.
Exodus #60: Our Great Work (7/28/2019)

This message from Exodus 25:1-9 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, July 28, 2019.

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The Doctrine of God #8: Our Timeless, Eternal God (7/25/2019)

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This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, July 24, 2019.

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Glory!: Exodus #59 (7/21/2019)

This exposition of Exodus 24:12-18 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, July 21, 2019.

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Demands of Faithfulness: 1 Timothy #1 (7/14/2019)

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This message from 1 Timothy 1:1-11 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, July 14, 2019.

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The Blood of the Covenant: Exodus #58 (7/14/2019)

This exposition of Exodus 24:1-8 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, July 14, 2019.

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The Doctrine of God #7: The Doctrine of Impassibility (7/10/2019)

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This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, July 10, 2019.

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Somewhere Between Egypt & The Promise Land: Exodus #57 (7/7/2019)

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This exposition of Exodus 23:20-33 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, July 7, 2019.

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Keeping our Focus: The Main Thing – Meditation for the Lord’s Table (6/30/2019)

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This exposition of 2 Timothy 1:8-14 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, June 30, 2019.

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A Life of Genuine Worship: Exodus #56 (6/30/2019)

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This exposition of Exodus 23:10-19 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 30, 2019.

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The Doctrine of God #6: The Doctrine of Immutability (6/26/2019)

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This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, June 26, 2019.
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A Life of Genuine Holiness: Exodus #55 (6/26/2019)

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This exposition of Exodus 23:1-9 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 23, 2019.
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God’s Holiness Demands Our Holiness: Exodus #54 (6/16/2019)

This message from Exodus 22:16-31 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 16, 2019.
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The Doctrine of God #5: The Doctrine of Simplicity (6/14/2019)

The Doctrine of Simplicity by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, June 12, 2019.
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Rightly Understanding the Law: Exodus #53 (6/9/2019)

This exposition of Exodus 22:1-15 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 9, 2019.
Responding to Struggles, Hardships and Joys: James #11 (6/2/2019)
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Sunday PM
James 2019 #11
“Responding to Struggles, Hardships & Joys”
James 5:13-20
June 2, 2019
by Pastor Rod Harris

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Intro:

James, the half-brother of the Lord Jesus, has been writing to scattered believers forced to leave their homes as a result of the first round of persecution against the church. At times his words have been blunt and to the point. What is clear throughout is his love for the Church and his affection for the scattered flock. He is urging them to “grow up” or mature in their faith. He wants them to see the providence of God in all things. He wants them to understand that God is always at work for their good and his glory. Thus they can, “Count it all joy when ambushed by life’s trials.” They can rejoice in the face of hardship because God is working in them for their eternal good. Tonight we conclude our study of this book by looking at the last 8 verses of chapter 5. Letters, handwritten (some of you are too young to know about such) often followed a pattern. At the start of the letter careful attention is paid to the wording. Longer sentences, full expression of thought but then when you realized that you where running out of paper, you start spitting out short bursts of information, trying to get as much in as possible. That seems to be the case with James. He’s either running out of parchment or he has to send the letter immediately. The last part of the letter seems hurried and a laundry list of items. Yet, there is valuable information for us in these closing verses.

Text: James 5:13-20

James addresses 4 groups of people in these closing verses:

The suffering

The cheerful

The sick

The wayward

With the first 3 he says the individuals experiencing these things are responsible and should act accordingly. In the case of the 4th, the church, as a whole, is to act to see the wanderer restored.

As we work through this text we discover that…

Thesis: The mature believer responds appropriately to life’s struggles, hardships and joys.
James has made it clear that he expects these folks to be “doers of the Word” and not “hearers only.” He had called upon these folks to live out their faith, to put actions to their words. That is what this section is about.

Suffering drives the mature believer to his knees. (5:13)

Joy causes the heart of the mature believer to sing. (5:13)

Sickness drives the mature believer to seek the ministry of the church. (5:14-18)

The wandering brother provokes the mature believer’s compassionate intervention. (5:19-20)

Conclusion:
Following Sinclair Ferguson: We cannot leave this passage or this book without asking:
What kind of believer am I? Am I a doer of the word or a hearer only?
What kind of church are we? Do we care about the eternal destiny of others?

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Divine Justice: Exodus #52 (6/2/2019)
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Sunday AM
Exodus #52
“Divine Justice”
Exodus 21:12-36
June 2, 2019

Intro:

Sometimes it hard for us to understand. Being New Testament folk, we sometimes scratch our heads when the psalmist says, “I love your law O, God.” Who loves the law? I love grace. I don’t like anyone telling me what to do. I don’t like restrictions. I want freedom. I’ll be the captain of my own soul, I’ll set my own course.

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Such an attitude reveals the wickedness of our hearts and a profound misunderstanding of the law. The law is good, right, holy and necessary. The law reveals the character of God. That’s why the psalmist loves it. The law reveals the life that is pleasing in the sight of God. That is why the psalmist said, “I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart.” The law of God is a mirror that reveals the sinfulness of our soul. The law forces me to deal with my sin. “Right, so why love it? Confronting my sin is not a pleasant experience. Coming face to face with my depravity doesn’t make me happy.” I hope the law drives you to despair! I hope it causes you to lose all hope of ever being good enough to please God because then, and only then, will you experience the wonder of God’s grace and provision in the person of the Lord Jesus.

The people of God were huddled at the foot of the Mountain of God as Moses approached the thick darkness where God was. They trembled at the sound of his voice. As God spoke their hearts melted. Finally they cried, “Moses, you speak and we will listen but don’t let God speak to us anymore lest we die!” Moses, their mediator had entered the presence of God where he was given the law to bring back to the people. As we work through this section of Exodus we are reminded, at every turn, that the law is not limited to the Old Testament while grace is relegated to the New. Law and grace run together throughout the whole of Scripture. Law is anything God demands while grace if everything God provides. As God hands down the law, he extends his grace. It is my hope that as we explore the law you will come to love it. That you will see the beauty of God’s holiness, justice and mercy through the law. Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 21 beginning with verse 12.

Text: Exodus 21:12-36

We are in that section known as The Book of the Covenant. This is not a code of statutes but rather a series of “judgements” or “precedents” to be used as disputes are settled among the people of God. Rather than statutes governing ever conceivable crime these are principles or guidelines for apply to the law of God to various circumstances. The first 11 verses of chapter 21 dealt with slavery or indentured service. The rest of chapter 21 deals with capital crimes, personal injury and criminal neglect.

This text deals with everything from 1st degree murder to simple negligence.
As we work through this sections it becomes clear that…

Thesis: The law of God deals justly with everything from the most severe and profound to the most common and mundane with righteousness, equity and a sense of proportion.

There are three things I want to point out.

The law of God demands justice in the case of the most severe crimes. (21:12-17)

The law of God always tempers justice with a sense of proportion. (21:18-27)

The law of God demonstrates that justice and proportion must be accompanied by equity. (21:28-36)

Conclusion:
Matthew 5:38-39 - You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also…

So what is Jesus saying? The law is about making things right when you are in the wrong. We only quote, “Eye for an Eye” when we are wronged, not when we wrong others. Jesus is saying, “You’ve got this backwards. When you are in the wrong you ought to make it right. You ought to do everything justice requires. But when someone wrongs you, you do not have to insist of strict justice. Instead you have the opportunity to offer mercy.”

This is what the Lord Jesus did. He suffered all manner of insult and injury on his way to the cross. Died he demand, “Wound for wound and bruise for bruise?” No, he prayed, “Father forgive them.” When he asks you to do the “impossible” he is only asking you to do what he did. When he asks you to show mercy, he is asking you to give what you’ve been given.

The law demands justice for the most severe crimes; such justice is tempered with proportion; this justice is accompanied by equity. The law of God is marked by righteousness, equity and proportion.

When it comes to justice on the personal level, we have the opportunity to demonstrate the wonder and glory of the mercy of God. Just has we have been freely given mercy, so we freely give.

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The Doctrine of God #4: The Doctrine of Aseity (5/29/2019)

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Intro:

In a book entitled God’s Trombones published in 1927, James Weldon Johnson put together 7 negro sermons in verse. The second sermon in the book is called The Creation. The sermon opens with these immortal words, “And God steeped out on space, and he looked around and said: I’m lonely - I’ll make me a world.” It is great poetry. It’s a fun read that is moving and powerful it’s just poor theology! The notion that God was lonely and therefore created the world is not just mistaken, it is an attack on the nature of God as set forth in the Scripture.

We have begun a study of the doctrine of God and we’ve said from the beginning that words matter. There is a need for precision when speaking about God. Tozer reminded us that, “What we think of when we think of God is the most important thing about us.” Anselm taught us that God is the “One of whom no greater can be conceived.” Our God is incomparable (no one/no thing compares with him) and he is incomprehensible (we cannot fully know or understand him). Our knowledge of God is true knowledge but not exhaustive knowledge. We cannot know him comprehensibly - if we could, we would be God, which would mean he is not!

This evening we are going to deal with the doctrine of aseity.

I’m going to shock you, brace yourself - GOD DOES NOT NEED YOU.

To affirm God’s aseity is to say that he is life in and of himself. He is self-existent and therefore self-sufficient. There is no sense in which he is caused by another. God was not created.

Everything has a beginning - except God.

Few seem to be aware of the awe-inspiring and worship-provoking grandeur of the God’s divine character. This is why Moses writes: “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?" (Exodus 15:11)

God is Happy and Complete in Himself

God is perfectly fulfilled and happy in and of himself. Jonathan Edwards said, “God is infinitely happy in the enjoyment of himself.”

The reason for this is that God is a Trinity.
God is one in essence, three in person.
The essence of God subsists in these three persons, eternally, independent of the created order.

John 17:5, 24
John 5:26

God as Creator Owns Everything and Needs Nothing from Us

Psalm 24:1-2
Psalm 50:9-12
Acts 17:24–25

God gains nothing from us.
Our obedience does not profit Him, it adds nothing to God himself.

God is honored and dishonored by what we do. God has been glorified by creation, by the work of providence, by the redeeming work of Christ but it adds nothing to God’s being, God’s person. Had He not chosen to manifest His glory and had He continued alone for all eternity; He would have been perfectly blessed and content in himself!

How different this God is from the god of the average person and even the God preached from the average pulpit today!

1 Timothy 6:15b-16:

So What?

The Gospel depends on a God who does not depend on you. Read Isaiah 40 and 44. Hear the biting sarcasm. How foolish it is for man to make an idol and then cry out to the thing he created for Salvation. If God were not life in and of himself, if he were not independent of us, then he would not be worthy, qualified, or able to save us. If God were not a se then he would be weak and pathetic because he would be needy and dependent. He would need saving!

We might pray for such a God but we would never pray to such a God.
It is because God is free from creation he is able to save lost sinners.

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The Gospel from Exodus: Exodus #51 (5/26/2019)
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This exposition of Exodus 21:1-11 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 26, 2019.

Intro:

The first 20 chapters of Exodus are filled with intrigue, danger and excitement. God providentially safeguarded the infant Moses marked for destruction.

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Rather than drown in the Nile he ends up in the palace of Pharaoh as the adopted son of Pharaoh’s daughter. Moses grew to adulthood with all the advantages of Egypt’s ruling class. All the while God’s people suffer and cry out for deliverance. Moses, in an attempt to intercede on behalf of a mistreated Hebrew slave, murdered an Egyptian. A fugitive, Moses fled to the back side of the desert where he remained for 40 years. In a dramatic encounter at the burning bush Moses was set apart as Israel’s deliverer. What followed was an epic adventure filled with plagues, pronouncements and displays of divine power. Death reigned in Egypt and Pharaoh loosened his grip on the Hebrew people. They were not only allowed to leave but they plundered Egypt on the way out. In quick succession there was the parting of the Red Sea, water from a rock, manna and quail - God was providing for his people. Finally they reached Sinai, the Mountain of God. Summoned by the blast of the ram’s horn the people trembled as God thundered his commands. The first 20 chapters are exciting, the next few…not so much!

What follows, as Moses has entered the thick darkness were God was, is the application of God’s law. The fleshing out of those 10 words as Moses is given a quick course in biblical law. I say it’s not exciting, I suppose if you were a lawyer you might find it interesting…or, if you happen to be a sinner in need of grace. Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 21 beginning with verse 1.

Text: Exodus 21:1-11

Again, there is a false perception. That is that the Old Testament is all about law while the New Testament is about grace. No, law and grace run together throughout. We saw an example of that last time and we see it again in this morning’s text.

Do you find this text offensive? Do you have a hard time getting beyond the words themselves? Does it bother you to read, “When you buy a Hebrew slave…” and “When a man sells his daughter?” If it does, I certainly understand that and I’m going to get to it in just a moment but let me say upfront - this is not slavery as practiced in American history. This isn’t chattel slavery and it is not race-based and that’s why some translations use the term “servant” rather than “slave.” This text, in no way, can be used to justify or excuse slavery as practiced in our national history. More on that in a moment but first I want to set the context. God is applying the law to various life situations. This section 21:3-24:3 is referred to as, “The Book of the Covenant.” Look at verse 1 - “Now these are the rules that you shall set before them.” The word, “rules” means judgments or precedents that can be used for settling disputes among people. This is not a statutory code but rather a guide for judging cases. This is about how the moral law (given in the 10 words) applies in everyday life.

There are similarities between what we find in The Book of the Covenant and other ancient law codes. Some have made much of similar language in the codes of Hammurabi (1700 b.c.). That’s to be expected, most societies/cultures prohibit murder, stealing and other common crimes. But this is different due to legal protection for women and for the poor. You search in vain for such protections in other ancient codes. Of course the biggest difference is that this one is given by God! What I want you to note this morning is the note of the gospel sounded throughout.

Thesis: As our God begins to make application of his divine standards, we discover the wonder of the gospel concealed in the application of the law to everyday life.

There are three things I want us to note.

Our God graciously provides for the oppressed. (21:1-4)

Our God mercifully provides for the least and most vulnerable. (21:7-11)

Our God inspires a response of profound love and enduring devotion. (21:5-6)

Conclusion:

What kind of master deserves such love?

A good master

A master who treated his servants as a friend

A generous master who acted in his servant’s best interest

In other words a loving master.

One like the Psalmist describes: Psalm 40:6-8; Psalm 119:32

We are loved by the best Master of all. A Master who make himself our slave (Phil. 2:7; Mark 10:45). What would you do for a Master who saved your life at the cost of his own?

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Biblical Maturity: James #10 (5/20/2019)
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This exposition of James 5:7-12 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, May 19, 2019.

Intro:

Do you like game shows? I grew up watching them. I watched Let’s Make A Deal with Monty Hall and of course Carol Merrill standing in front of the curtain. Truth or Consequences with Bob Barker. But my favorite was Jeopardy.

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I still enjoy watching it even though Don Pardo is no longer the announcer. Let’s be clear, I wouldn’t be any good on the show – but I like to watch it from the comfort of my own recliner when my answers don’t count!

I love the twist – they give you the answer and you come up with the question.
The key is – it has to be the question they have in mind!

Sometimes, when interpreting the Scripture it is like playing Jeopardy. You’ve got the answer but you’re not sure what the question is. James 5 is like that. James comes to the end of his letter and there is this running “laundry list” of issues he ticks off but what are they related to? What questions are being answered?

We do know that the issue or theme running throughout James’ letter is maturity. He is calling on these scattered believers to “grow up” in the faith. He wants them to come to maturity. We know from what James has already said that maturity comes through trials and testing times. We know that growth comes through the implanted word. We grow as we learn to consistently apply the truths of the gospel to our everyday lives. We are to be “doers of the word” and not “hearers only.” It is clear that maturity, as a goal, is still in sight as we come to our text this evening found in James 5:7-12.

Text: James 5:7-12

James sets before his readers two essential qualities of the mature believer. Qualities that are developed over time. He calls on them to be “patient” 4 times in verses 7, 8 and 10. Twice in verse 11 he speaks of “steadfastness.” Making it clear that…

Thesis: The life of biblical maturity is a life of long-suffering patience and steadfast endurance.

There are three things for us to note in our text.

The very nature of the Christian life demands the cultivation of patience. (5:7-9)

God graciously gives us biblical examples of patient suffering. (5:10-11)

Because the nature of the Christian life demands patience; because we’ve been given these biblical examples; we are to remain steadfast under even the most severe trials. (5:12)

Conclusion:
The Christian life is no walk in the park. It is a long and difficult life. A life that demands long-suffering patience and steadfast endurance.

The nature of the Christian life demands you cultivate patience.
We’ve been given examples of patient suffering in Scripture.
Remain steadfast under even the most serve trials.

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Our Sovereign and Gracious God: Exodus #50 (5/19/2019)
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This exposition of Exodus 20:22-26 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 19, 2019.

Intro:

It is an important question. A question not just for religious studies, it’s not just about Sunday School and church, it is about core convictions that touch every area of your life. Did God give the law to Israel or not?

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Did God speak from Mt. Sinai or not? Is this, we are reading in Exodus 19 and 20, actual history or is it religious story-telling? Is this a story to teach some religious truth or are these the very words the God who actually exists and actually makes these demands of his people? Is this book to be taken seriously or not? Can you see that is an important question? Battle lines are being drawn. It is clear to anyone paying attention the culture is becoming increasingly secular. There is the bold, outright rejection of biblical categories and distain for the biblical teaching on morality and cultural issues. Abortion, gender issues and homosexuality are the most obvious but it goes much deeper and we had better be prepared. Already those of us who hold to biblical categories and standards on the issues of homosexuality and gender are being told that we are on the wrong side of history. We are labeled as bigoted and hateful. We are considered a threat to the culture. So, it matters - did God say these things or not? If these are not the words of God then by all means go with the flow, adapt to the cultural times but if these are God’s words, we have no choice but to remain faithful. We must stand our ground and declare the unchanging truth of God whatever the consequence.

I will tell you who never doubted these were the words of God, those who stood at the foot of the mountain that day. Those who saw the smoke and fire, who felt the earth quake beneath their feet, who heard the thunder, the blast of the ram’s horn and whose hearts melted with fear before the voice of God. Thus they cried, “Moses! You speak to us and we will listen but do not let God speak to us lest we die.” They knew, these are the words of God and he is making demands of us. Back in chapter 19 they said, “We will do all you command.” Now, they are in full blown panicked because it is clear, God is demanding total allegiance. He is demanding their heart, their soul, their all. Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 20 beginning with verse 22.

Text: Exodus 20:22-26

God spoke to Israel that day from the mountain. He speaks just as clearly to us today through his word. Of course we have the advantage over Israel. “Pastor, how can we have an advantage? They were there. They heard the voice of God. They experienced his presence. How could we have the advantage over them?” We have the witness of the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures. We have what Peter called, “the more certain word” (2 Peter 1:19). Look with me, Exodus 20 beginning at verse 22.

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Thesis: This text powerfully portrays our God as the Sovereign One who demands our absolute obedience and the Gracious One who mercifully provides for our failure.

There is a false perception in the church. That is the notion that in the Old Testament we find God’s law and in the New Testament we find God’s grace. No, law and grace run together throughout all of Scripture. We find the law everywhere God makes demands of his people in both the Old and New Testament. At the same time we find his grace whenever God makes provision for his people. We have a wonderful example of this here in our text.

As we work our way through this text I want to note two pertinent facts and then point to a glorious conclusion.

Our God sovereignly, and with great force, reaffirms that he alone is God and that he demands our obedience. (20:22-23)

Our God mercifully makes provision for our utter failure to obey his good and righteous demands. (20:24-26)

With the giving of the Law our God graciously foreshadows his ultimate provision for us in the Lord Jesus.

Conclusion:
The Patriarchs built altars. As did Moses and David. There was always an altar where God’s people made atonement for sin. That was all in preparation for God’s ultimate provision in the Lord Jesus.

Romans 3:20-25
According to Hebrews 13:10, the Lord Jesus is our altar, he is also our burnt offering and our peace offering. There is salvation for all who come to Christ. Every sinner who comes to Christ finds atonement. That is why there are no more altars. When he cried, “It is finished,” all was complete.

Oh friend, God sovereignly demands your heart, your soul, your all. He alone is God and he demands your obedience. Because he is merciful he has himself provided for your utter failure. There is grace, forgiveness and life for you if you will only repent and believe.

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The Doctrine of God #3: Our God is Without Limit (5/16/2019)

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Recap:
Our God is the One of whom none greater can be conceived. (Anselm)
He cannot be managed, cannot be packaged.
There will be unanswered questions - for every question we answer we raise 10!

If you could fully understand, succinctly define and passage him - he would not be worthy of your worship.

Our God is incomparable - nothing compares with him
Our God is incomprehensible - beyond comprehension; you cannot gain full knowledge of him; you cannot have complete knowledge; he is past finding out.

Our God is knowable: through revelation - general (nature) and specific (Scripture)

Tonight’s Study: Our God is without Limit

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? (Romans 11:33-34)

Only God can be infinite in his essence.
This is an essential, foundational truth of the Christian faith that God is the most perfect, supreme being. You cannot deny that and call yourself Christian.

Why this matters

What do the Scriptures say?

Psalm 146:1-5
Ephesians 1:19-20
Acts 19:11-20

I had a theology teacher in seminary that said you are not through until you ask the question, “So what?” What difference does this make? What’s the big deal?

He is the big deal: Who can atone for sin against an infinite God?

Again, when we talk about being saved, we mean saved from God. Saved from his righteous burning wrath.

Question: Who has been sinned against?
Answer: the infinite God. Each offense is an infinite offense.

It is not just scary - it leads to despair!
But - Luke 2:10-14

But we’ve sinned against an infinite God. Yes, but the infinite One stepped out of the heavens to pay for our sin with his own body on the cross. He did what he alone could do.

Philippians 2:7-8
Colossians 1:15-20

Sin against an infinite God cannot be atoned for by a Savior who emptied himself of his divine attributes. No, it is his divine attributes that qualify him to make atonement in the first place. Sin against an infinite God can be met only by a Savior who is, himself divine. All the perfections identical with God, infinite in measure.

That’s the gospel.
That is the glory of God.

Listen again to Anselm: And clearly any good thing that the supreme nature is, it is that thing supremely. It is, therefore, supreme essence, supreme life, supreme reason, supreme health, supreme justice, supreme wisdom, supreme truth, supreme goodness, supreme greatness, supreme beauty, supreme immortality, supreme incorruptibility, supreme immutability, supreme happiness, supreme eternity, supreme power, and supreme unity.

Such a God is worthy of your worship!

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Our Great Mediator: Exodus #49 (5/12/2019)
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This exposition of Exodus 20:18-21 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 12, 2019.

Intro:

Smoke and fire billowed from the top of the mountain. Flashes of lightening and peals of thunder shook the earth. The voice of God melted their hearts with fear.

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The ground quaked beneath their feet and there was the blast of a ram’s horn. The people were terrified and I don’t blame them, I would have trembling too. They were in the presence of the One, true and living God. Every now and then I come across someone who wishing they could hear God’s voice. They wish they could encounter God - then they would believe. Encountering the God of the Bible is not for the faint of heart. In Scripture anyone who got even a glimpse of his glory was gripped with fear. Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 20 beginning with verse 18.

Text: Exodus 20:18-21

The children of Israel were enslaved in Egypt for 430 years.
Jacob and his descendants went to Egypt originally to escape a famine.
God had providentially placed Joseph in leadership in order to spare the line on Jacob.
After a time a pharaoh came to power who “knew not Joseph” that is didn’t honor Joseph.
The descendants of Joseph and his family were enslaved.
They cried out to God for deliverance - 430 years is a long time to wait for answer to prayer!
God heard their cries and he sent a deliverer.
Through a series of judgments God brought Israel out of bondage and led them to his mountain.
Gathered at the foot of Mt. Sinai the people listened as God thundered his commands.
“This is the life I expect from you,” - this is the life that pleases me.

The Law is not a path or means of salvation - it is a mirror that reveals our sin. Its intent is to cause us to see our need of a Savior. The apostle Paul says it is a teacher that leads us/guides us to Christ.

“I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery - have no gods but me, make no images of me, do not misuse my name, remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy, honor your father and mother, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not bear false witness, do not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey or anything that is your neighbor’s!

The first 9 forbid certain acts, the 10th forbids a state of mind.
How did Israel react to these demands?

[Read the text]

As we work our way through this passage we discover that…

Thesis: “The Law’s terrifying revelation of our sin drives us into the assuring embrace of the one true Mediator.”

There are three things I want us to note from this passage.

The Law exposes our guilt before a holy and righteous God. (Exodus 20:18)

Our guilt reveals our desperate need for a mediator. (Exodus 20:19-21)

The gospel reveals the One and only Mediator between sinful men and a holy God. (Hebrews 12:18-24)

Conclusion:
One day you will stand before God in his holiness and give an account for your life. You will either represent yourself or you will have the mediator represent you. You know what they say about a lawyer who has himself for a client - that is especially true in this matter. To stand before God on your own merit is to be damned because you stand condemned already. But for those who flee to Christ - there is no condemnation (Ro 8:1).

Once you come to Christ he cleanses you, makes you free and instructs you in the ways of the LORD. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

The law exposes your guilt before a holy and righteous God; your guilt reveals your desperate need for a mediator; the gospel reveals the One and only Mediator between sinful men and a holy God. That is how the law’s terrifying revelation of your sin drives you into the assuring embrace of the one true Mediator.

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The Doctrine of God: Incomprehensibility (5/8/2019)
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This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, May 8, 2019.

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Review:

"What we think about when we think about God is the most important thing about us.”

- A.W. Tozer

"God is someone than whom none greater can be conceived.”

- Anselm

Our God is not manageable, He cannot be packaged. There will be unanswered questions, concepts beyond our ability to comprehend but then, a God you can fully understand, succinctly define and package is not a God worthy of your worship.

He is not a bigger version of us. He is of a different kind, above and beyond us.

Theology: Theo - God + logos - word = a word about God

Today:

The twin truths of "God is incomprehensible" and "God is knowable" are held side by side in the Christian Church. (Job 11:7-9; Isaiah 40:18 and yet, John 17:3; 1 John 5:20)

An impossible request-Exodus 33:18-23

Incomprehensible - impossible to understand or comprehend. Limitless, not capable of being limited. To comprehend is to have complete and exhaustive understanding of an object but God is past finding out. We cannot understand the Almighty with perfection.

Isaiah 46:5

Isaiah 40: 12-23, 28

An Important clarification - To say that God cannot be comprehended is not to say he cannot be known, in part.

2 Ditches or pitfalls to avoid
1. Agnosticism - we cannot know if God exists or what he is like.
2. Mysticism - God does exist but we cannot know him or what he is like.

How must we approach the subject of God’s essence or person?
1. We must acknowledge our inherent weakness.
2. We must acknowledge if we know anything about God, it is because He has chosen to make it known.

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Who’s in Charge Here?: James #9 (5/6/2019)
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This exposition of James 4:13-5:6 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on May 5, 2019.

Intro:

It is one of the fastest growing areas of our “Christian subculture” – leadership training or management theory. Regularly I get brochures, tapes and letters inviting me to another life-changing seminar on how to be an effective leader.

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The Lord knows I could use some help in that department! Here is the problem. The approach and techniques taught in these “Christian” programs have been brought in lock, stock and barrel from the world’s system. We are now being told that for the church to be successful – it must be run like a business. We have to know our product, find out what the public wants and then put it in an attractive package – simple!

Just for fun I went to Amazon.com and did a search for leadership books from a Christian perspective and found 337 titles! I remember receiving an invitation to attend a seminar sponsored by the BGCO – the Reality Leadership Conference. This is a conference sponsored by INJOY ministries and John Maxwell – the evangelical guru of leadership. The brochure announced, “The first responsibility of leadership is to define reality.” Now you may be a big fan of leadership seminars and workshops. You may not have any trouble with these concepts – but you need to stop long enough to consider the implications of such teaching. I am the first to agree that we are to be wise and faithful stewards. We are not to jump into a venture without counting the cost – we are not free to be stupid! However – what right do we have to “define reality?” Is it our place to set the agenda? We just might need to stop and consider who is in charge. That, it seems to me, is the focus of James 4:13 – 5:6.

Text: James 4:13-5:6

James, the half brother of the Lord Jesus, is writing to Jewish believers scattered throughout the region. His letter has been called a “manual of Christian conduct.” It is obvious that James was a practical man who would rather meddle than preach!

His theme is maturing.
He is calling on Jewish believers to grow up.
Beginning in chapter 4 James deals with the problem of self-centeredness.
He brought to light the inevitable conflicts of selfishness.
He continues that theme on in to chapter 5.
Specifically he is dealing with the evil of a materialistic approach to life.
In our text:

Thesis: James warns of the dangers of worldliness.

What images come to your mind when you hear the term “worldly?”
Most think of gross sins - drinking, carousing, adultery and the like.
Or maybe it is smoking, going to movies, dancing or playing cards.

Of course these are convenient ways of defining it because I can distance myself from that stuff. But is that a biblical definition? You see I’m convinced that there is rampant worldliness within the church. That doesn’t mean I think the church is sponsoring or condoning the above behavior. Worldliness, from a biblical perspective, is defined by terms like self-centered, materialistic, living within your means.

The bottom line is that when a person is motivated by self-interest it is natural to plan life without thought of God. That, I think, is the heart of worldliness.

James deals first with the futility of worldliness in 4:13-17 and then the fruit of worldliness in 5:1-6.

The futility of worldliness. 4:13-17

The fruit of worldliness. 5:1-6

Conclusion:
This is a sobering picture presented by James.
Keep in mind – he is writing to the church.
This is a warning to the church – not Wall Street – the church.

We must beware the danger of worldliness and seek to rid ourselves of such.

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I Want, I Need, I Gotta Have: Exodus #48 (5/6/2019)

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This exposition of Exodus 20:17 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 5, 2019.

Intro:

It was one of our Saturday morning prayer times. I was pastoring my first church and one of my deacons met with me every Saturday morning for prayer. We had prayed and we were talking about the community and various folks.

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He began to talk about his father-in-law. I knew the rest of his wife’s family but not his father-in-law because E.R. had died several years before my coming to Masham. Gene said, “Well he just over extended when he got to buying up land. He didn’t want much…he just wanted the land that joined his!” That is the perfect example of the subtle trap of desire. The more I have, the more I want. It starts to snowball and before you know it – it is out of control with a life of its own. I’m sure you’ve noticed in your own life, you never have enough. I don’t hear people saying, “You know my employer just pays me too much money. I think I’ll ask them to cut back.” Instead we count pennies, scratch and claw our way until we get a raise. But in short order we are again counting pennies, scratching and clawing hoping for the next raise. We manage to live on and spend whatever income we have.

Part of that is due to the fact we live in a culture that is saturated with the notion that you are what you possess. Worth and value are determined by how much stuff you have. The more stuff – the more successful. The more you have the happier you’ll be. But life doesn’t work that way. Things cannot make you happy. Elvis had 3 jets, 2 Cadillacs, a Rolls Royce, a Lincoln, 2 station wagons, a Jeep, a custom touring bus, and 3 motorcycles. Of course his favorite car was his 1960 Cadillac limousine. The body was sprayed with 40 coats of a specially prepared paint that included crushed diamonds, trimmed in 18 karat gold. He died a lonely and unhappy man. Christina Onassis would monthly dispatch a jet to the United States, at a cost of $30,000 just to pick up cases of Diet Coke. She paid people $20,000 and $30,000 per month to be her friends. She died an unfulfilled and profoundly unhappy woman. History is littered with testimonials to the fact that money, possessions and things cannot make you happy. But we think we can be the exception. Okay, money can’t buy happiness but maybe I could rent it. The desire to have, to get, to possess is the backdrop for the tenth word thundered from Sinai.

Text: Exodus 20:17

This is the life I expect from you.
This is what it means to belong to Me – to wear my name.
These are commands/imperatives.
The purpose – to reveal our true nature.
To cause of to despair of ever being good enough – so that we flee to Christ.
A mirror – a teacher
Jesus summed up the law by saying – “love God, love others.”

Remember these words were spoken.
The people were at a breaking point under the weight of these commands – Exodus 20:18-19 - Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.

Thesis: The 10th word from Sinai shatters any illusion of our innocence before a holy and righteous God.

If there was any chance of our emerging unscathed from the first 9 – the 10th will do us in. Look at it: "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's." (Exodus 20:17)

It is as if the Lord said, “Now in case I’ve missed something let me cover all the bases.”
Commands 1-9 forbid specific actions. This command forbids a state of mind. In fact it is the state of mind that results in the breaking of all the other commandments!

I. Note first of all, this is an impossible demand.

How will we recognize it? What does it look like?

Some covet possessions.
It is also possible to covet people.
Then there is the desire for position, status or accomplishment.

You may be thinking, “Oh come on pastor, you’re making too much of this.” I understand that but the problem is we do not take sin seriously. We think, sure coveting is not right but it’s not wicked. Yes, it is. And it is because of its root cause.

II. A covetous heart is the result of a discontented soul.

I’m not advocating a call to poverty. I’m not suggesting that it is wrong to enjoy a few luxuries along the way. I’m saying we must not consider luxuries necessities! One of our problems in this regard is that we’ve bought the lie that wealth brings security. It does not! Ironically it breeds anxiety. You live in fear you’re going to lose it. contentment does not come easily. But it will find its way to the heart of the one who seeks his satisfaction in God alone. And then recognizes any and everything beyond that a gracious gift from God’s hand.

Conclusion:
A lack of contentment is a complaint against God. He has somehow failed you. He has not adequately supplied you. He has foolishly blessed the wrong people. Such a heart is a wicked heart.

How have you done with these ten words?
Are you comfortable looking in the mirror of the law?
I hope it has revealed your sin.
I hope it has caused you to despair of ever being “good” enough.
I hope it drives you to flee to Christ and live.

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The Doctrine of God #1: Introduction (5/1/2019)

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This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, May 1, 2019.
Choose Your Friends Wisely: James #8 (4/29/2019)
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This exposition of James 4:1-12 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, April 28, 2019.

Intro:

One of the things that is characteristic of our age is a drive for “personal rights.” “I have my rights”, is a cry that is often heard. We are obsessed with self. Right and wrong seem to be determined by what is best for me and not what is “best” period.

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Everything must be determined from my point of view. Most of us are like granny Clampett. She was describes as one who only wanted one thing out of life – her way! Most folks are easy to get along with provided they always get what they want. A desire to possess, the pursuit of personal pleasure seems to be the driving force and philosophy of life. Unfortunately that description is not just of the “mean old world” out there, it is increasingly characteristic of the church.

In the pursuit to be “relevant” and “cutting edge” the church left behind the teaching of holiness and righteousness. We have all but forgotten that Jesus died not to make us happy but to make us holy. We are called to be different, set apart or distinct. Our lives are to provide a stark contrast to those of unbelievers. But this is not a new problem. The church has struggled with worldliness from the beginning. James, the half brother of the Lord Jesus, writing to believers in the first century dealt with the issue of worldliness within the church. In the fourth chapter he dealt with feuding and fighting within the church. If that’s not proof that the first church was a Baptist church, I don’t know what is!

Text: James 4:1-12

The book of James serves as a manual of Christian conduct.
James was a practical man and he spoke to practical issues.
It’s over-all theme is “maturity.”
It is a call for these early believers to “grow up.”
Chapter three dealt with curbing the tongue.
But the curbing of the tongue is just a part of gaining control.
It is about bringing your life into submission.
That theme is continued into the fourth chapter.

There is a chapter break in our text but there is no break in content. The fights and quarrels of chapter 4 flow from the worldly wisdom that permeated the church in chapter 3. The word “covet” in 4:2 is the same word, translated “jealousy” in 3:14, 16. In chapter 4 James is illustrating the “disorder” and evil resulting from envy and selfish ambition on chapter 3.

And James gets right to the heart of the matter in our text.
It seems to me James is saying we have one of two choices for our philosophy of life -
one of two approaches to the way in which we live.
Either we live according to the will of God or according to our own pleasure.
We choose to be friends with this world or we choose to be friends with God.
We can dress it up anyway we want.
But it comes down to one of these two.

Is my life going to conform to the will of God or my own pleasure?
Is my aim to please God or please myself?
In our text James warns of the inevitable consequences of the latter.

Thesis: Biblical faith resists attraction to this world while humbly submitting to God’s will and embracing His sovereignty over all things.

There are three things I want to note quickly from our text.

I. As those who wish to mature in the faith, we must steadfastly refuse the siren call of friendship with this world. (4:1-6)

A life driven by such passions have inevitable consequences 4:2-4.

It sets men at each other’s throat.
It drives men to shameful deeds.
The craving ultimately destroys our fellowship with God.

James comes to the heart of the matter in verse 4. This is the cause of the trouble. You cannot serve 2 masters. You cannot have 2 first loves!

II. Such steadfast resistance demands a lifestyle of repentance. (4:7-10)

Submit to God… put yourself under, line up, and get in your place
Resists the devil…stand up to, stand against – 1 Peter 5:8-9
Draw near to God…return to him
Cleanse your hands/purify your hearts…confess and purge
Be wretched/mourn/weep…reflect genuine sorrow for your selfish passions
Humble yourself…again submit to his will and allow him to exalt when he sees fit

See the contrast between these two friendships, these contending worldviews.

Friendship with the world:

originates within the sinful desires of the flesh

desires/motivated by a longing for earthly pleasure

results in conflict with others, within, and with God

Friendship with God:

originates in the gracious desire of God (but he gives)

motivated by a longing for eternal satisfaction

results in submission to the authority of God

There is one last thing I want us to note…

III. Such repentance produces humility which readily admits its place and humbly submits to God’s sovereignty over all His creation. (4:11-12)

Conclusion:
This passage calls for serious reflection.
Am I the cause of conflict within the church?
Do I contribute?
Do I actively seek to bring peace?

We must also ask, “How do my values, heroes and lifestyle differ from my neighbor’s or coworker’s who do not know Christ?”

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Liar!: Exodus #47 (4/28/2019)
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This exposition of Exodus 20:16 from Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 28, 2019.

Intro:

It cut me deep. I don’t know if it was the actual accusation or the fact that it came from my best friend. But it wounded me beyond words. In front of everyone he yelled, “You big fat fibber!” Me, a fibber?

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How could someone accuse me of such a terrible thing? My character called into question, my integrity challenged? Why in my entire 8 years of life I’d never been so insulted. Sure he was right but to state it so publicly. Lying is a given in life. No one has to be “taught” to lie we come by it honestly. It is part of our “fallenness.” It is one of those points where our depravity shows. It is interesting, on the one hand we all condemn lying, but on the other we all do it! In fact according to the book The Day America Told the Truth 91% of us life regularly. 1 in 5 can’t make it through a single day without lying. Only 31% of Americans believe that honesty is the best policy. We are a society of liars. Lying has become acceptable as a way of life. Some “social scientists” are now saying that lying is an indispensable, socially adaptive virtue. Lying a virtue? One social scientist went so far as to claim that, “Our proficiency at lying may be the best measure of our advancement.” In other words we can see how far we have advanced by how well we lie. He went on to say that we are “better at lying than the other primates.” We can feel good about ourselves because we lie better than monkeys do!

We demand that people be truthful with us. We expect folks to come clean, shoot straight but we don’t want to be told the truth all the time. “Honey, does this dress make me look fat?” “Did you pay money for that hair cut?” “Well, I think your lack of creativity and basic intelligence is going to leave you a penniless slob. Which means my tax dollars will have to support you and your family for the rest of your miserable life.” Brute honesty is not only brutal it is destructive. What about this issue of lying and truthfulness? Where do we draw the line? How are we to live? That is the thrust of the 9th commandment. Our text this morning is found in Exodus 20:16.

Text: Exodus 20:16

Moses and the people are gathered at the foot of the Mountain. God descends in smoke and fire and His voice thunders from the mountain – “I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt.” Here is the life that pleases me. Here is the life we are called to. This is what ought to mark those who belong to Me. The purpose was not to provide a “way of salvation.” Salvation does not come by the law. Rather the law is a mirror that reveals our sinfulness. It is a means of bringing us to the end of ourselves and causing us to flee to Christ. The law is our teacher/instructor bringing us to Christ.
Jesus summed up the law by saying it all comes down to this, love God and love others. Live out the truth of the faith in community. Our faith is not about abstract, detached truths but living truths, lived out in the muck and filth of everyday life. What you live is what you believe.

our text for this morning reads: “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” (Exodus 20:16)

Again not a lot of room for debate. The statement is simple, concise, and straightforward. This is a clarion call for honesty and truth telling. As the people of God we are called to a higher standard. It is not a matter of what others do, or what society deems acceptable. It is a matter of what God demands of us.

Thesis: The ninth commandment calls believers to a life of truth and honesty.

I want us to note a couple of things along the way.

First, note we have a prohibition against lying.

Next, let’s note the ways of lying or the fine art of lying.

Martin Luther, following the same line of reasoning as Augustine before him, laid out three categories of lying. They are the humorous lie; the helpful lie and the harmful lie. Now stay with me. Understand where we are going with this.

The humorous lie.
This is a joke. It is telling something as though it happened when everyone knows it never happened.

The helpful lie.
Luther put in this category the story of Rahab. It was not a lie designed for personal gain. While we may argue about whether such should be categorized as a lie or whether it remains sinful. It is clear the truth was not told.

The third category is what we typically think of when we think of lying.

The harmful lie.
Obviously perjury and out right lying fit in this category.
But there are more subtle forms.

Slander.
How about gossip?
Flattery.
Exaggeration.
True words.

Okay, lying is wrong. It’s sinful. What’s the big deal everyone does it? Yes, everyone does it. Do you remember Ananias and Sapphira? Their story is recorded in Acts 5.

Peter confronted Ananias - You’ve lied, this lie came from the heart, inspired by Satan, and you’ve not lied to men but to God. He dropped dead. Later, when his wife came in, the tragic story is repeated. Was that fair? Did God have the right to punish them so severely? Yes! The soul that sins will die. That may cause you to pause when filling out your next offering envelope!

If there is one thing God hates, it is the lie Christians tell to make themselves appear more righteous than they are. The truth is we are all unrighteous and incapable of being saved apart from the grace and mercy of God.

Conclusion:
So what’s the verdict? Are you guilty? Are you a big fat fibber? The truth is I’m a Pharisee at heart. I’m a lawbreaker who likes to follow other gods. I am guilty of profaning the name of God. I’m guilty of murderous intentions, lustful thoughts and covetous desires. I am fully deserving of God’s holy, just and eternal wrath. That’s who and what I am. It’s also true of you. I hope that you will come to acknowledge and confess the same because then and only then will you come to understand your need of a Savior. Because then and only then will you see the beauty and wonder of the Lord Jesus and His gracious work on your behalf. Only then will you flee to Christ and live. Oh sinner, come home!

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Hallelujah!: Selected Psalms (4/27/2019)

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This exposition of Psalm 150 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, April 24, 2019.
Resurrection Reactions (4/21/2019)
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This exposition of Matthew 27:57-28:15 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 21, 2019.

Intro:

It is incredible. It defies logic. It is contrary to our experience. I understand that it is hard to believe. Yet it is the basis of our celebration today. It is the reason for our hope. It is why we sing.

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“Dead people don’t walk out of graves!” Our experience is that life is hard and then you die. Yet for the Christian, that is not the whole story. Central to our thinking and our faith is that death has been conquered! The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave is not an optional belief for the Christian. If Christ did not come out of the grave, what assurance do we have that our ransom has been paid? If Christ was not raised what confidence do we have that death has been overcome? In fact, the apostle Paul tells us if Christ is not raised than we are the most miserable people on earth!

That is why the apostle assures us, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that, “Christ was raised for our justification” (Romans 4:25). Peter says we have been given, “New birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). Today is Resurrection Day! Today we gather in joyous celebration of the fact that we serve a risen Savior! This morning I want us to look at Matthew’s account of this momentous event.

Text: Matthew 28:1-15

It has been a long couple of days.
Their world was rocked and the light was turned off!
Just a week ago – He entered the city to joyous shouts of praise.

But by Friday morning He had been betrayed, tried, convicted, beaten and nailed to a cross.

His followers scattered in all directions. His lifeless body was taken from the cross and placed in a borrowed grave. It was over. There had been such promise but now there was only hopelessness. Their sorrow and confusion conspired to drown out His words of resurrection and hope.

But that was before dawn on the first day of the week…

Paul said, “If Christ is not raised we are still in our sin.”
“If Christ is not raised – our preaching is a vain thing (it is worthless).”
“If Christ is not raised we are without hope.”
If he is not the “first fruit” what assurance do we have of being raised?
If it is merely His “influence” that lives on – is that the best we can hope for?

The consistent record of all four Gospel writers, the other New Testament writers with their accounts of the various resurrection appearances and two thousand years of church history and you’ve got a pretty good case for the resurrection.

But, having said that, it is imperative that you note:

Thesis: Overwhelming evidence for the fact of the resurrection does not ensure saving faith.

Biblical faith is not about winning arguments.
You cannot overlook the spiritual dimension.

I’m not pitting the two against each other I’m merely acknowledging that we are dealing with both the logical and the spiritual.

Let me illustrate this from our text.

The resurrection inspires reverential fear and great joy in the hearts of believing saints. (28:1-8)

The resurrection inspires obstinance and denial in the hearts of those who refuse to believe. (28:11-15)

Conclusion:
The empty tomb, the various resurrection appearances, two thousand years of church history all declare the reality of the resurrection. My question to you is, “What is your response?” Is it one of reverential fear and great joy or one of obstinate refusal?

The difference is the difference between life and death.
It is possible to attend church faithfully in celebration of the resurrection and still die in your sin. It is possible to acknowledge belief in the resurrection without surrendering your life, dying to self and trusting in Christ for life eternal and life abundant. Religious ceremony and adherence to traditions is of no value apart from a heart of loving obedience and simple trust. I ask you, what is your response to the news that, “He is alive?”

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Godly Wisdom: James #7 (4/16/2019)
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This exposition of James 3:13-18 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, April 14, 2019.

Intro:

We all know there is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. Certainly they are related but they are not the same. Warren Wiersbe speaks of the man who has vast knowledge, is capable of solving complicated mathematical and engineering problems but cannot manage his own life!

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We all have the image of the absent-minded professor lost in his ivory-tower world oblivious to what is happening around him. I remember when I was a kid sitting with my pawpaw on his front porch. My grandfather was a practical, hardworking man. He may have graduated high school, I’m not sure. Next door, his neighbor was working in his yard. The neighbor had a “rock garden.” The white rocks had become dull with dirt and grime. So the neighbor was sitting on the ground with a rag and a bucket of water. He picked up a rock, dipped it into the water, wiped if off then laid it aside. Then he would take another rock and repeat the process. We watched as he cleaned each rock, one at a time. My grandfather could take it no longer he said, “Hey! Why don’t you use a hose?” You could almost see the light bulb over his head. “Yeah, that would work.” As the man went to get his hose my grandfather turned to me and said, “College boy.”

We live in an age that believe the answer to all our struggles is education. We just need more information. Yet, we have more information available to us today than at any point in history. Not only have we accumulated a vast amount of knowledge/information, it is available with the click of a mouse or a swipe of a phone. I can’t tell that we are any wiser. In fact, I think I can argue wisdom is a precious commodity, in short supply! Knowledge is a good thing. Education is valuable but the real need is for wisdom. And not just any wisdom but sound, biblical, godly wisdom. As Solomon came to the throne of Israel, God asked him what he wanted from Him. Do you remember Solomon’s response?

In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, Ask what I shall give you. 8 And Solomon said to God, You have shown great and steadfast love to David my father, and have made me king in his place. 9 O LORD God, let your word to David my father be now fulfilled, for you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great? 11 God answered Solomon, Because this was in your heart, and you have not asked possessions, wealth, honor, or the life of those who hate you, and have not even asked long life, but have asked wisdom and knowledge for yourself that you may govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge are granted to you. I will also give you riches, possessions, and honor, such as none of the kings had who were before you, and none after you shall have the like. 13 So Solomon came from the high place at Gibeon, from before the tent of meeting, to Jerusalem. And he reigned over Israel. (2 Chronicles 1:7-13)

James, the half brother of the Lord Jesus and loving pastor of the church in Jerusalem, is writing to those early scattered believers. He writes to encourage them to remain faithful and to grow up in their faith. The need is for maturity. He also makes it very clear that genuine faith is an active, working faith. He pleads with them to not be hearers or the word only but to be doers of the word. Doctrine, truth is to be lives out. As we wrap up the third chapter of his letter he speaks to these scattered saints about the need for wisdom. Our text this evening is found in James chapter 3, verses 13-18.

Text: James 3:13-18

You might think that James is introducing a new topic here. He’s just been talking about the power of the tongue and the need to bridle that restless evil and now he turns to the topic of wisdom but, they’re related. Wisdom determines the kind of words we use. James makes it clear that divine wisdom always manifests itself in practical, Christian behavior.

As we work our way through this section we discover that…

Thesis: Growing up or maturity in faith demands the recognition, possession and practice of godly wisdom.

This is a very practical matter.
It is essential that we understand this as we seek to live out our faith.
James points out there are two different kinds of wisdom.
They come from different sources and they produce very different results.

Godly maturity demands you resist the subtle draw of “earthly, natural” wisdom. (3:13-16)

Godly maturity demands you embrace wisdom from above. (3:17-18)

Wisdom is found in relationship with the Lord Jesus. (James 2:1; Col. 2:3; 1 Cor 1:24, 30)

Wisdom is found in the Word of God. (James 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:15)

Wisdom is God’s gracious gift. (James 1:5)

Growing up or maturity in faith demands the recognition, possession and practice of godly wisdom.

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Behold Our Great King (4/14/2019)
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This exposition of Matthew 21:1-11 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 14, 2019.

Intro:

“It just didn’t make sense. It was not in keeping with what had been going on for the past three years. And it was dangerous. This was a time for laying low.

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This was a time to play it safe. Why take the risk? Why now? You know they are going to be looking for something like this. It’s suicide.” That must have been the confused reasoning of the disciples as Jesus made his approach to Jerusalem on the first day of that infamous week.

Weeks before, Jesus had “set his face as a flint for Jerusalem.” He resolutely determined to go there. Nothing could stop him – nothing would stand in his way. The time had come. That time established, by the Father, in eternity past, had now come. God’s eternal plan of redemption was now reaching its climax. For weeks Jesus has been preparing his disciples by focusing on the Kingdom. He has talked about its requirements – you must have the faith of a child, a simple, dependent faith. You must be willing to lose everything in order to obtain it. Jesus taught them that such a thing is impossible with man but possible with God. He taught them to look up for the Kingdom of God was near. History’s greatest drama is about to be played out as the Sovereign Creator of the universe mounts a donkey colt and makes his way toward Jerusalem. Our text this morning is found in Matthew chapter 21.

Text: Matthew 21:1-11

Matthew has crafted his Gospel to say to Jewish readers, “This is your Messiah.”
He has demonstrated that Jesus is a great teacher 5-7 (Sermon on the Mount).
He has revealed him as a great miracle worker.
He demonstrated that he is the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets (Transfiguration).

Throughout his Gospel he has made it clear that the people responded favorably toward Jesus while the establishment despised him. Nowhere is that any clearer than in this passage.

Remember the context. Hostility has been mounting for years by this time. The more popular Jesus became with the crowd – the more threatened the establishment felt. He had to be silenced. They had to get rid of him – but how? Numerous meetings have been held. Various plots had been developed but none of them seemed to get off the ground. If only they could get him to come to Jerusalem. If they could just have him on their home turf.

That’s why it didn’t make sense to his followers. Why go to Jerusalem? Why now? Jesus would be playing into the hands of his enemies. And it appears as if he did. Albert Schweitzer the 19th century theologian described the Passion Week in terms of the Lord Jesus being “crushed in the wheels of history.” What Schweitzer failed to realize was that it was the Lord Jesus, himself, who was turning the wheel!

To Schweitzer the death of the Lord Jesus was the tragic end of a noble man who died before completing his great work. The fact is that his death was his great work!

As we explore this incredible story, we will discover that:

Thesis: The Triumphal Entry dramatically reveals the ultimate significance of Jesus’ life and ministry.

There are three things I want us to note.

With His entrance into the city, our Lord boldly, deliberately and unapologetically declares himself King. (Matthew 21:1-8)

Our Lord’s bold, public proclamation reveals He’s a very different kind of king: a peacemaker, reconciling sinful humanity to a holy God. (Matthew 21:9-10)

His broken-hearted lament over the proud, unrepentant city demonstrates the depths of our Savior’s love. (Luke 19:41-44)

Conclusion:
He prophetically saw the proud, unrepentant Holy City as a pile of rubble wet with blood.
Look at him.
This is the heart of God.
This is the heart of the Savior.
This is how God sorrows over hearts that miss their “day” of salvation.
The tears of the Lord Jesus measure the value of your soul.
The question is will he weep over you?

I don’t believe it is possible to overestimate the significance of what happened that day in Jerusalem. The Triumphal Entry dramatically revealed the ultimate significance of Jesus’ life and ministry.

He is reveled as the Great Servant King.
He is seen as the Great Priest reconciling the world to God.
He is seen as the Great Prophet, weeping over the devastation of the proud and unrepentant.

Behold the Lord Jesus – Prophet, Priest and King.

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Our Singing Faith: Selected Psalms (4/10/2019)

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This exposition of Psalm 149 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, April 10, 2019.
Hold Your Tongue: James #6 (4/7/2019)
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This exposition of James 3:1-18 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, April 7, 2019.

Intro:

On a windswept hill in an old English cemetery churchyard stands a drab, gray-slate tombstone. It leans slightly to one side, the elements have almost erased the inscription but if you look real close you can read the epitaph:

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Beneath this stone, a lump of clay,
Lies Annabelle Young,
Who, on the twenty-fourth of May,
Finally began to hold her tongue.

Now I don’t know Annabelle but she must have been like the town gossip who during the revival meeting became convicted about her gossiping. After two nights of wrestling with the issue she went forward during the invitation time. She took her pastor’s hand and said, “Pastor I’ve come to put my tongue on the altar.” To which the pastor replied, “Our altar isn’t big enough!”

The tongue – it is that two once slab of mucous membrane enclosing a complex array of muscle and nerves that enables you to chew, taste and swallow. It is the major organ of communication. It enables us to articulate distinct sounds so that we can understand each other. It is very useful. It is a wonderful gift. And yet it is at the same time it is so often the source of heartache, pain and discouragement.

James tells us that it is the biggest little troublemaker that you and I have to deal with. Tonight we are going to consider the power of the tongue as we explore the third chapter of James’ epistle.

Text: James 3:1-18

If I were to give a one-word summary of James’ teaching it would be “maturity.”
James is calling us to “grow up” in our faith.

In chapter one he shows us how a mature believer deals with testing times.

Count it all joy!

Throw a party when ambushed by life’s struggles, because it produces endurance, which brings maturity.

In chapter two he deals with how the mature believer practices the truth.

Don’t be a “face-receiver” - showing favoritism.

Be a “doer” of the Word, not a hearer only.

In chapter three he shows us that the mature believer controls his tongue.

Thesis: Growing up in your faith demands that you gain mastery over your tongue.

The mature, Christ-like believer shows some restraint in how he uses his tongue.
Christian maturity and growth is a very practical matter.

But how do we tame the tongue?
How do we get control of it?

The mature believer recognizes the potential power of the tongue. (3:1-4)

The mature believer realizes the nature of the tongue. (3:5-12)

Conclusion:
I’m not a perfect man. I haven’t bridled my tongue it is a restless evil full of poison. I must cry out with Isaiah, “Woe is me! I am a man of unclean lips and I live in the midst of a people with unclean lips.”

I’m guilty.
Of that, there is no question.
My hands in the cookie jar up to my elbows.

Let me go back to something I referred to earlier - God spoke (Genesis 1:3) and created everything by the power of His word. Satan spoke (Genesis 3:1) and ruined everything. But God spoke again - Genesis 3:15 - I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.

There is hope for you and that tongue of yours and it is found in the Gospel!
There is hope in the transforming power of the indwelling Spirit.
Maybe your stone doesn’t have to read like Annabelle’s.

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Stop, Thief!: Exodus #46 (4/7/2019)
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This exposition of Exodus 20:15 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 7, 2019.

Intro:

There’s no doubt about it, it is an impressive title - “Vice President for Loss Prevention.” You have to admit that would look good on a business card or resume. What is sad is that it is a needed position. Do you know what the vice president for loss prevention does?

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He tests employees for theft. It is conservatively estimated that 60% of all inventory loss is caused by employee theft. The Super D Drug chain began integrity testing when they noticed what they termed, “A dramatic rise in shrinkage.” How’s that for corporate slang? A dramatic rise in shrinkage means “stuff was disappearing!” They estimate they’ve saved over $400,000 since instituting the testing. According to one National Retail Security Survey, retailers lost more than $13.2 billion (with a “b”) from employees stealing from their employer. Dishonesty, corruption and outright stealing have become mainstream. Larceny or theft makes up 56% of all the crimes committed in the U.S. While most of us would decry such things as purse snatching, shoplifting, burglary and the like, the fact is too many of us still buy into the Robin Hood mentality. Stealing is okay – if it is taken from those who can afford it. A teacher asked her elementary students, “Suppose you found a briefcase with a million dollars in it. What would you do?” One little boy responded immediately, “If it belonged to a poor family, I’d give it back. But if it belonged to a rich person I would keep it.” I wouldn’t take your wallet but hey, they have insurance or the government can afford it, besides they’ve sure taken money from me for years! There is a need to return to good old fashion, biblical, honesty and integrity. That’s at the heart of the 8th word thundering from Sinai.

Text: Exodus 20:15

“I am the Lord your God…have no other gods before me…
You are not to make any images of me…
You are not to misuse my name…
You are to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy…
You are to honor your father and mother…
You are not to commit murder…
You are not to commit adultery…

These are the words the voice of God thundered from the mountain as his people gathered. This is life as I intend it to be lived. This is the standard to which I’ve called you. My people are to be identified with this ethical code or standard. Understand, no one was ever saved by keeping these commands. Nor could anyone ever be saved by keeping them because they cannot be kept!

We come this morning to Exodus 20:15.
“You shall not steal.”

And by the way, this is something we all instinctively know. It is woven into the fabric of our lives. There is something very inappropriate about taking that which belongs to someone else. But like we’ve learned with the other commandments this is about more than just not doing something.

Thesis: The 8th Commandment demands honesty, integrity and a life above reproach.

I’m sure there is that part of us that says, “A sermon on stealing? Pastor, you’ve got the wrong crowd. That’s the sermon you take down to John 3:16 or to the jail. We’re all respectable folks here. We’re certainly not thieves.” That reaction comes from one of two places, perhaps from both:

You really don’t understand what God requires in this word.

You really don’t know yourself very well.

The meaning of the 8th Commandment.

Striving toward godliness.

Conclusion:
So, how are you with the 8th commandment? Are you a thief? Are you guilty? I’ve got good news for you if you are. The answer to your sin is found in the one who hung on the cross between two thieves. One of those thieves experienced the wrath of Rome that day but by God’s grace was spared the wrath of God. Jesus who bore God’s wrath in his place said, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

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All Encompassing Worship: Selected Psalms (4/6/2019)

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This exposition of Psalm 148 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, April 3, 2019.
Worthless Faith: James #5 (3/31/2019)
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This exposition of James 2:14-26 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 31, 2019.

Intro:

I was in the living room minding my own business when the call came from the kitchen. “Rod, would you come in here this can opener isn’t working.” I walked into the kitchen and calmly said, “It isn’t the can opener – it’s the operator!” When I came to and got up off the floor I tried – it didn’t work.

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I started mumbling, “This things is worthless…I don’t know why she buys these worthless things…worthless, worthless, worthless.” “Rod the dryer isn’t working.” I walked in the utility room – pushed the button and let it run a minute. Opened the door it wasn’t the least bit warm. I closed the door and said, “Uh huh.” She said, “Do you know what’s wrong?” I said, “Yeah, it won’t dry clothes! You want to know why? Cause it’s worthless. Worthless, worthless, worthless!”

A dryer is supposed to dry. If it doesn’t dry – it’s worthless – it is of no value. Value is determined by how well a thing performs the task it is designed to perform. That, it seems to me, is basic. This is not rocket science. James, the half brother of the Lord Jesus, seems to have been of the same mindset. That is why when he considers a “workless” faith – he considered it of no value. In fact he considered it to be worthless.

Text: James 2:14-26

James was a practical man.
He dealt in reality.

It would be easy to launch into deep, abstract reasoning while discussing faith and its value. But James says the value is seen in how well it performs or its visible results in your life.

James is direct and to the point.
He shoots from the hip.

Thesis: Real, genuine faith impacts the way we live, think and respond to the needs of those around us.

According to James – you cannot separate faith and works.
Genuine faith always produces works – genuine works always proceed from faith.

This passage has been the source of great conflict through the years.
New Testament scholars have debated the merits and interpretation of this passage with passion.

It is this passage that caused such grief for Martin Luther.
It is because of our text – Luther felt James did not belong in the NT Canon.
He saw it as an attack on sola fide – or “faith alone.”

Particularly troubling was 2:24 - You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

I want to point out 2 things as we work our way through this text.

Genuine faith, of necessity, expresses itself in acts of mercy and righteousness. (2:14-17)

Genuine faith cannot be separated from acts of righteousness, they are two sides of the same coin. (2:18-26)

Conclusion:
For James, faith and works are two sides of a coin. Genuine faith always produces merciful deeds or works. Genuine works always flow from faith. So – is your faith worthless or is it genuine?

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A Call to Purity: Exodus #45 (3/31/2019)
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This exposition of Exodus 20:14 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 31, 2019.

Intro:

We live in a very hedonistic society. A society dominated by the philosophy of hedonism. Now most can’t spell it, let alone define it. It is a philosophy that says the highest goal in life is the pursuit of pleasure.

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Thus pleasure is the ultimate aim or goal in life. If you dare advocate a Christian ethic in such a culture you are considered a narrow-minded, old fashion bigot! Things have changed significantly over the past generation. In 1963 it was a scandal when Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor began their affair during the filming of the epic Cleopatra. Even Hollywood condemned Liz for stealing Burton from his wife. In 1987, Gary Hart withdrew from the Democratic primary because of his affair with Donna Rice. All of that being a far cry from the circus surrounding “Monica gate” during the Clinton years. Now we have the celebration of same sex relationships - the sexual revolution seems to have won the day. Add to that the high profile infidelities within the church and you have to conclude – things have changed.

Christianity Today ran an article detailing a poll in which 23% of the respondents admitted to having had extramarital intercourse. 45% had engaged in inappropriate sexual behavior. 1 in 4 had been unfaithful to their spouse. That’s staggering, in and of it self, then you have to add one other fact, the survey was among clergy! This morning we come to deal with the 7th commandment. Our text is the 14th verse of Exodus 20.

Text: Exodus 20:14

God is thundering his commands from the smoke and fire of Sinai.
This is the life I expect from my followers.
This is the life I expect of those who bear my name.
When you boil it down it comes to this: love God and love your neighbor.
The life we are called to is just that – a life – not cold, abstract, detached truths.
It is truth lived out in relationship with God and with others.

As we explore this commandment the message is fairly straight forward:

Thesis: The seventh word thundered through the smoke and fire of Sinai demands a life of genuine purity.
Purity, now there’s an old fashioned idea! It sounds awfully “Victorian” don’t you think? Most often in our culture it is a “putdown.” But it is essential that we rediscover the biblical notion of purity in particularly as related to marriage. This command teaches the sanctity of marriage understanding that marriage is not an accidental but rather a purposeful, essential element of creation. Marriage is a divine institution providing the cornerstone of civil society. Marriage is God’s idea!

I want to say a couple of things about purity and marriage stemming from this commandment.

God forbids adultery because of its devastating consequences related to His glory and our well-being. (Exodus 20:14)The principle stated in the 7th Commandment seems simple enough. “You shall not commit adultery.” But why? What’s the big deal? What is so awful about it? To understand that we must understand marriage.
Genesis 1:26-28
Genesis 2:20-24

Adultery shatters that.
Adultery says, “I don’t care about any of that.”

Because this is such a serious matter, it demands constant vigilance and a determined commitment. (Matthew 5:29-30)Our Lord is not demanding that you mutilate your body but that you take extreme measure to guard your purity.

Conclusion:
Now, for those who have failed or who are failing in this area. There is grace, forgiveness and cleansing. The law of God serves as a mirror revealing your condition but then it takes you by the hand and leads you to Christ.

Come to Christ and then sing with H.G. Spafford:

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought,
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more
Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, oh my soul!

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Don’t be a Face-receiver: James #4 (3/27/2019)
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This exposition of James 2:1-13 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 24, 2019.

Intro:

I suppose it is natural to make judgments about people based on appearances. Let’s face it – it is hard not to. Don’t tell me you’ve never done that!

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On the way home from church or some other public place you’ve said, “Did you see what she was wearing? I don’t know why she would wear something like that. If I had hips like that I certainly wouldn’t wear something to call attention to them!” Or you see a man in a fine suit and you think, “I wonder who he is – he must be important.” A man in shabby clothes causes you to assume that he is some kind of bum. When we lived in Masham, I was at the mail box one afternoon when an old man came by in a beat up, rusted out 1965 model Chevrolet pickup. He stopped to talk for a few minutes. He looked like he hadn’t shaved in about a week. His coat was torn and his overalls had about a decades worth of grime on them. Later that afternoon I was talking to one of my deacons. I described the old man and ask if he knew him. The deacon said, “So you met Gilbert.” I asked if there was something we as a church could do to help the old man out. The deacon began to laugh. “Pastor, Gilbert made about a million dollars last year off of his oil wells.” I know that it is a cliché but “You can’t judge a book by its cover.”

But we are all prone to snap judgments. We are all prone to make decisions based on assumption and then allow that assumption to dictate our treatment of individuals. It is this tendency that serves as the backdrop for our study this evening. Tonight I want us to consider the opening verses of James chapter 2.

Text: James 2:1-13

Chapter one ends with James admonishing his readers to be “doers” of the Word and not hearers only. In other words live out your faith.

Read James 1:19-25 – the folly of “believing” without “doing.”
1:26-27 – “worthless” faith.

This is the dominant note in James’ letter – real, genuine faith produces corresponding actions. Real faith works. The first 13 verses of chapter 2 illustrate that very point.

One thing is certain about this text – James “done quit preach’n and gone to meddl’n.”

Thesis: Genuine faith is no respecter of persons.

Genuine faith does not make distinctions among people.
It does not treat people differently based on perception.
Genuine faith reaches out to all with love and respect regardless of race, social standing or economic condition.

The Principle Stated (2:1)

The Principle Illustrated (2:2-4)

The Sermon (2:5-11)

Conclusion:
A true and genuine faith is no respecter of persons.
What should you do?

Examine your life and relationships.
Do your part in making this a place where all people are welcome.
Reach out to those who are different from you.

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Murder …Me?: Exodus #44 (3/24/2019)
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This exposition of Exodus 20:13 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 24, 2019.

Intro:

Would it surprise you at all if I said, “There is a sinner in the building this morning?” That wouldn’t faze you because you know that we are all sinners. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. But what if I told you,

[sections collapse="always"][section title="Read More"] “There is a REAL sinner in our midst?” Ah, now you’re thinking. Your eyes are cutting back and forth as you seek to locate the culprit. “I wonder if he knows about so and so?” “Does he know what happened last night?” Some of you are wondering which sin I’m referring to. I’ll give you a hint…it’s a biggie! In fact it made the top ten. What if I was to tell you – there is a murderer in the congregation? In fact he’s in your section. On your row. In your pew. In your seat!

This morning we are going to consider the 6th Commandment. And we’ll discover it involves far more than just the physical act of murder. One of our problems is that we too often think that our faith is merely a matter of external morality and codes of conduct. It’s all about dos and don’ts rather than understanding it is about how we relate to God and to others. It is about loving God and loving our neighbor. When we think about the Ten Commandments we think of Charlton Heston alone on the mountain with God receiving the Commandments. We fail to remember that God first spoke these words to the people. His voice thundered from the mountain, “I am the Lord your God who brought you up out of Egypt. You are to have no other gods in my presence.” God established this pattern for life. God is declaring, “This is the life that pleases me.” The same God who heard their cries in Egypt and delivered them by His mighty hand, now declared, “Here is how I expect you to live.” This morning we deal with commandment number 6.

Text: Exodus 20:13

This command is just two words in the original text – “No killing.”
It is universally accepted that the best translation is “no murder.”
This is not a blanket condemnation of killing.

I’m convinces that…

Thesis: The sixth Commandment demands that believers be genuinely pro-life.

Now that got your attention. When you hear the term “pro-life” what do you immediately think of? To be genuinely pro-life is to embrace life. It is to be concerned about the hungry, the poor, the oppressed and the unborn. Life is life whether in or out of the womb! Whether in the birth canal or dying in an aids ward. It’s time we in the church embrace life at every stage and in every form.

I want to focus on two things this morning.

This Commandment prohibits murder in all its forms.

Homicide

Suicide/Euthanasia

Abortion

Hidden Murder

Now you may be thinking, “I agree with everything you’ve said. You’re right. Those people need to understand this.” But don’t be too quick to let yourself off the hook. Take a look at Matthew 5:21-22.

This Commandment requires that we value and esteem every human life.

So, how are you doing? You say you haven’t committed a murder. Good. Have you ever fail to see someone as the Father sees them – in need of love and mercy? Do you see them through eyes of evil judgment? Then in your heart you are a killer.

Conclusion:
I’m afraid that catches all of us. What do we do with our sinful hearts? Flee to Christ for forgiveness and cleansing. Come acknowledging your sin and your guilt. Throw yourself on the mercy of God in Christ and experience the washing of regeneration. The law of God is not a ladder on which we climb to reach holiness. It is a mirror in which we see ourselves as we are – dirty, rotten scoundrels in need of cleansing. Come to Christ. Don’t delay.

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A People Marked by Praise: Selected Psalms (3/20/2019)

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This exposition of Psalm 146 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, March 20, 2019.
Responding to Truth: James #3 (3/18/2019)
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This exposition of James 1:19-27 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 17, 2019.

Intro:

James, the half brother of the Lord Jesus and the leader of the church in Jerusalem, is writing to Jewish believers who have been “scattered” due to the first wave of persecution following the stoning of Stephen.

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These believers have been driven from their homes. They have experienced testing times, to say the least and yet James says to them, “Count it an occasion for pure joy when you are ambushed by life’s multifaceted troubles.” Yes, I know, this James must be some kind of nut! Who does that? Who responds to heartache, trials and struggles with joy? How, do you respond that way? This can only be your response if you have a radically God-centered faith. Joy in the face of trial can only be accomplished when you view life through the grid of a Sovereign God who works all things together for your good and His glory. Trials, in and of themselves, are not good. They are painful, debilitating and destructive unless they are under the watchful care of a loving God who is determined to get you home safely! That’s the Gospel. That is the hope of the child of God. In the first 18 verses of chapter 1 James is instructing believers in how they are to respond to testing times. Beginning with verse 19 he deals with how believers are to respond to truth, specifically the truth of the Word of God. Our text this evening is James 1:19-27.

Text: James 1:19-27

The stated goal of James is found in verse 4 - …and let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. His goal, his aim is for these scattered believers to come to complete maturity. He wants them to have a full-grown faith. One of the ways God brings maturity to the believer is through trials. There are no wasted sorrows in the Christian life. God providentially works in all things and ultimately all things work for our good and his glory. He also works through his Word and that’s what tonight’s text is all about.

In fact 1:22 is really the key verse for the book of James - But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

Maturity demands hearing and doing the Word of God.
It is about listening, understanding, and obeying.
In chapter 2 James is going to tell us a workless faith is a worthless faith.

In our text we learn about some folks who think they’re mature and it just might be they have no faith at all!

We also discover that blessing follows obedience.

As we work our way through the text we find that…

Thesis: The mature believer responds to the truth of God’s Word with humility and obedience evidenced by a bridled tongue and a compassionate heart.

James has been called both the Proverbs of the New Testament and the Amos of the New Testament, this is part of the reason for that. Truths put in a succinct and memorable way (Proverbs) and some straightforward words that sting (Amos).

There are three things I want to note quickly.

The mature believer responses to the truth with a gracious humility. (1:19-21)

The mature believer responds to the truth with a determined obedience. (1:22-25)

The mature believer responds to the truth with a life ordered by the word of God. (1:26-27)

Conclusion:
You want to mature in your faith? You want to know what it means to grow up in Christ? You would do well to spend time in this letter to the tribes scattered.

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Honor Your Father and Mother: Exodus #43 (3/17/2019)
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This exposition of Exodus 20:12 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 17, 2019.

Intro:

I couldn’t believe it the first time I heard about it. It was just so “unthinkable.” But it is happening and at an alarming rate. They call it “Granny Dumping.”

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It is when a family drops grandma off at a hospital emergency room and leaves her there. Grandma got to be too much of a burden. Nobody wanted to mess with her anymore. 38% of the hospitals responding to a Senate Aging Committee survey said that as many as 8 elderly patients were dumped on their emergency wards every week. This is the ultimate proof that we’ve become a “throw away” society. In most cultures the elderly are honored as the “wise ones” or “sages.” A long life means that they have gained valuable insight and skills for living. But in our self-absorbed and self-indulgent culture the elderly are excess baggage. But let’s be honest this did not happen overnight. Something led up to this crisis. Perhaps an unwillingness to discipline our children has played a role. Maybe allowing our children to be disrespectful to us and to others has played a part. Perhaps our making them the center of the universe and ensuring they have whatever they want – led to a mindset that said, “Grandma no longer serves my purpose. I don’t need her anymore. And she’s really becoming a burden. I think I’ll let someone else worry about her.”

The family forms the foundation of society. With the demise of the family comes the demise of civil order. This is an issue that touches the heart and soul of our nation. This goes to the core of our existence. The answer therefore will not be found in Washington D.C. or Oklahoma City or down at City Hall. Our hope lies in a return to rock-solid, biblical principles. The answer is found in a return to God’s Ten Words. Our text this morning is found in the 12th verse of Exodus chapter 20.

Text: Exodus 20:12

As the voice of God thundered through the smoke and fire of Mt. Sinai our Sovereign declared, “This is the life that pleases me.” “This is life as I intend it for my people.” Commands 1-4 deal with our vertical relationship – our love for God; while commands 5-10 deal with our horizontal relationships – love of our neighbors. The Jewish division is 5 and 5. The feeling being that this commandment belongs with the first four – our honoring our father and mother is in fact our honoring the God-ordained representative in the home.

Recap:

An exclusive devotion – no other gods in my presence

A proper worship – no graven image – do not distort, detract from my glory

Proper reverence/respect – do not take my name in vain

Recognize the work of God in redemption – remember the Sabbath, keep it holy

Now we discover in this fifth commandment…

Thesis: Our Sovereign King demands that every believer humbly honor and deeply respect their father and mother.

Now there is an old fashion idea! We live in an age when children sue their parents. Our culture believes that parental restraint is an assault on individual freedoms. Rebellion and disrespect are applauded rather than condemned. It is time we rediscover this important command. Children must be taught to respect their parents and all of those in authority. And in case you’re thinking this is an Old Testament command – Jesus repeated it in Matthew 15 and Paul taught it in Ephesians 6 and Colossians 3. This is, most definitely, a word for us.

I want to ask two questions about this truth: “What does it mean to honor” and second, “What difference does it make?”

Just what does it mean to “honor” your father and mother?

You are commanded by God to esteem and value your parents as an act of your will not as a reward for their good behavior.

Now we have to relate this to two groups of people. This command relates both to those who are “at home” and those who have “moved out.”

Honor during the growing years

As the parent you are God’s vice-regent.
As the parent you have the best interest of your child in mind.
Jesus, though the sovereign king of the universe, obeyed his earthly parents.

The mature or adult child

*That respect is seen in how one talks to and about his parents.
*This reverence involves seeing that your parents are taken care of.
*It involves taking time for mom and dad.
*You can revere your parents through your character – Proverbs 23:24-25.

2. Now, what difference does all of this make?

Note the end of Exodus 20:12.
God’s blessing is upon the people who seek to obey this command.
Our treatment of our parents has a direct bearing on our society and nation.
If we do not respect, revere and honor our parents we have no right to expect it in turn.

While societal and personal concerns are legitimate to consider the real driving force behind our obedience is found in Ephesians 6 and Colossians 3. Because it is right and it pleases the Lord.

Our Sovereign King demands that every believer humbly honor and deeply respect their father and mother.

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The Importance of God (3/15/2019)

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This exposition of Psalm 119:57-64 by guest preacher Troy Johnston was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 10, 2019.
The Lettuce Sermon (3/13/2019)
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This exposition of Hebrews 10:19-25 by guest preacher Troy Johnston was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 10, 2019.

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Seven key doctrines found in the first 9 chapters of Hebrews:

The superiority of Jesus Christ

The Great High Priest

Sacrifice

The Promise

Maturity

Faith

Endurance

The passage before us has four sections that begin with the exhortation "let us":

Let us draw near to God with a true heart and full assurance of faith. v. 22.

Let us hold fast ... v. 23.

Let us consider ... v. 24.

Let us encourage one another ... v. 25.

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Celebration of Our Awesome God: Selected Psalms (3/13/2019)
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This exposition of Psalm 145 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, March 13, 2019.

After David's declaration to praise the name of God for ever in verses 1-2, he goes on to do so with regard to four of God's attributes, followed by a summary praise in verse 21:

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David praises God for His greatness in verses 3-7.

David praises God for His grace in verses 8-13a.

David praises God for His faithfulness in verses 13b-16.

David praises God for His righteousness in verses 17-20.

David gives a summary praise in verse 21.

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The Believer in Prayer: Selected Psalms (3/6/2019)

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This exposition of Psalm 144 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening March 6th, 2019.
What About This Sabbath Thing?: Exodus #42 (3/3/2019)
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This exposition of Exodus 20:8-11 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Curch on Sunday morning, March 3, 2019.

Intro:

It would certainly be an understatement to say, “Things have changed.” Do you remember “Blue Laws?” Did you know that the NFL did not officially recognize Sunday games until 1949? We’ve gone from being a society shaped by a certain view of the Sabbath to one that hardly ever gives it a thought. Alexis McCrossen says, “Americans went from viewing Sunday as a holy day of rest, to a day of cultural enlightenment, to one of mindless consumption and amusements; they went from thinking of the day in terms of broad public purposes to goofing off or finding the best bargain.” McCrossen is not alone. Bruce Ray bemoans what he refers to as the “McSabbath.” He concludes that, “By having church services on Saturday night, people can have the whole day on Sunday to go hiking, sailing, shopping, without being inconvenienced by having to attend services. We can just fit God into our schedules the way we do piano lessons and dental appointments. Then if something more interesting comes along, we can always reschedule…Worship services are quick, easy, convenient and user-friendly. Little or no sacrifice is required.” I think both are right and they address an issue that has largely been ignored in the modern church.

It is the only one of the “Ten Words” not reiterated in the New Testament. By that I mean there is not a restatement of the command, there are references to the Sabbath and the observing of the Sabbath but not specific instructions regarding it. It has, through the years, been the source of great confusion, argument and debate. The command to remember the Sabbath Day and to keep it holy. What does it mean? How does it apply to the Christian? Discussions of these issues often generate far more heat than light. I hope that today we can examine this issue and come to a biblical understanding of this “difficult” issue.

Text: Exodus 20:8-11

Let’s not forget the context. The people of Israel have been brought out of Egypt. They are gathered at the foot of Mt. Sinai to meet God. The sky is blackened by great clouds. Lightening flashed. Thunder rolled. The earth shook as God descended in smoke and fire. A voice thundered, “I am the Lord your God who brought you out of Egypt. You are to have no other gods in my presence.” It was an awesome and terrifying experience. We call them the Ten Commandments. This is our Sovereign, our King declaring, “Here is the life that pleases me.” “This is how I expect you to live as my people.” Jesus summed up the law by saying, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength…and love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Love God, love others. Commands 1-4, the “vertical commands” = loving God; commands 5-10 the “horizontal commands” = loving others.

Note the progression of the commandments:

Whole-hearted devotion to God/an exclusive devotion

Don’t worship me in a way that detracts or distorts my glory

Reverence and respect me

That brings us to the fourth commandment, the last of the “vertical” commands. When we consider the Old Testament law it is clear that some are civil and deal with Israel uniquely as a “theocracy”. Thus there are civil commands that relate to the nation of Israel only. No other nation is called to the same standard. It is clear from the reading of the New Testament that those laws do not apply to us as the church. Other laws were ceremonial. They were signs and pictures of Christ. They are fulfilled with the coming of Christ and are no longer in effect. I point this out because I’m convinced that there are civil and ceremonial aspects to this command that no longer apply to us while the moral aspect does. I’m also convinced that Christ is the fulfillment of the fourth commandment - He is our rest.

As we work our way through this text I believe we discover that…

Thesis: The fourth word thundered from the smoke and fire of Sinai calls for a day of rest for the purpose of remembering and reflecting on the goodness of God in creation and in redemption.

I want make three observations.

The Command itself.

The Lord’s Day.

Some Observations.

Conclusion:
The Lord is honored when we observe the Lord’s Day. But we need to guard against a legalistic approach. We do not base our standing before God on what we do on Sunday. We do not judge others for they way they keep or fail to keep the Lord’s Day holy. There are no set man-made rules or regulations for Sabbath keeping. That’s what the Pharisees did and Jesus condemned them for it. The way we avoid legalism is to remember that the Lord’s day is for celebrating the freedom that we have in Christ. After all Jesus said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” That doesn’t mean “anything goes” but it does mean the Sabbath is not a straitjacket.

If you are looking for a list of acceptable practices, a list of does and don’ts you’re heading down the wrong path. We must leave room for Christian liberty and godly judgment. If you want a list, honestly you are probably looking for what you can get away with - and yet technically keep the Sabbath. Bottom line, if you are looking for a loophole - you’ve missed the point!

Set aside the Lord’s Day as a regular, weekly act of devotion to God and the things of God. Take a break from the routine and the ordinary. Give time to the Lord in worship, prayer and reflection. Spend time with family and friends. As much as possible, a day off the calendar and off the clock. I think you will find…He’s worth it!

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A Pattern for Renewal: Selected Psalms (2/28/2019)

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This exposition of Psalm 143 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, February 27, 2019
The Anatomy of Sin: James #2 (2/24/2019)
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This exposition of James 1:13-18 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, February 23, 2019.

Intro:

When you were in school did you have a favorite subject? I was fond of lunch! But there were those classes I hated. One of those was gym class, especially at Robertson Elementary.

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I loved my teacher, Mr. Robinson - he was great. I hated the Presidents’s Physical Fitness Test or as I called it the, “Let’s humiliate the fat kid game.” Every year I was humiliated in front of the whole class as, yet again, I failed to do a chin up.

I didn’t like biology class at OBU either. Science wasn’t my thing. I tried to explain to Dr. Oglivie that I was not good in science because I was left-handed. “As you know Dr. Oglivie a left-handed person is right-brained. A right-brained person is creative rather than analytical. I excel in the arts not the sciences.” It didn’t work any better with her than it is with you! She wasn’t buying it and insisted that I learn something about anatomy. Now if I were pre-med or pre-vet – I could have accepted that. But I was a speech major! I really didn’t see what anatomy had to do with anything I was going to be involved in.

But, looking back, anatomy is dividing a thing into parts for detailed analysis for the purpose of ascertaining the function. In other words anatomy is the study of how something works. Since that is what anatomy is – it is important in all areas of study. Our text this evening is found in the latter part of the first chapter of James’ letter to the 12 tribes scattered. As we work through our text, we are going to discover the anatomy of temptation.

Text: James 1:13-18

Are you ever tempted?
Do you ever “give in” to temptation?
Then maybe this would be worth looking at.

Thesis: The anatomy of temptation reveals that each of us is responsible for our sin.

Well, that’s no fun!
I want to be like Flip Wilson, I would at least like to say, “The devil made me do it.”
The idea that we are responsible for our sin doesn’t fit well in our “blameless society.” Have you noticed that no one is responsible for anything any more? We are not responsible because we are all victims. It’s my upbringing or the influence of the culture or my parents didn’t treat me right or any of a thousand things so long as I can say, “It’s not my fault!”

I still haven’t figured out how we can all be victims there have to be some perpetrators.

There are three things I want us to notice in our text.

The source of temptation. (1:13-14)

The offspring of temptation. (1:15)

The way out. (1:16-18)

Conclusion:
He saved us from our sin, he will see us through our sorrows.
Our God is good and his goodness is unchanging (17)
His goodness is undeserved (of his own free will - it isn’t owed - 18)
His goodness is unending.

By faith, we trust in the grace of God.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Hebrews 12:1-2
See temptation for what it is and flee to Christ for grace to stand!

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It’s About Respect: Exodus #41 (2/24/2019)
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This exposition of Exodus 20:7 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 24, 2019.

Intro:

It was two o’clock in the afternoon on January 8, 1697. The hangman pulled away the ladder and the lifeless body of the young theology student swung silently before the gathered crowd. Thomas Aikenhead was just shy of his nineteenth birthday.

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His crime? Blasphemy! Now we react to such stories with horror and disgust because we live in a culture that endorses blasphemy as a way of life. The name of God is routinely misused by people of all ages and in all kinds of circumstances for all kinds of reasons. In fact the prevailing attitude in all areas of life seems to indicate that the proper showing of respect is not necessary. Even in the realm of faith. We do not live in a theocracy and I’m certainly not advocating we institute capital punishment for blasphemy my point is that we no longer possess such a profound reverence for the name of God. In fact, there is an appalling lack of respect for god and the things of God. And we must understand – this is no small thing. In Leviticus chapter 10 we find the story of Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron. Listen to the story in Leviticus 10:1-3. Nadab and Abihu lay dead on the floor of the sanctuary because they did not honor God. Apparently God takes this matter very seriously.

We, on the other hand, do not seem to be concerned about such matters. From our perspective “the man upstairs” just has to understand this is the way we are. It is readily apparent that there is little or no respect for God or biblical teaching in the general culture, the media or Hollywood. But then, that is to be expected. Maybe there is a lack of respect “out there” because there is a lack of respect for God within the church. I think Michael Horton is right when he said, “I am far more concerned about the hucksters, heretics and healers in the church who misuse God’s name than those who use profanity.” We have no right to expect integrity in the world that is lacking in the church. In popular religion God is there for me. I am the potter, He is the clay. After all, poor little ol’ God can’t do anything if I don’t let him, “have His way.” That is an awfully puny understanding of God. If we are going to take his name seriously, we have to take God seriously. That is what the third commandment is all about. Our text this morning is found in Exodus 20 and verse 7.

Text: Exodus 20:7

God is speaking to His covenant people. They have gathered at the foot of Mt. Sinai as God’s voice thunders from the smoke & fire. These commandments are about how we love God and love our neighbor. This is the life that is pleasing to God. This is what is required of us.

Recap:
Commandment #1 – Have no other gods – prohibits the worship of anything other than God.
Commandment #2 – No graven image – worship the true God appropriately

This morning we come to deal with the 3rd commandment.

He demands our supreme devotion (#1).

He demands that we worship Him without distorting or detracting from his glory (#2).

And this morning we discover…

Thesis: Genuine honor and worship of God demands a profound sense of awe and an overwhelming sense of reverence and respect.

I’m not suggesting that we engage in intense navel-gazing where we second guessed everything we do and question our motives and obedience to the point that we live unproductive and miserable lives but I am suggesting that we abandon our flippant attitude toward that which is sacred. We must move away from the casual/caviler way in which we engage in spiritual matters. We too easily joke about that which is holy. We too easily allow the sacred to be treated as common. Nothing demonstrates that more powerfully then the way we treat the name of God.

Look at Exodus 20:7.

ESV, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.” The NIV says, “You shall not misuse the name of God…”

This is not primarily about using God’s name as a swear word, though that is certainly included. It is much broader than that. There is a wider application of the principle taught here.

I want to deal with three questions this morning.

Why is the misuse of God’s name such a terrible thing?

What does it mean to misuse the name of God?

How do we avoid violating this commandment?

Conclusion:
Can you see how these three commandments are tied together? Worship God alone. Worship him appropriately. Respect, reverence and honor him.

Genuine honor and worship of God demands a profound sense of awe and an overwhelming sense of reverence and respect.

I know we’ve established you’ve violated the first two words, how’d you do with number 3? Guilty? This is why you need the gospel. “If you confess your sins his is faithful and just to forgive your sins and to cleanse you of all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). How is that possible? Because he bore your sins in his own body on the cross, including every violation of those 10 words thundered through the smoke and fire of Sinai.

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From Heartache to Hope: Selected Psalms (2/21/2019)

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This exposition of Psalm 142 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, February 20, 2019.
Testing Times: James #1 (2/18/2019)
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This exposition of James 1:1-12 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, February 17, 2019.

Intro:

I’m just curious, show of hands, do any of you have to go out and look for trouble or heartache? Any who can say, “It’s been years since I’ve seen any difficult days. I don’t remember the last time anything went wrong in my world.” Anyone?

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I was going to suggest a nice quiet hospital so you could get some help. We live in a fallen world. We left Eden a long time ago. Bill Webb, was a deacon and our song leader at Masham Baptist Church. Bill was, by profession, a pig farmer. Bill used to say, “I farm from crisis to crisis.” I wasn’t a farmer but I knew what he was saying. It is part of the human condition. Such is life in this fallen, sin-cursed world. It was that great philosopher Charlie Brown who said, “Life is like an ice cream cone. You gotta lick it one day at a time.” Problems, difficulties and trials are part of life. Webster defines a problem as, “Something difficult to deal with; a source of perplexity or vexation.” A trial is defined as, “The action or process of putting to the proof.” While a test is, “A critical examination given to prove the adequacy or the genuineness of something.” Together these give a fairly good description of what we face on a daily basis. Life is full of problems, trials and testing times and being a child of God does not give you a pass. An honest reading of Scripture makes it clear, God’s people have always faced difficult times. From the fall in Eden to entering into the new heavens and the new earth at the end of the age, God’s people have and will face troublesome times. It is not a matter of “if” but “when?”

Why do we face trials and temptations and how do we face trials and temptations? That is the focus of the first chapter of the letter from James, the half-brother of the Lord Jesus to Jewish believers scattered from Jerusalem in the first decade after the resurrection and ascension of our Lord. Tonight we begin a study of James’ letter to the church scattered.

Text: James 1:1-12

This letter is likely one of the if not the earliest of the New Testament writings. Written by James the half-brother of our Lord (son of Mary and Joseph born after Jesus) and the leader of the church in Jerusalem. If is obvious that the James writing this letter has some authority and is known among these Jewish believers. It is written to, “the twelve tribes in the Dispersion.” The Dispersion is reference to Jewish believers driven out of Jerusalem following the stoning of Stephen (Acts 8:1, mid 30’s). James, the leader of the Jerusalem church is writing to the saints scattered. Josephus tells us James was martyred in AD 62 but there is reason to believe this letter was written much earlier than the 60’s.
Most scholars date the letter around AD 47.

The letter is a very practical letter dealing with the working out of true faith in daily life. Some refer to James as the “Proverbs of the New Testament” due to its practical insight and rapid change in subject. Others call it the “Amos of the New Testament” due to its call for equity and its dealing with social injustice. Because there is so much pact into such a short book it is difficult to outline or structure it.

As we work through this first section, we discover that…

Thesis: Joy, in the midst of trials demands a radically God-centered approach to life.

What is clear from these opening words is that trials/troubles/temptations are inevitable. Notice, count it all joy “when” not “if.” These things are going to come, how are we to respond? What is to be understanding of these troublesome times?

Are we to run? Are we to despair? What are we to do? James says, “Count it all joy!” That is a command, it is in the imperative. You can read verse 2, “Count it an occasion of pure joy when you are ambushed by life’s troubles.”

There are three things I want to note in this regard.

A radically God-centered approach to life remains focused on the ultimate goal. (1:1-4, 12)

A radically God-centered approach to life prizes wisdom over temporal ease. (1:5-8)

A radically God-centered approach to life understands the transient nature of this world’s goods and the absolute folly of trusting in the resources of this life. (1:9-11)

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No Images: Exodus #40 (2/17/2019)
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This exposition of Exodus 20:4-6 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 17, 2019.

Intro:
He can be yours for just $22.00 plus shipping and handling. He is 15” tall, pre-shrunk, non-allergenic, mom-approved and washable. He is the “My Sweet Jesus” doll. He comes complete with a card explaining, “I am your very own My Sweet Jesus doll. I am here whenever you need me. If you need comfort, give me a hug! And even if you sometimes forget me, I promise I won’t ever forget you.”

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The manufacturer gives the following reasons for why you need a My Sweet Jesus doll:

Helps you develop a friendship with Jesus

Shows that you are Christian (and proud of it!)

Encourages you to get out of bed and go to Church on Sunday

Provides comfort in troubled times

You (or your child) probably don’t have a Jesus doll

Helps you start a conversation with Jesus

Reminds you that Jesus is always present

Inspires you to read the Bible

My Sweet Jesus fits in with your ?cozy country décor

Another article claimed the “God doll” was already in the works. The creator sees the doll as a special help to children because it is hard to “hug air.” Make no mistake about it the second commandment is broken today as frequently as any time in history. As the people gathered at the foot of Mt. Sinai and the words of God thundered through the smoke and fire he declared, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God…”
Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 20 beginning with verse 4.

Text: Exodus 20:4-6

Now, on the surface this may seem to be just a rehashing of the first commandment or at best merely an extension of the first but look again. The first commandment prohibits the worship of any other god. We owe to God an exclusive devotion. There are to be no other gods in his presence. The second commandment deals with how we are to worship the true God. You must worship the right God and you must worship him in the right way.

The message of our text is clear:

Thesis: The Sovereign God, creator of heaven and earth, demands that we worship him appropriately.

It is not enough that we acknowledge that there is only one God. How we worship him matters. I’m afraid this is what is often missing in all our discussions about worship. We seem to be focused on what we like or what is appealing to the largest number of folks. How can we draw in more people. These, are not unimportant issues. These are questions worthy of our consideration. But they must not be the determining factors.

I want us to note three things as we walk through our text.

This commandment prohibits false worship. (20:4-5)

Disobedience, in this regard, brings disastrous consequences. (20:5)

Obedience brings abundant blessing. (20:6)

Conclusion:
How are you doing?
Have you ever placed a priority over God?
Have you ever failed to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength?
There went number 1.

Have you ever engaged in false worship?
Have you ever bowed before and idol or focused on yourself rather than God?
There, goes number 2.

You are a lawbreaker. You have fallen short of God’s glory. You are guilty. God’s judgment abides on you. But that’s good. Now that you know that, you can repent and throw yourself on the mercy of God. You can quit trusting in your ability to do right and trust in Christ alone for salvation.

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An Evening Prayer: Selected Psalms (2/15/2019)

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This exposition of Psalm 141 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, February 13, 2019.
A Call for Praise: Jude #7 (2/11/2019)
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This exposition of Jude 24-25 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, February 10, 2019.

Intro:

It has been a hard letter. It is not the letter Jude wanted to write: Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (1-4)

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He wanted to write about their shared faith.
He wanted to focus on the glory and wonder of the gospel and its significance for life.
He wanted to write this joyous, uplifting letter.

Instead he wrote encouraging them to contend for the faith. The word means to strive continuously with those who oppose. The problem was that the enemy was within the camp! He wasn’t calling on the church to engage in a culture war with the pagans around them, but to contend with false teachers within the church. Those who crept in unnoticed (4). Folks Jude describes as ungodly, godless, devoid of the Spirit. These folks had perverted the gospel and used it to justify their sinful, sensual lifestyles as they denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. That’s not the letter you want to write but it is sometimes the letter you have to write. We have been given a great treasure in the Gospel. It has been entrusted to us and we are expected to safeguard it and pass it on to the generation following in its entirety. We are to guard the faith, that body of truth, entrusted to us. What we believe matters and it matters that you understand and hold to the Gospel entrusted to us. In every generation there is the urge, the temptation to “tweak” the Gospel. To make it more patentable to the culture. I’m not saying language does not change. I’m not suggesting that we retain antiquated language but the substance must not change. There are also new applications as issues arise. We do not create new doctrine or new truth but we sometimes have to take the truth we have an address new issues. The apostle Paul never envisioned having to defend the notion that God created man male and female. Luther and Calvin never had to deal with transgendered individuals. Our Baptist forefathers never had to think through what happens when a man presents himself for membership in the church and in the process of interviewing this prospective member you discover that he used to be a she?

The book of Jude is relevant for there are those, in the church, who are calling for an embrace of the whole LGBtQ+ revolution. Those of us who hold to the biblical view of sex and morality are being told we are on the wrong side of history. We are told if the church is to be relevant we must change what we believe.
I pray we heed the words of Jude and contend for the faith. I pray that we learn well the lessons Jude has taught us over the past 6 weeks. This evening we come to the end of our look at this little letter. We come to the doxology found in verses 24 and 25.

Text: Jude 24-25

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.

“Doxology” is a compound word from the Greek - doxa (glory) and logos (word).
So it is a glorious word or word of praise. A related word would be benediction which comes to us from the Latin and means, “an utterance of good wishes” or “a conferring of blessing; a mercy or a benefit.”

Both words are appropriate in describing what Jude is doing at the end of this letter. Having exhorted the faithful to contend for the faith and having warned the ungodly of their sure and certain judgment he closes by focusing on the grace and mercy of God. In these closing verses he commends faithful believers to the mercy and grace of God who alone can ultimately protect and preserve them.

As we work through this statement we are reminded that…

Thesis: Our lives in this fallen, broken world are to be focused on the joy to come and our determination to give God the praise he rightly deserves.

It does us no good to deny that we live in a fallen world. It is not an act of faith to close our eyes to the reality around us and pretend all is well. Our world is changing. This is not the world we grew up in. The changes over the last 10 to 15 years are staggering. Our views, once dominant are now in the minority. I’m not suggesting that our lives are horrible or that every day is a battle. We live in ease compared to our brothers and sisters around the world but views and cherished beliefs are under attack and the attacks are increasingly bold and in some cases, vicious. This final utterance from Jude is important for us to grasp.

This is the truth we must keep ever before us in our struggle.
Look at it again - Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, 25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
There are two things I want to note…

In the face of opposition and heartache, believers long for the joy of our Lord’s glorious return. (24)

In light of our glorious future and God’s gracious work in salvation, believers ascribe all glory and honor to God alone. (25)

Conclusion:
Our lives are to be lived for his glory and for his glory alone. So, our prayer in the midst of the struggle is, that of the apostle Paul, “…according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." (Philippians 1:20-21)

My prayer is that we will be found faithful.
My prayer is that we will contend for the faith once and for all delivered to the saints.
My prayer is that God be gloried in us, whether we live or die.

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No Other Gods Before Me: Exodus #38 (2/10/2019)
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This exposition of Exodus 20:1-3 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Bapitst Church on Sunday morning, February 10, 2019.

Intro:

Tensions were high. There was an eerie silence. Elijah, the prophet of God, had called for this “religious summit.” 850 prophets to the pagan god stood on one side. Elijah the man of God stood alone on the other.

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The proposition was clear. Let us both build an altar and call on the name of our god. The one who answers by fire is the true and living God. The prophets of Baal prepared their sacrifice and then began their elaborate ritual. They called out to their god from morning to midday. But there was no voice. They shouted louder. They cut themselves with swords and lances in an effort to coax their god into responding but to no avail. The heavens were silent. They danced, they mourned, they wailed, they sang, nothing. The time of the evening sacrifice came. Their efforts, though more intense, brought nothing. Elijah taunted them. “Louder! Perhaps he is asleep or on a journey.” “Who knows, maybe he stepped out to go to the restroom.” Finally Elijah stepped forward, repaired the altar of Israel. Placed 12 stones around the altar (one for each of the sons of Jacob). He instructed that a trench be dug around the altar and then ordered that the altar and the sacrifice to be dowsed with water. Again. And again. So that the whole was soaking wet and the trench was filled with water. Then he prayed a simple prayer:

“O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, that this people may know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you have turned their hearts back.”

And the fire of God fell and consumed the offering, the wood, the stones, the dust and licked up the water. And the people fell on their faces and cried, “Yahweh is God! Yahweh is God!”

Elijah asked the question, “How long will you linger between two opinions? If Yahweh is God, follow him. But if Baal is god, then follow him.” It is the same test Moses put before the people of Israel on the verge of the Promise Land. It is the same truth Paul proclaimed to the elite philosophers of the Areopagus in Acts 17. He said, “I note you are a very religious people. Your city is filled with gods. You even have an altar to “the unknown god.” What you worship as unknown – I want to proclaim to you. I want to tell you of the God who made heaven and earth and everything in it. He doesn’t live in a temple made with human hands and he does not need your service since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

Isaiah the prophet thundered: “And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me.” Isaiah 45:21

The biblical record is clear, there is only one God and he will not share his glory with another. This morning we begin a look at the Ten Commandments by considering that first word spoken from the smoke and fire of Sinai.

Text: Exodus 20:1-3

God spoke these words.
This is God’s revealed will for his people.

Thesis: God’s first word, thundered from Sinai, claims your supreme allegiance and your exclusive devotion.

There are two things I want to point out to you.

God sovereignly forbids giving allegiance to anyone or anything other than to Him alone.

The Sovereign LORD expects your exclusive devotion in response to who He is and what He’s done.

Conclusion:

There are a couple of tests. There is the “love test” and the “trust test.”

Love test - “What each one honors before all else, what before all things he admires and loves, this for him is god.” - Origen

Trust test - What do you trust? When you are in trouble, where do you turn? “Whatever your heart clings to and relies upon, that is properly your god.” - Luther

I realize we are just getting started and this is just the first of ten commandments – but how are you doing so far? James says if you break one you’ve broken them all. But there is good news for law breakers – John 3:16; 1 John 1:9. The apostle Paul reminds us the purpose of the law is to reveal the sinfulness of sin and to drive us to the Savior (Galatians 3).

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Praise in the Midst of Wickedness: Selected Psalms (2/6/2019)

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This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, February 6, 2019.
The God We Worship: Exodus #38 (2/3/2019)
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This exposition of Exodus 19:16-25 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 3, 2019.

Intro:

They were terrified. The ground beneath their feet shook violently. The air was heavy as a thick cloud descended. Lightening flashed. Thunder boomed. The mountain quaked as it glowed with fire. Children wept, women screamed, men’s hearts grew faint. All the while a trumpet blared louder and louder. This was no ordinary gathering. God had come to meet with his people! Years ago, when Bob Yowell served as our minister of music, he and I would meet early in the week to plan Sunday’s worship. One day Bob asked, “Is there anything special this week?” I said, “No Bob, just the worship of the living God other than that, nothing special.” To this day, 25 years later, Bob often greets me with, “Anything special this week?”

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How do you approach this time? What is your attitude when you come to worship? I said last week an over-emphasis on God’s immanence leads to a “casual” approach to worship. I was not talking about style of worship or dress but attitude or demeanor. Do you approach this as a casual visit with a friend or entering the presence of the Sovereign of the Universe? There is a loss of the “holy.” We don’t often think of God as transcendent, other, different, mysterious and majestic and that is a tragedy. This gathering is unlike anything else you experience during the week. The corporate gathering of the people of God for worship ought not be like a night at the theater or a concert, let alone a circus. When we gather for worship, whether formal or informal, it is a sacred moment. We are in the presence of a holy God. He is not our buddy or “the man upstairs” he is the true and living God. The God who spoke the world into being. The God who put the stars in place and set the planets in their orbit. He is the God who holds all things together by the power of his might. He is the God who controls all things. There is not a maverick molecule in all the universe, he is sovereign over all things - how can we be casual in his presence? How do you “buddy up” to him? Yet, he is loving, kind and gracious. He is immanent. He is near to us, he interacts with us, he relates to us on a personal basis. Thus worship, true, genuine worship in not “comfortable.” It is awkward as we seek to strike the proper balance between his transcendence and his immanence. Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 19 beginning with verse 16.

Text: Exodus 19:16-25

Three months after leaving Egypt the children of Israel make it to Mt. Sinai.
God has brought them here - cloud by day a pillar of fire by night.
He brought them out of Egypt, raised them up on eagle’s wings and brought them to himself.
He has told them that they are his treasured possession.
He has called them to assemble before him.
They have spent the last three days preparing.
The mountain has been marked off, limits have been placed, “do not cross this line.”
The penalty for “breaking through” is death - man or beast.
They’ve lived, the last 3 days with one eye on the mountain, wondering, “What will it be like?”

That day has come. Look with me beginning with verse 16.

Israel’s first encounter with God as Mt. Sinai serves to remind us that…

Thesis: When we gather for worship, it is imperative that we understand who God is, so that we approach Him appropriately.

Contrary to popular opinion, God is not safe! He hasn’t grown soft with age. He doesn’t age, he is eternal and thus he is the same yesterday, today and forever. You do not rush into his presence on your own terms and make demands of him. He is the sovereign, the one in charge. And you enter as he prescribes. You enter on his terms.

As we work through this text I want to point out three foundational truths and then surprising revelation in light of those truths.

Our God is a God of incomparable glory. (19:16-18)

Our God speaks with clarity and purpose. (19:19-20)

Our God is a God to be feared. (19:21-25)

Conclusion:
God gave Israel a unique privilege - Deuteronomy 4:32-35.

Yet we, the church, have an even greater privilege.

Here is that startling revelation I spoke of in the beginning…

This majestic, glorious, terrifying God has made a way for sinful folks like us to be at home in His holy presence.

Hebrews 12:18-21 - that’s Israel, Mt. Sinai.
The law, dark & stormy, a place of fear/danger, designed to keep people away.

Hebrews 12:22-24 - this is the Church, Mt. Zion.
gospel, city of bright, shining joy, place of peace & safety, designed to draw people close.

What makes the difference? It is the same God. It is the mediator, the Lord Jesus and his shed blood (24).

Where will you meet God - on Mt. Sinai - in judgment or Mt. Zion as a beloved child, cleansed by the blood of Christ?

The only safe way to enter the presence of God is through the Lord Jesus (Hebrews 12:25-26).
Reject the Lord Jesus now and you will not escape.
You will be lost forever.

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The Cry of the Righteous (1/30/2019)

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This exposition of Psalm 10 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, January 30, 2019.
Responding to Error: The Need for Wisdom & Compassion: Jude #6 (1/27/2019)
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This exposition of Jude 20-23 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, January 27, 2019.

Intro:

The older I get the more I understand the need for balance (not just that I’m getting old and feeble and thus worry about breaking a hip) but balance of perspective socially, politically and theologically.

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Yes, I have a certain political perspective. I’m of a conservative persuasion but I’m not in lock step with conservatives on every issue. I’m reformed in my understanding of Scripture and how I approach give texts but again, I’m not in lockstep with reformed folks on every issue. I’m convinced I have much to learn from those who differ with me. In my younger days I was quick to equate balance with “fence sitting.” I would often urge people to “get off the fence” and take a stand. Now, I can see they weren’t avoiding a stance it is just that they were far more balanced than I. I bring this up because when dealing with error in doctrine or practice, balance is crucial. Yes, when there is error in a central doctrine of the church we must speak. When confronted with an error that leads someone away from the saving gospel we cannot be silent. And yes, when we address error it should be with passion, conviction and great boldness after all we are contending for the faith once and for all delivered to the saints. But, at the same time there must be compassion and understanding when dealing with those who have fallen victim to false teaching. There must be an awareness of our own faults and failings and an acknowledgement that the offense is not mine but my king’s. I’m not the one wronged, He is! Verse 20 of Jude signals a contrast.

Text: Jude 20-23

Jude has been confronting the false teachers.
Those who crept in unnoticed.
Those ungodly people who cause divisions, worldly people, devoid of the Spirit.
Then he says, “But you beloved…”

“But you” in contrast to them.

You who have the Spirit, who have been born again, who are walking by the power of the Spirit of God, your life should be different. Your life should stand in contrast to theirs. Don’t let these things be said about you. In these 4 short verses Jude gives some practical advice for true believers within the church. The heart of which is don’t be carried away into error yourselves, take some precautions.

But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. 22 And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

As we work our way through this passage we will note…

Thesis: In response to ungodly teachers and their false, destructive teachings, believers reaffirm and reinforce their own faith while responding with mercy and compassion for those who’ve fallen victim to damnable error.

I said last week the believer’s response to error is dual-focused. There is an inward focus where we scope ourselves lest we fall into error and an outward focus where we warn of the sure and certain judgment of the ungodly.

That same dual focus is found in tonight’s text. There are 2 things I want us to note quickly.

Biblical faithfulness demands appropriate self-care. (20-21)

Biblical faithfulness requires reasonable/restrained compassion. (22-23)

Jude then points to three categories of people and how we are to respond to each.

We are to be merciful to those who doubt - 22

We are to snatch from the fire those in grave danger - 23

We are to show mercy to others (false teachers, ungodly) mixed with fear - 23

Conclusion:
The message here is that we don’t separate completely as if not having any contact at all - otherwise how could you ever minister? This is about keeping a safe/healthy distance.

If you see a person falling off a cliff you rush to help but you don’t go off the cliff yourself, that doesn’t do either of you any good!

Balance, as we respond to error we look inward and outward. We practice appropriate self-care but we also demonstrate reasonable, restrained compassion.

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The Gracious/Terrifying Presence of God: Exodus #37 (1/27/2019)
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This exposition of Exodus 19:7-15 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 27, 2019.

Intro:

It has been an interesting week watching, listening to and reading about the nation’s response to the vice president’s wife and her part-time job. It seems a great number of people are outraged that the wife of such a public figure would be linked to such a scandalous group. It is just so unseemly and morally reprehensible that she would even think of be connected to such a vile bunch.

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If you haven’t heard, she is teaching art part-time in a Christian School. A school that actually believes and upholds biblical standards of morality and conduct. The woman is actually associated with a school that believes marriage is the union of a man and a woman. A school that believes there are only two genders, male and female and who believe that sexual acts outside of marriage are sinful. The nerve! Mrs. Pence, the vice president and Immanuel Christian School are being shamed for actually believing and practicing their faith, a faith that has been universally held and practiced by the whole Christian church for 2000 years. In the midst of this turmoil a voice has spoken out trying to bring some clarity. Lady Gaga has taken it upon herself to clarify, for all of us, what it means to be a real Christian. USA Today quotes her as saying, "To Mike Pence, who thinks that it’s acceptable that his wife works at a school that bans LGBTQ, you’re wrong," she went on to say, ”You’re the worst representation of what it means to be a Christian. I am a Christian woman, and what I do know about Christianity is that we bear no prejudice, and everybody is welcome.” While Lady Gaga does not speak for me and my faith, I’m afraid she speaks for many. What she condemns is Christianity, while what she believes is anti-Christian both biblically and historically. Such are the times in which we live.

The “christianity” embraced by Lady Gaga and a growing number of folks in our culture is a shallow, feel-good, concoction made up of a few generalized notions of God mixed with a hint of spirituality (undefined) and a token acknowledgment of Jesus. I say a token acknowledgement because while there is an acceptance of Jesus as a good moral teacher and agreement with a few things he said, they reject most of his teaching and deny that he is the second person of the godhead, born of the virgin Mary, who suffered and died for our sins and was raised to life on the third day. They deny that he has ascended to the right hand of the Father where he now rules and reigns and is one day coming to bring and end to this world and establish his kingdom forever. They also deny that he is Lord and master and life is to be lived according to Word of God. Other than that, there’s not much difference. Why does any of this matter? Why would I bother to quote Lady Gaga in a sermon? It is because there is a very confused understanding of God in our culture and the consequences of that are deadly. Worse yet, they are damnable.

A biblical understanding of God is necessary for now and for eternity. Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 19.
Text: Exodus 19:7-15

As we are thinking today about a biblical understanding of God there are two terms to keep in mind. These are at the heart of the classic, biblical understand of God. First, God is transcendent. Transcendence speaks of God’s distance from us. He is above us, beyond us, he is other, different and distinct from us. He is the creator while we are creatures. He is holy and we are unholy. The other term is that God is immanent. Immanence speaks to God’s nearness. He relates to us, he interacts with us, he is personally involved with us.

Both terms affect our worship. When we emphasis or think of God’s transcendence we approach him with a sense of wonder and awe. We approach him as majestic, mysterious and feel overwhelmed by his presence. When we emphasize or think of God’s immanence we approach him with confidence expecting to experience his presence. We feel a sense of intimacy.

God is both transcendent and immanent and they must be kept in balance. We get in trouble when we emphasize one to the neglect of the other. Today’s culture is fixated on the notion of God’s immanence to the exclusion of his transcendence. God is my buddy rather than the sovereign king of the universe. As a result we approach worship casually. By casual I do not mean style or worship or dress but attitude. We come to worship with the same attitude that we drop by a friends house for a visit rather than with the attitude that we are about to enter the throne room of a great king. My point is, we are more “comfortable” worshiping God that we ought to be. Now, let’s look at our text.

As we work through this section of Exodus 19 we are reminded that…

Thesis: “A biblical view of God maintains the balance between God’s immanence and His transcendence. Meaning, a proper balance between the love of God and the holiness of God.”

There are three things to note as we work through this passage.

Because He is love, God lowers himself in order to fellowship with us. (19:7-11)

Because God is holy, there is danger in our drawing near to Him. (19:10-13)

Because God is merciful, He secures our fellowship through a divinely appointed mediator. (19:14-15)

Conclusion:
In the person of the Lord Jesus the holy, other, different, transcendant God is made immanent. The holy terrifying, majestic, mysterious God is revealed as loving, compassionate, forgiving and relatable. A biblical understanding of God lives in the tension between his holiness and his love; his transcendence and his immanence.

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A Heart Touched by Grace: Selected Psalms (1/26/2019)

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This exposition of Psalm 30 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, January 23, 2019.
Biblical Faithfulness: A Dual Focus: Jude #5 (1/20/2019)
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This exposition of Jude 14-19 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, January 20, 2019.

Intro:

I just feel so “out of step.” It is easy to think, “It must just be me” because everyone else seems to be fine with things. When I look around I see things that cause my blood to boil and makes me feel as if my head is going to explode while others seem content with the status quo.

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I was just talking about this last week at my club, “The Old Curmudgeon Society.” I really don’t want to be that way. I don’t want to be the cranky old man who complains about everything and yet I can’t just turn a deaf ear or a blind eye to error and distortion of the truth and do nothing. Biblical faithfulness demands that we guard the truth, that we, in the words of Jude, “Contend for the faith once and for all delivered to the saints.” In the process of contending we must also be aware of our own tendency to drift into error. We must remain ever vigilant concerning our own weakness and failings. Put simply, biblical faithfulness has a dual focus. It is both inwardly and outwardly focused. Our text this evening begins with the 14th verse of Jude’s letter to that struggling congregation in hostile territory.

Text: Jude 14-19

Jude wanted to write this congregation about their mutual faith.
He wanted to celebrate with them the grace of God.
Instead he was compelled to plead with them to contend for the faith.
Some false teachers had crept in unnoticed.
These teachers, following their dreams and visions, were corrupting the truth.
Like unreasoning animals they pursued their own appetites.
As a result, they were destined for a terrifying judgment and taking their hearers with them.
Jude pleads with the sound members of the congregation to take matters into their own hands.

Having shown that these false teachers are following in the path of Cain, Balaam and Korah; that they are deserving of fierce judgment and demonstrating that they have nothing to offer the people other than empty promises and deceitful words, Jude tells the congregation this is no surprise as it had already been prophesied.

As we work our way through this text we are reminded that…

Thesis: Biblical faithfulness focuses on both the need to warn the ungodly of their sure and certain judgment and the need to guard against our own subtle drift into ungodliness.

This is like Paul’s admonition to the Galatian believers. Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)

We are not to be so arrogant that we believer such a thing could never happen to us. We are the fallen sons and daughters of Adam, frail children of dust like the rest. We are what we are by the grace of God not because of our fine character or spiritual insight.

Our assignment is two-fold.

Biblical faithfulness consistently warns the ungodly of their sure and certain judgment. (Jude 14-16)

It is the Lord Jesus who will judge - 14

He will return with thousands of His holy ones - 14

Everyone will be judged - 15

He will convict all the ungodly - 15

Biblical faithfulness vigilantly guards against its own subtle drift into ungodliness. (Jude 17-19)

Conclusion:
We, as the church, have a responsibility to guard our fellowship. We must look to ourselves lest we drift into error and tolerate or worse encourage ungodly teaching and or behavior. Biblical faithfulness begins here. “Scoping ourselves lest we too should fall.

By God’s grace, may we be found faithful.

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Life as the People of God: Exodus #36 (1/20/2019)
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This exposition of Exodus 19:1-6 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 20, 2019.

Intro:

They were tired, confused and cranky. It had been a grueling three months. Three months of hunger and abundant provision, of thirst and refreshment. Months of miracles and want.

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It’s not easy trudging through the wilderness with a couple of million of your closest friends. The children of Israel have reached their destination. But wait, this doesn’t seem right. They were told they were going to a good and spacious land. A land flowing with milk and honey. But this is a mountainous wilderness. If they had gone north when they left Egypt they could have been in that good and spacious land within 2 weeks. But they went south and here they are, three months later, a long way from that good and spacious land in this rocky wilderness. They were not happy campers. Somebody better have a good explanation for what is going on.

That’s the scene in Exodus chapter 19 as the children of Israel reach Mount Sinai. We know that God has led them here. We can be certain of that because He led them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. There was no mistaking the leadership of God. There could be no misunderstanding about the direction. When the cloud moved they moved. When the cloud settled, they settled. But why here? This just doesn’t make sense. We have to remember, God is always working. He is always working for the good of His people and for His own glory. In all things God is at work. There is a purpose in everything that has happened on this 3-month journey. The hand of providence was guiding them. God was working in his people preparing them for what lies ahead. Their arrival at this mountain may have seemed haphazard and random but it was in fact divine guidance. Do you remember when Moses met God back there in Horeb at that bush that burned but was not consumed? Moses had a lot of questions. One of which was, “Are you sure you have the right guy?” The LORD assured him that He did, and that He would be with Moses through it all. Then God said, “I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve (worship) Me on this mountain.” (Exodus 3:12)

It is here, at this mountain that they will hear God speak, receive the law and the plans for the tabernacle. It is here, they will met their God. Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 19 beginning with verse 1.

Text: Exodus 19:1-6

3 months after walking out of Egypt they arrived at the mountain. It is here they will stay for the better part of a year. The rest of Exodus will take place at the foot of this mountain. The natural question is, “What mountain or which mountain?” We don’t know! It is the source of much debate. Some believe it is in Northwest Arabia. Others suggest it is near Kadesh-Barnea. The traditional site has been Jebel Musa (the mountain of Moses) in the southern end to he Sinai Peninsula. To date there is no conclusive proof biblically or archeologically to say definitively. Apparently it is not essential otherwise God would have given us greater detail in order to determine it. What matters is what happened here.

Look with me beginning with verse 1.

Note the formal language of verse 3. This would indicate a new beginning for the people. What takes place here is a renewing of the covenant (God’s binding commitment to His people). The LORD is formally reaffirming their relationship. This is also the beginning of Israel moving from being the children of Israel to the nation of Israel. It is here they will receive the law and guidelines for worship, the formal structuring of the nation. In this opening address, the LORD speaks to Israel’s past, their present and their future.

As we work our way through we will note…

Thesis: Life, as the people of God, demands recognition of what God has done, our embracing what God has promised and our commitment to do what God requires of us.

There are three things to note in our text.

We are to live in grateful recognition of God graciously delivering us from bondage. (19:4)

We are to embrace God’s promise of a glorious future for His people. (19:5b-6)

We, as God’s people, are to commit to a life of full obedience and faithfulness. (19:5)

Conclusion:
Notice the order of things. They have been set free. God has saved them. They have been delivered from Egypt, redeemed by the blood of the lamb. Then He gives them this command to obey. The order is deliverance and then the law.

Newsflash - no one was ever saved by keeping the law. For none of us can keep the law. We are sinners. If this obedience is the cause of deliverance - we would still be in bondage. Israel would have never left Egypt. You have been saved now here is how you live for my glory. We are saved by grace in Christ before we are called to live for Christ.

We could never fully satisfy this demand for full obedience. Well, that leaves a question. How can we enjoy the benefit of something without ever being able to meet the qualifications for enjoyment?

Someone has done that for us! Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. (Hebrews 9:15)

All the promises of God are ours in Christ Jesus.

Life, as the people of God, demands recognition of what God has done, our embracing what God has promised and our commitment to do what God requires of us.

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Exposing Evil: Jude #4 (1/13/2019)
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This exposition of Jude 8-13 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, January 13, 2019.

Intro:

I get it. I’m tired of the experts. Whether it is sports or politics or movies or well, you name it, I’m tired of those folks who with great confidence and authority tell everyone else just how things are.

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I even have some friends that I want to say, “Is there anything you are not an expert on?” I have a Facebook account and a twitter account and I never post on either. Honestly I can’t imagine my having something to say that anyone would have any interest in reading! That’s just me, my personality and they way I think. If you post a lot on Facebook please don’t assume you are the friend I’m talking about (though you may be). I’m kidding. All of that is to say, “I generally don’t like the thought of attacking people and what they say or think.” Yet, I have to acknowledge that we do have responsibility, biblically, to confront error. When a person claims to speak for God, we have a responsibility to defend the truth and to point out those who speak contrary to the truth. I’m not talking about a rabid, fundamentalist mindset that demands lockstep agreement on everything. I’m not advocating that there can be do differences, no deviation within orthodoxy. I’m not advocating rounding up all the Presbyterians and running them out of town because they are wrong on baptism. I’m not suggesting we label as heretical those who have a different view of eschatology. But when it comes to the core doctrines, the faith once and for all delivered to the saints, we cannot, we must not ignore unbiblical teachings. Nor can we afford to turn a deaf ear and blind eye toward ungodly leaders. When a teacher’s lifestyle blatantly betrays their words, it is time to speak.

I want to walk carefully here because so called “discernment ministries” are on the rise. These are ministries that see their role as guardians of the faith. Too often these self-called ministries are quick to pounce and often distort or blatantly misread the teachings of others. I’ve read articles online and thought, “Wow, that’s really bad. I can’t believe that he said that.” Then I follow the link provided and listen to the message referenced and it is not at all what the writer of the article implied. So, I want to use caution but the Scriptures are clear when a teaching is false we must label it as false. When a teacher has proven himself false and his actions or his lifestyle are ungodly or unbiblical we must say so.

I also am cautious because I know my own weakness and failings. I have changed my mind on somethings over the years. I’ve abandoned previously held position and adoptive different perspectives as I’ve been convinced, from the Scripture, that a different interpretation was more faithful to the Scripture. I’m convinced of the infallibility of Scripture but fully aware of my ability to fail.

We are working our way through the book of Jude. Jude, the half brother of the Lord Jesus is writing in the mid 60’s to a struggling congregation in the midst of a hostile environment. He is writing to encourage them to remain faithful and to, if necessary, defend with their very lives the truth entrusted to them.

We are still in the first of three sections in the letter where he is addressing the sin and certain doom of the ungodly. Those who according to verse 4 have,“crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for the condemnation. Ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” Our text this evening begins with verse 8.

Text: Jude 8-13

He is still talking about this same bunch.
Notice “these people” in verse 8, 10, 12.
“Woe to them” in verse 11.
Jude uses some pretty strong language throughout.

This section serves to remind us that…

Thesis: When it comes to biblical faithfulness, it is not enough to cling to that which is good, we must abhor and expose that which is evil.

What is clear in this text is that Jude goes after both their teaching and their character. He goes after their character for good reason as we will see. I know we want to, “play nice” and leave personalities out of it. Go after the teaching but don’t get personal. With this bunch you cannot separate their teaching from their person. Their teaching is bad and their character is rotten! If your brother is teaching something that is incorrect then yes, love your brother but confront what is false in his teaching. In this case, these teachers are ungodly. They have no spiritual understanding, they do not have the Spirit of God within and thus for the sake of their souls they, personally, must be called out.

There are three things I want to note.

Biblical faithfulness demands we denounce false teachers for their unbiblical teachings and their ungodly ways. (8-10)

Biblical faithfulness demands we warn of the sure and certain judgment of ungodly leaders. (11)

Biblical faithfulness demands that we expose the ungodliness of false teachers. (12-13)

Conclusion:
Biblical faithfulness demands that we abhor and expose that which is evil. It is not enough to merely cling to that which is good.

Judge makes clear: false teachers exists, their teachings can be both attractive and dangerous, their condemnation is certain.

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Life Together: Exodus #35 (1/13/2019)
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This exposition of Exodus 18:13-27 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 13, 2019.

Intro:

We, in our culture, have romanticized the notion of the rugged individual. We admire the man who pulls himself up by his own bootstraps, the self-made man.

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We tear up as the cowboy says goodbye to his love interest in the movie, climbs on his horse and rides off into the sunset alone. We are big on personal rights and freedoms. We idealize the notion that no one has a right to tell me what to do with my life. It even seems to dominate within the church as we focus on my personal Lord and Savior and the priesthood of the believer. We prize private interpretation, “Well, my Bible says…” as if we are not accountable to and for one another. Newsflash, no one has ever been saved in isolation from everyone else and called to live a solitary existence. God is in the business of saving a people for His own glory. He is gathering a church, a body of believers, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. We live the faith together.

The children of Israel cried out to God for deliverance. He heard the cries of His people and God graciously redeemed them. God brought them up out of Egypt by His mighty arm. He delivered them through the Red Sea. He provided them manna daily. He gave them water. He led a great multitude with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. Moses wasn’t backpacking through the wilderness with a few close associates he was leading a great multitude. It was frustrating, burdensome, and messy - such is life together. Our text this morning in found in Exodus 18 beginning with verse 13.

Text: Exodus 18:13-27

We began this journey in Exodus last April. For weeks now, we’ve been trudging through the wilderness with this stubborn bunch and yet I’ve not dealt directly with the Elephant in the room. It’s obvious and does not even need to be stated - so, let me state it - the life of faith is a group effort. Like it or not. Accept it or not. We are connected. We are traveling this road together. When you come to faith in Christ you are made part of the family. When you come to faith you are intentionally, of necessity and organically connected to others. The New Testament makes clear that it is expected that believers will join with other believers in a given community in a covenant relationship. They will become part of a church. We live the faith together. With that in mind let’s look at our text.

This text makes clear the fact that…

Thesis: “The life of faith is not a solitary journey, we travel the Pilgrim Path together.”

You’ve got this large group of people (estimates are from 1 - 2.5 million people).
This is men, women, children of all ages.
You have livestock.
It’s a statistical nightmare.

Jethro, Moses father-in-law is in camp on a visit having returned with Moses’ wife and children. He witnesses the spectacle of Moses settling disputes and he concludes, “This is crazy.” He offers Moses some advice and within the advice we find some important principles that relate directly to our life together.

There are three I want to focus on this morning.

Life together demands organizational structure. (18:13-18, 21-22, 24-25)

Life together demands godly leadership. (18:21)

They are to be men who fear God.

They are to be men who are trustworthy.

They are to be men who hate the bride.

Life together is based upon and grounded in biblical truth. (18:19-20)

Conclusion:
If you are a child of God, you’ve turned from your sin and put your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus but you are living on your own, apart from the church, you are doomed to failure. God never intended for you to go it alone. You are part of the family, the body of Christ. You need to be accountable to and for others in a covenant relationship.

Yes, life together is messy. There are struggles and disagreements, frustrations and heartaches but there is nothing like the love, support and encouragement you experience as part of the body of Christ, the church.

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Portrait or a True Worshiper (1/10/2019)

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This exposition of Psalm 29 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, January 9th, 2019.
A Call to Biblical Faithfulness: Jude #3 (1/6/2019)
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This exposition of Jude 5-7 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, January 6, 2019.

Intro:

I’m such a dinosaur. My kind is all but extinct. I find myself in conversation with other pastors and think, “Are we talking about the same thing? Are we reading the same book? Is this what the church has become?”

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It’s not just that I’ve gotten cranky as I’ve gotten older and it’s not that I’m set in my ways and I don’t like this “new fangled music” or these entertainment palaces they call churches - it’s deeper than that. I don’t recognize the gospel they preach. Where is the denouncement of sin? Where is the call to repentance? Where is the absolute necessity of the cross? I hear the call to having your best life now. I hear the call to a happier, healthier, wealthier existence. I hear the call to claim your miracle now. I hear the call to social justice, the need to repentant of past racial and social injustices but where is the call to repent of the wickedness within the individual heart? Where is the plea for mercy because of rebellion against the will of a Holy God? Where is the acknowledgement that all have sinned and are deserving of God’s holy, righteous and unrelenting wrath? Where is the clear declaration that there is only one way to ever be made right with God and that is through the life, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ?

In a world long on tolerance and short on fixed, settled truth, there is a need for the church to return to biblical faithfulness. A need for the Church to be the Church, the guardians of the truth once and for all handed down to the saints. His name was Jude, he was the half brother of the Lord Jesus and he was writing to a struggling church in a hostile environment. He pleaded with them to “hang on.” To be faithful to the charge given. Faithful to the truth delivered to the saints and to contend for it with their lives if need be. In verses 5-7 there is an urgent and needed warning. Our text this evening is Jude 5-7.

Text: Jude 5-7

Now I want to remind you, although you once fully knew it, that Jesus, who saved a people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day— 7 just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

You’re not going to find that on a refrigerator magnet at your local Christian bookstore!
You not likely to hear from most pulpits across the land. But it is an urgent and much needed message within the church today. This was written to a church. This was not a message to the lost and unbelieving world but to the church. You need to make sure you read 5-7 in the context of 3-4 (I know, that’s profound). My point being this is part of contending for the faith. This is in recognition that there are those who have crept in unnoticed and perverted the grace of God.

As we work our way through these 3 verses we are reminded that…

Thesis: Biblical faithfulness demands that we warn of the terrifying consequences of sin and unbelief.

I get it, this is not popular preaching.
This is not what people want to hear but it is what we need to hear.

Kept in mind the recipients of this letter where converted Jews living in a hostile environment. They were thoroughly familiar with Old Testament and Jewish history. They were well versed in Jewish tradition. Jude is going to use three examples to drive home his message each one revealing a characteristic of biblical faithfulness.

Biblical faithfulness demands that we warn of the danger of unbelief and of presumption upon God’s grace. (5)

Biblical faithfulness tearfully proclaims the certainty of God’s holy judgment of sin. (6)

Biblical faithfulness requires that we make clear the horror of God’s righteous judgment. (7)

Conclusion:
We must be aware of how easily we slip into immortality and unbelief and therefore maintain a staunch vigilance. We must never think, “Well, that could never happen to me.” Take heed lest you fall.

Biblical faithfulness demands that we warn of the terrifying consequences of sin and unbelief.
We must warn of the danger of unbelief and of presumption upon God’s grace.
We must tearfully proclaim the certainty of God’s holy judgment of sin.
We must make clear the horror of God’s righteous judgment.

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An Authentic Witness: Exodus #34 (1/6/2019)
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This exposition of Exodus 18:1-12 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 6, 2019.

Intro:

The Exodus is the powerful story of how God brought the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage and set them on the path to the land flowing with milk and honey.

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It is the story of how Israel escaped from slavery, how they wandered in the wilderness, received the law at Mount Sinai, and the instruction for the building of the Tabernacle. There is also the spiritual connection between the salvation of Israel and our salvation in Jesus Christ. After a long bondage to sin God in mercy and grace brought us through the deep waters of death through the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. But that is just the beginning of our journey as we are then set on the pilgrim’s path leading to righteousness. So much of our experience mirrors that of Israel. The path is often difficult. Often our journey leads us to waterless places and periods of barrenness but our God faithfully guides our steps and provides our every need. We may not have a cloud by day or a pillar of fire by night but our guide is just as sure and every bit as certain as we are led by His word and by His Spirit that dwells within us.

Israel sang the praise of God as they stood beside the Red Sea rejoicing in God’s great deliverance. From there they traveled into the wilderness and wandered 3 days without water only to come upon bitter spring. There, the children of Israel grumbled before the LORD but in grace and mercy he cured the waters, making them sweet. Then He led them to an oasis. A place with 12 springs of water and 70 palm trees. It was glorious until they moved on, further into the wilderness of sin. Again Israel cried out, “Have you brought us here to die?” God graciously provided quail in the evening and manna in the morning. He would daily supply them with manna for the next 40 years! They were to gather enough for each day. There was to be no hoarding as they learned to trust God for each day’s provision. On the 6th day they were to gather twice as much so that they could observe a sabbath rest on the 7th. Arriving at Rephidim (the place of rest) they found themselves again without water. So, they grumbled! God instructed Moses to strike the rock and He miraculously provided them water. It was an exciting, confusing, tiresome journey. Then they were ambushed by the Amelekites. God miraculously delivered them through prevailing prayer as Moses along with Aaron and Hur interceded for the people as Joshua engaged their enemy. The story is filled with praise, hardship, joy, confusion, provision and unbelief. Contrary to popular opinion, the life of faith is messy. Things do not fit in a nice package with all the loose ends neatly tucked in place. It is a life of confusing commands and unanswered questions. It is a life that requires faith. The pilgrim path is a journey of trust on which we learn to trust and obey.

Arriving at chapter 18 we witness a family reunion. A reunion that teaches us an important lesson for this journey we are on.

Text: Exodus 18:1-12

Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law comes for a visit as he brings Moses’ family home. Wait, when did they leave? Why did they leave? We don’t know. We simply are not told. There is no mention of their leaving there is only this casual comment about Jethro returning them after Moses had, “Sent his wife home.” Some suggest that Moses sent his wife and children away before all of those unpleasant things happened in Egypt. That doesn’t make sense and it’s not likely Moses would have been allowed to do such a thing. Others suggest there is something in the phrase, “sent her home.” That is an expression that is used later in the context of divorce. Some say that Zipporah had displeased Moses in some way and that he had divorced her. That is reading too much into that expression this early in Israel’s story plus the passage repeated refers to her has Moses’ wife.

Most likely, as they reached Horeb, the place Moses met God in the bush that burned but was not consumed, he was near to Jethro’s camp and he said to his wife, “Why don’t you take the kids and go see grandpa!”

When it happened and why it happened doesn’t matter. What matters is what happens when Jethro shows up. Look with me as we explore Exodus 18:1-12.

This is what I want you to note from this text…

Thesis: Along the Pilgrim Path it is expected that we engage in authentic gospel witnessing.

We are to share the story. We are to tell the good news. We are to be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is in us. The Scripture is clear, we are to be vocal witnesses of the goodness, the glory and the saving work of our God. When Jesus announced the coming of the Spirit of God in Acts 1 he said, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and to the uttermost parts of the earth.” Not you might be or you might want to think about being, or it would be a good thing if you were…No, you will be my witnesses.

I’ve got news for you, if you are a child of God - you are a witness. The only question is whether you are a good witness or a poor witness. Whether your witness is a faithful representation of the truth or a perverted representation. Your life speaks. Your words reflect on your faith.

The goal is to be an authentic, faithful witness and there are three things connected to being an authentic witness from Moses’ encounter with Jethro.

An authentic gospel witness is rooted in genuine love and respect. (18:1-7)

An authentic gospel witness demands a God-centered declaration of the truth and of the gracious work of God in salvation. (18:1, 8)

An authentic gospel witness accompanied by divine enabling results in a glorious, thorough conversion. (18:9-12)

Conclusion:
This is a thoroughly converted man. The goal of evangelism is not a decision but a conversion. The goal is repentance and change. A change of heart, mind, and life. We are called to engage in evangelism. It is expect of us as we travel the pilgrim path that we give witness to the saving work of our God.

If that is to be effective it demands that we genuinely love and respect those to who we witness.
It demands that we give a God-centered declaration of the truth and the gracious work of God in salvation and it demands divine enabling. Apart from the gracious work of the Spirit of God there will be no conversion. Salvation is God’s work we are His co-laborers in His great work.

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What’s in a Name? Christmas 2018 (12/25/2018)
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This exposition of Matthew 1:21 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 23, 2018.

Intro:

You’ve just found out. You’re going to have a baby! When you come to and pick yourself up off the floor – you’re thinking, “I can’t believe it, a baby.” You’re numb. As the initial shock wears off you begin to get excited.

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Now you are fighting over who gets to tell who – “Let me tell them,” “No let me!” You are just so excited, a baby. Things rock along just fine until one day someone says to you, “What are you going to name this kid?” That’s an innocent enough question but it ignites a storm of controversy. You enter into a time of intense negotiation. Everyone has a suggestion. By the way, Rodney is always an excellent choice! You’ve got to weigh all the suggestions. You find yourself paying attention to names wherever you find them. You’re watching a movie and your wife says, “Oh I like that.” “You like what – the man’s been murdered!” “No, the name. The killers name was Jeb.” Of course you have to give careful consideration to family names. Rheadon was not fond of my grandmother’s name. She just didn’t take to the name, Zephie. Of course you also have to get a couple of those “name” books. Then you have to experiment with different names and combinations. Rheadon liked Charis, which is Greek for grace. I liked the name itself but come on, “Charis Harris?” I couldn’t do that to a kid. It’s a time consuming process and it’s important because this is a label for life. Names are important.

In ancient times names were important as well. Names were intended to express the character and nature of the person. Parents often instilled their hopes and dreams in the name given to their child. Biblically, names are important. Abram meant, “exalted father.” God changed his name to Abraham, “father of a great multitude.” So names do matter. You want to get it right.

That is the backdrop of our text this morning. It prepares us for what happened 2000 years ago in the tiny village of Nazareth as the angel of God came to a carpenter by the name of Joseph.

Text: Matthew 1:18-25

This is Matthew’s account of the events surrounding the birth of the Lord Jesus. Luke focuses on Mary. Matthew views events from Joseph’s perspective. In the heart of the angel’s message to Joseph is a very important statement. A statement that you have read and heard many times. You are so familiar with it, it doesn’t stand out in your thinking. Yet it is a profound announcement bringing great insight into the significance of the birth of this child.

Look at the text and take special note of verse 21. For it is there that we learn:

Thesis: The name of Jesus reveals the true beauty and wonder of Christmas.

It is easy in the midst of parties, the shopping, the celebrating, the coming and going to lose your focus during this time of year. The beauty and wonder of Christmas is not found in the giving. It is not in the lights or the singing. It is not in the “good cheer.” It is not even in family. The beauty and wonder of Christmas is found in understanding the love of God demonstrated so wonderfully in the name of Jesus. Oh we say it. He is the reason for the season. We even print it on T-shirts and sweatshirts. But what does that mean? In what way? How is He the reason for the season? The answer is found in His name.

There are three things I want us to note about the name of Jesus.

The name of Jesus reveals the purpose of His coming.

The name of Jesus reveals the nature of His people.

The name of Jesus reveals the heart of God.

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Pleasing Him: Selected Psalms (12/19/2018)

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This exposition of Psalm 25 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, December 19, 2018.
Christmas Hope: Christmas 2018 (12/16/2018)
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This exposition of 1 Peter 1:3-12 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 16, 2018.

Intro:

Have you ever lost hope? Have you ever been in a situation when there appeared there was nothing you could do? Overwhelmed, you just threw up you hands and said, “I quit?”

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As far as you could tell there was no reason for going on. You were just too tired to care and besides it just wasn’t worth the effort. Have you been there? Are you there now? The loss of hope is a devastating thing. Hopeless people do desperate things. Hope isn’t just something that helps us over the hurdle – it is essential to life. Hope is necessary for survival. Without hope life is a dark and grim existence. For all the talk of “Christmas cheer” and the joy of the season – vast numbers of people find the Christmas season unbearable. How ironic that there would be such despair during the celebration of life’s coming to earth! That is what Christmas is all about. A world wrapped in death and heartache was awakened by the arrival of the Creator come to redeem for himself a people for his own glory. The good news announced that night on the starlit plains of Bethlehem was that a Savior had been born who is Christ the Lord.

The Creator had stepped into his creation to fix what had been broken. His birth was not like ours – his was an advent, a coming. And he came on a mission. The joy, laughter and celebration of Christmas means nothing apart from the meaning and purpose of his coming. The angel said to Joseph, “You are to call his name Jesus for he will save his people.” He came to rescue us. He came to deliver us. He came to give us hope.

The dictionary defines hope as:
“A desire accompanied by an expectation.”
“A belief in fulfillment.”
“To expect with confidence.”

In an increasingly despairing world where are we going to find hope? War rages. Threats abound. Cherished beliefs are mocked. Where do we turn? Well, we find some help from a wise old man. He wasn’t a king or philosopher. He was not a sage or guru. He was a fisherman. A man who traveled the road of despair but joyously found a way out. His name was Peter.

Text: 1 Peter 1:3-12

This time of year provides us a great opportunity. It gives us an opportunity to tell others why we sing, why we celebrate, why we have hope. And it is not in a general feeling of goodwill. It is not because of a jolly old man in a red suit. Let’s face it, Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer might make for an enjoyable evening but when the doctor says, “We’ve got to operate and it doesn’t look good” – Rudolf’s not going to sustain you! When that envelop that you thought contained your Christmas bonus turns out to be your “pink slip” – “Have a Holly, Jolly, Christmas” will not lift your spirits.

What is it that will sustain you?
What is it that will grant you peace of mind and heart during the darkest night?
What enables you to stand firm when all hell breaks loose?

It is the knowledge that we are not alone. That unto us has been born a Savior who is Christ the Lord. Not just a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and placed in a manger but one who grew to manhood; lived a sinless life; perfectly obeyed God’s law; and then gave himself for your sin and your rebellion and offers you life eternal and abundant.

Thesis: Hope is the birthright of the child of God.

Regardless of your circumstance, regardless of how dark your world may seem – there is hope. Hang on. Believe. I know that sounds simplistic. And I’m not talking about “positive” or “possibility thinking”. I’m talking about biblical thinking. I’m not suggesting that you “suck it up” and just get on with it. I’m asking you to remember what is yours because of Christ! I know there are those who do not believe that “doctrine” is practical. I know there are those who prefer messages that deal with “real life issues” but consider this. Peter is writing to a group of folks who are in desperate times. Facing life and death issues and he begins by making a profound doctrinal statement about the nature of salvation! And by the way he doesn’t talk to them about salvation because they are going to need it after they die but because they are going to need it in order to live!

There are four things I want you to see related to our hope in Christ.

Our hope is anchored in God’s gracious work of redemption. (1:3-5)

Our hope is fortified through adversity. (1:6-7)

Our hope is secured by saving faith. (1:8-9)

Our hope has been God’s focus since before time began! (1:10-12)

Conclusion:
This is our hope. Regardless of circumstance. Regardless of how troublesome life may be – there is hope for the child of God. There is peace and security in Christ.

That is the birthright of the child of God.

Hope that is anchored in God’s gracious work of redemption.

Hope that is fortified by trial.

Hope that is secured through saving faith.

And hope that has been God’s focus since before time began!

Take heart child of God – for unto you is born a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

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A Call to Worship: Selected Psalms (12/14/2018)

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This exposition of Psalm 24 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, December 12, 2018.
Some Uncomfortable Truth: Jude #2 (12/11/2018)
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This exposition of Jude 3-4 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, December 9, 2018.

Intro:

I, by nature, am not confrontational. I don’t like having to deal with difficult situations. I want to smooth things over. I want everyone to get along.

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Yet there are times to be confrontational. There are times you must step up and do the uncomfortable or unnatural thing. I find that it’s really not that difficult when it involves something I care about. If someone says something about my wife, my kids or grandkids I can get confrontational in a hurry. The gospel is worth getting confrontational. When eternity is on the line, it’s worth being uncomfortable. The church is worth getting confrontational. The church is the bride of Christ, he gave his life for the church, when the life and well being of the church is at stake, it’s worth being uncomfortable. Jude, the bond servant of the Lord Jesus and the brother of James felt an urgent need to write to some struggling believers in a difficult spot to urge them to earnestly contend for the faith. This evening we come to consider verse 3 and 4 of his carefully written letter.

Text: Jude 3-4

Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.

Jude (Judas) was the half brother of the Lord Jesus.
He is the brother of James, the leader of the church in Jerusalem.
He would have been well known in the early church.
He is writing to Jewish believers (well versed in the OT, Jewish history/tradition).

He writes a carefully constructed letter that reads more like a sermon.
The underlying theme of the letter is the sovereignty of God.
It is God who saves us and it is God who will keep us.

He is writing in the mid to late 60’s and yet false teachers are already present in the church distorting the truth. Jude makes it clear, there is a very serious matter.

As we work through this text we are reminded that…

Thesis: False teaching and godlessness have dire consequences therefore believers must love the truth enough to stand against error and contend for gospel faithfulness.

There is a dual motivation running through this letter: love for the truth and love for the brethren.
Truth matters and people matter.
It’s not one or the other - it is both and.

There are just two things I want to point out this evening.

Gospel integrity demands we diligently guard the truth entrusted to us. (3)
It is a faith that is unique - Gal 1:23 - “the faith I once tried to destroy”
It is a faith that is unchangeable - once and for all given/delivered
It is apostolic - delivered, given, entrusted, handed down orally.

Genuine love for the brethren demands we confront errant teaching and immoral behavior within the church. (4)

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Demands of the Pilgrim Life: Exodus #33 (12/11/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 17:8-16 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 9, 2018.

Intro:

I thought, “trusting in Jesus” was going to fix everything. You pray the prayer, your sins are forgiven, it’s sunshine and roses from then on out. Right?

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No, not really. Yes, everything is fixed in that you have passed from death to life. You are no longer the object of God’s sovereign wrath you are now the object of his grace and mercy. He has set his affections upon you and you are forever his child. You are bound for eternal glory. That is settled. That is non-negotiable. Yet, you are left in this fallen, sin-cursed world and called to “live out” or “workout” your salvation. You are holy in the sight of God because you are “in Christ.” When God looks at you he sees the sinless perfection of the Lord Jesus and yet, you are not holy. You are on the road to holiness or sanctification but you haven’t arrived. You have begun the journey down the pilgrim path and it is a long, arduous and often confusing path. Some things are required of you along this road. You were saved by the grace of God alone. You didn’t contribute anything, other than your sin! But now you are required to strive for holiness by the power of the Spirit and through obedience to the word of God as you travel from the bondage of Egypt to the hope of the Promised Land. Our text this morning is found in the 17th chapter of Exodus.

Text: Exodus 17:8-16

The children of Israel have to be thinking, “What in the world is going on?” They are delivered in dramatic fashion from Egypt. They even plundered the Egyptians on their way out. Only to be trapped between Pharaoh and the Red Sea. Miraculously delivered only to wander around for three days without water. When they finally come to water - it’s undrinkable! God transforms the bitter water into sweet water and then leads them to a place of refreshment. 12 springs of water and 70 palm trees. It was glorious. But then it was back out into the wilderness further away from the Land of Promise. They became hungry. They thought they would die. God provided quail and manna. They moved again coming to “The Place of Rest” but again, no water! God again provided.

This was getting old real quick.
But remember God was “testing” them.
This was part of proving the genuineness of their faith.
In the immediate context (17:1-7) God has shown himself as provider, protector and companion.
He is with them and he is keeping his word/promise.
Things are looking up…
Then they were attacked by the Amalekites at Rephidim.

We have said the pilgrim path is mined with physical dangers and spiritual doubts.
The Christian life is not a leisurely stroll in the park.
In this text we discover…

Thesis: The pilgrim life demands vigilance, persistence and divine enabling.

The wilderness has its hard places.
Those times of doubt and struggle.

But, they were not alone and neither are we. God was with them in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. He was providing manna daily. We have the Spirit of God within us guiding us into all truth, and supplying our every need. It is essential that we understand this as we seek to live out our salvation. God is with us in every struggle, every heartache, and every trial. He is working in us, shaping us, molding us into the image and likeness of the Lord Jesus. There are no wasted sorrows in the Christian life. Our God is providentially working in all things for our good and his glory.

There are three things I want us to note in this text.

Life along the pilgrim path demands that you actively engage the enemy in battle. (17:8)

As pilgrims we engage the battle through persistent and prevailing prayer. (17:9-13)

Persistence on the pilgrim path demands a heavenward focus and a sustained remembrance . (17:14-16)

Conclusion:
Named it, The LORD is My Banner.
Banner = standard, signal flag - rallying point in battle
Christ is our banner
John 3:14-15 - And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Hebrews 12:2 - looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

As we walk the pilgrim path we must remain forever vigilant, we must persist in engaging our enemies while relying on God’s power to bring us victory over our enemies.

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An Old Testament Glimpse of the Cross: Selected Psalms (12/7/2018)

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This exposition of Psalm 22 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, December 5, 2018.
The Pilgrim Path: The Way of Testing and Growth: Exodus #32 (12/2/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 17:1-7 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 2, 2018.

Intro:

The first time it happened I was shocked. We were driving down the road. The kids were small, riding in the back seat and we were coming to Tulsa from Ponca City. Rheadon and I were trying to keep the kids occupied by pointing out various sites along the road. That’s when it happened.

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I actually said, “Kids, this used to all be open out here. When I was a boy none of this was here.” I looked in the mirror to make sure it was me and not my dad driving! I was shocked but I noticed it happening more and more. I found myself saying things like, “You want something to cry about? I’ll give you something to cry about.” I couldn’t stop it. I was turning into my father. The final blow was the morning I went into the bathroom to shave. I looked in the mirror and said, “Dad?” I bring this up because I had a similar awakening this week. I was reading through Exodus preparing for this morning when it dawned on me…I’m just like Israel! The realization hit me in mid rant as I was saying, “What’s wrong with you people? It’s just been a few weeks since you were slaves begging God to deliver you. He did so in dramatic fashion. Great signs and wonders were performed right before your very eyes. You walked through the Red Sea on dry ground, the waters piled like walls on either side of you. He transformed bitter water into sweet water. He provided quail and manna. Yet at every turn you are whining and acting as if it is the end of the world. What’s wrong with…” that is when it hit me, I’m no different. I have, by the grace of God passed from death to life. I’ve been set free from the bondage of sin and death and been made the object of God’s love and grace and yet how often do I whine, complain and murmur when things do not go according to my plan? It seems no matter how far I’ve gotten down the road of sanctification the depravity of my father Adam keeps showing up.

God led his people to Rephidim a “place of rest,” that’s what the name means, but there was no water! So, the people of Israel did what they normally did, they whined, murmured, and complained. The place of rest became the place of test. But just who is testing who? Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 17.

Text: Exodus 17:1-7

Israel is moving further south into the wilderness.
Moving away from rather than toward the Land of Promise.
Why?
Because they are not ready to enter the Land.
God is working in them, shaping, molding them into a holy people.
They are on the Pilgrim Path, the road to sanctification. It is a long and at times, difficult path mined with physical dangers and spiritual doubts. It is not necessary for their salvation but it is essential to their sanctification. The LORD has already noted several times this is for the purposes of “testing” Israel. Proving the genuineness of their faith, their willingness to trust and obey.

As we work our way through this text we are reminded that…

Thesis: It is in our wilderness wanderings, between the bondage of Egypt and the hope of the Promised Land, our faith is tested, refined and made to reflect the wonder of God’s gracious work in us.

We must never lose sight of the fact that the goal of God’s working in us is not to make us happy but to make us holy. Happiness is a byproduct of holiness. As we comfort to the image and likeness of the Lord Jesus, as we become more and more what we were created to be we find greater happiness and fulfillment but the goal of God’s great work in us is to make us more and more like him.

Thus our faith is never untested.
God is always at work in all things.

There are three things I want us to note in our text.

Along the Pilgrim Path difficulties often spark a crisis of faith. (17:1-7)

Along the Pilgrim Path you must guard against assuming the role of judge determining truth for yourself. (17:2, 7)

Along the Pilgrim Path the LORD graciously accommodates our struggling faith and shows himself as our provider, protector and constant companion. (17:5-6)

Conclusion:
But there is something else I want you to see. God took the blow. He was on the rock when Moses struck it. Listen to the apostle Paul from 1 Corinthians 10:4 - and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5

But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. John 19:34

…but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. John 4:14

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Those Whom God Approves: Selected Psalms (11/28/2018)

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This exposition of Psalm 15 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, November 28, 2018.
Rethinking the Sabbath: Exodus #31 (11/25/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 16:22-36 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 25, 2018.

Intro:

I had the radio on in the car a week or so ago while running some errands and I heard a caller on a talk show ranting about these “stupid” laws that won’t let you buy a car on Sunday.

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It was clear this younger man just could not understand the rationale behind “Blue Laws.” In fact when the host mentioned blue laws the man said, “What?” He had never heard of such a thing. Just another example of how things have changed. Us “old-timers” can remember when schools and communities didn’t have things on Wednesday nights because that was “church night.” There certainly wasn’t anything to compete with Sunday, The Lord’s Day. That’s certainly not true anymore even among church folks. Services are now offered on Saturday nights or other times so as to not to interfere with people’s schedules. Don’t misunderstand me, I don’t think there is anything wrong with trying to provide opportunities for worship outside the “normal” times, especially for those who have no control over their work schedule. The problem is there seems to be an attitude that says, “Lord, I’ll try to work you in but my week is pretty packed.” The Lord needs to adjust to my schedule rather than my schedule adjust to His. On the other hand there are those who approach the Lord’s Day with a slavish devotion. Rigid rules mark the day demanding certain activities done in exacting ways. Just how should we approach the Lord’s Day? Do we approach it in a cavalier manner saying, “I’ll do what I can when it’s convenient?” Do we approach it with a determined devotion that says, “I’m doing this even if it kills me?” Or, might there be another option? Our text this morning is found in the 16th chapter of Exodus.

Text: Exodus 16:22-36

God’s people were on a spiritual journey. They were in the wilderness somewhere between the bondage of Egypt and the hope of the Promised Land. The way was difficult. The path was mined with physical dangers and spiritual doubts. One thing was clear, they were right where the LORD wanted them. We know that because He led them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. They were on the pilgrim path were they would learn to trust God and to obey His word. This winding, wilderness path was not necessary for their salvation but it was essential to their sanctification.

They didn’t come out of Egypt and go north directly into the Land of Promise.
They went south into the wilderness for a time of testing or proving.
God was working in them for eternity not for the next 10 years.

Clement of Rome, writing at the end of the first century said: “God led his people through the long windings of the wilderness that he might root out the evils which clung to them by a long-continued familiarity with the customs of the Egyptians.”

God was shaping them, forming them into a holy people. The goal of the Christian life is not to make us happy but to make us holy.

So, they lived in desert tents trusting God to supply their needs. Gathering each day enough of the heavenly bread to satisfy. Morning by morning they were sustained by God’s mercy. This was a life radically different from the life they had known in Egypt. Something else set this life apart. A gift God gave to His people. A gift we neglect to our own harm.

What I want you to take away from this is…

Thesis: As a witness to the unbelieving world and out of devotion to our King, we should joyfully and enthusiastically embrace the Sabbath or as we know it, the Lord’s Day.

The principle established in the Old Testament is a Sabbath, one day out of seven set aside for rest and worship. The day for the Jews was Saturday, the seventh day. It was actually from sundown on Friday until sundown on Saturday. The early church moved it to Sunday, the first day of the week, the day of the resurrection. So, we find the church gathering on the first day, the Lord’s Day.

As we work our way through the text I want to show you three reasons why we should joyfully embrace the Sabbath or the Lord’s Day.

The Sabbath or Lord’s Day is a means of clearly identifying ourselves as the people of God. (16:22-26)

Violation of the Sabbath or Lord’s Day defies the command of God and is therefore an affront to God himself. (16:27-30)

We should embrace the Sabbath/Lord’s Day as a day of rest, remembrance and worship.
(16:31-36)

Conclusion:
Does the Sabbath still matter? Yes, it does and we should joyfully and enthusiastically embrace it as a witness to the unbelieving world and out of love and devotion to our King.

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God of the Impossible (11/18/2018)
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This exposition of Genesis 17:1-8 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 18, 2018.

Intro:

There is that part of us that stands in awe of biblical characters as if they were incapable of struggling like mere mortals such as ourselves. That somehow they had a little something extra to carry them through the struggles of believing and trusting. Sort of a “divine royalty” as payment for allowing their names and stories to appear in the book! But an honest look at their lives says otherwise. Consider Abraham, a careful reading of the biblical text makes it clear that he was indeed a frail child of dust who struggled greatly and yet God did extraordinary things in and through him.

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He had to be considered an odd duck in his day. We know him as “Father Abraham,” the “Father of Faith” and “the Friend of God.” But he was a man out of step with the world of his day. He was a monotheist in a world of polytheist. He was a man who walked and talked with God! Not in chants or riddles but plane old, everyday language – he didn’t even use the langue of the “authorized King James!” I think he was the regular topic of conversation down at the local doughnut shop. And yet we greatly admire and revere Father Abraham. Why? Because Abraham believed God. In spite of the struggle, in spite of the difficulties, he believed. Our text this evening is found in the 17th chapter of Genesis.

Text: Genesis 17:1-19

Abraham was 75 years old when God called him.
When God called Abraham he made him a promise.
He promised to make of him a “great nation.”

In addition he promised the land in which he sojourned would one day belong to his descendants.

But, Abraham had no descendants! He had no children.
As he sojourned in the land, God blessed him.

In spite of his failure to trust God in the famine, in spite of his trip to Egypt – God blessed him.

Along the way he was learning to be a pilgrim.
He was learning to live as an alien and stranger in this earth.
He learned to look for a city whose builder and maker is God.
God wanted to encourage him so He came to him again to restate the promise.
In essences God said, “Abe, I haven’t forgotten the promise, the check’s in the mail.”
Chapter 15 records the restatement and the encouragement given.

10 years later – he is still waiting. Now you and I can get very spiritual at this point and talk about how we should wait on the Lord and trust him. Or we can be honest enough to recognize that 1000 years may be as a day to the Lord but 10 years is an eternity to you and me!

Abram and Sarai (Their names had not been changed yet) were struggling to believe.
You remember the ill-conceived plan found in chapter 16.
“Here take my handmaid please” - that didn’t work out.
Abram is now 85 and Sarai is 76.

Now look at 17:1 – When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless…

How old is Abram? 99.
It has been another 14 years!
24 years he has waited - that is hard.

Now add to that the difficulty within the culture in which he lived.
He was on the major trade route.
He owned the wells.
Caravans stopped to water their animals.

In the natural course of events the wealthy owners of the caravans would be entertained in Abram’s tent.

Over meals and during times of refreshments there would be conversation. There would be pleasantries exchanged. Questions like:
Who are ?
How old are you?
Where are you from and where are you going?

The same things we ask as we make conversation with strangers. Now, imagine one of those travelers asking Abram, “What is your name?”

He answers, “Abram (father of many)”
The natural question would be, “How many children do you have?”
Abram answers, “None.”
It had to be galling. The traveler would no doubt snicker, as would the servants.
That led to many questions about which one was sterile – Abram or Sarai (marital stress).
Then you had the incident with Hagar.
After that, when asked, “How many children?” The answer would be, “One.”
Didn’t help.

It’s been 24 years.
24 years of shame, embarrassment and confusion.
The LORD comes calling

Thesis: The heart of faith learns to trust God for the impossible.

Three things I want us to note from chapter 17.
Three principles of what it means to trust, to live by faith.

Trust is anchored in the character and nature of God. (17:1)

Trust recognizes its own inability. (17:17)

Trust rests ultimately in the promise of God. (17:19)

Conclusion:
There are some spiritual lessons from all this:

It is by God’s power not our ingenuity or strength - Galatians 4:21-31

It is by faith - Romans 4:19-21

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The Pilgrim Path: Growth Along the Way: Exodus #30 (11/18/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 16:1-30 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 18, 2018.

Intro:

What is your understanding of the Christian life? Do you think it is just a matter of believing a set of truths? That you check the boxes and as long as you believe the right things you’re okay? Do you think if you are a Christian life is all sunshine and roses? That faith in the Lord Jesus is kind of a “good luck” charm that keeps bad things away?

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If you became a Christian because someone told you, “Just trust Jesus and life will be great,” you should probably go find them and punch them in the nose! Yes, faith in the Lord Jesus changes everything. It means you have passed from death to life. You are no longer in bondage to sin. Rather than the object of His righteous wrath you are the object of His grace and mercy. You are bound for heaven and eternal glory. Heaven is you ultimate destiny. In the meantime you still live in this rotten world. You are saved, you are a child of God but you are a stranger here. What will become increasingly clear over time is that this world is not your home. You will experience an increasing dissatisfaction with this world and an increased longing for the world to come. When you come to faith in Christ you start down the pilgrim path. You begin a journey into sanctification or growing in Christlikeness as you live out your salvation. God, in grace and mercy will from time to time lead you to places of refreshment. There will be the occasional oasis through your wilderness journey but such times seem few and far between. Eventually you will head back out into the wilderness for a time of testing and spiritual growth.

The children of Israel camped by the springs of Elim for several weeks. Lingering under the palm trees and enjoying long drinks from the cool, refreshing waters but it was time to move on. The cloud began to move so they packed up their belongings and headed south east, deeper into the wilderness until they came to the wilderness of sin. Given the time reference found in the our text, they are about 6 weeks out of Egypt. They are tired and hungry so, they complained. Given further evidence that this was a Baptist group! Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 16 beginning with the first verse.

Text: Exodus 16:1-19

God heard the cries of His people as they languished in bondage.
After 430 years He came to them in the person of Moses and He led them out.
It wasn’t easy.
There was the back and forth with Pharaoh - agreeing and then changing his mind.
There were those plagues, ending with the 10th and terrifying plague.
Death reigned throughout Egypt.
Only those covered by the blood were spared.
At last they were free and having “plundered” the Egyptians Israel marched out.
Only to be trapped between Pharaoh and the Red Sea.
Again, God miraculously delivered His people.
The people sang and danced for joy - but joy was replaced with bitterness at Marah.

We are left wondering, why did they go south into the wilderness when going north would have quickly taken them to the Land of Promise? God could have made things a lot easier but He didn’t. Why this long arduous path? Why the struggles, the hardships, the trials? They were not ready for the Promise Land. God, who always works for our good and His glory, led them through the wilderness not because it was necessary for their salvation but because it was essential for their sanctification. God did not save us to make us happy but to make us holy. He is working in us not for today or tomorrow but for eternity.

He knows what He is doing and He is always right.
The wilderness becomes our training ground.
The wilderness is the place of testing and spiritual growth or development.
With that in mind look with me at our text…

Working through our text we find that…

Thesis: Traveling the pilgrim path reminds us that our faith grows as we learn to trust God’s gracious provision of our every need, one day at a time.

We will note as we continue our journey through the book of Exodus how often the text says, “God tested them” or “this was done to test them.”

To test means to allow difficulty in order to determine the genuineness or reality of something.
This testing is to reveal the true nature of the Israelites and or their faith.
The test was not to reveal the truth to God (He knows) but reveal the truth to Israel.
As we learned last time the test was for them to trust and obey.
To trust in the character of God, His person, His power, His goodness.
To obey His word, His statutes, His rules.

There are three things I want us to take note of in our text.

The pilgrim path reveals the frailty and immaturity of our developing faith. (16:1-3)

The pilgrim path requires that we trust God’s character and word while we grow to trust his daily provision of our every need. (16:4-18)

The pilgrim path demands we learn to trust God to supply our need tomorrow the same as we trusted him for today. (16:19-20)

Conclusion:

This is the key to the Christ life. How are we saved? By trusting in the grace and mercy of God. By giving ourselves wholly unto him. This is why when ask why I’m certain of my salvation, my answer is not, “Because as an 8 year-old boy I gave my heart to Jesus” that’s important, I did that but my answer is, “Because I’m trusting in the Lord Jesus today just as I did yesterday and as I will tomorrow!

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Do You Understand? from John 13 (11/18/2018)

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This exposition of John 13 by Roy Emmons was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 11. 2018.
The Folly of Atheism: Selected Psalms (11/9/2018)

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This exposition of Psalm 14 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, November 7, 2018.
Life in the Church: A Life of Love: 2 Corinthians # 25 (11/4/2018)
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This exposition of 2 Corinthians 13:1-14 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 4, 2018.

Intro:

Scripture is revealing. Oh, I don’t just mean it reveals great truths about God, salvation, the Christian life and all those important doctrinal matters. And I’m not talking about speculation about end times and interpreting current events. I mean reading the Scripture reveals a lot about us.

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When I’m reading Scripture I’m often surprised by what I learn about myself. Here again, I need to explain. It’s not just that I learn that, as a fallen son of Adam, I’m a sinner. That the thoughts and intents of my heart are only evil all the time or that I’m carried away into sin by my own evil desires. Yes, I learn that but I mean I learn a lot about myself by the way I react to certain things in the Scripture. Like how it irks me when I mad or hurt because of something said or done to me and Scripture says, “I’m to love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me.” About what rise up in me when I’m told to “turn the other cheek.” And frankly, I’m bothered by the fact I find some delight when reading about the destruction of Korah and the others who joined the rebellion against Moses. Do you remember the story? It’s found in Numbers 16. Korah, Dathan and Abiram along with 250 chiefs, well-known men rose up against Moses and Aaron. They said, “The LORD is with all of his people, so why do you exalt yourselves above the assembly?” Moses fell on his face before the LORD in prayer. He rose from prayer and said to Korah, “The LORD will settle this tomorrow morning. You and your bunch take censors and fill them with incense and tomorrow the LORD will show us all who is his and who is holy.” Long story short the next morning Moses said to the gathered assembly. You folks who aren’t with Korah might want to step back. The earth opened up and swallowed Korah, with their households and all the people who belonged to Korah and their goods. Then fire came from heaven and consumed the 250 leaders standing there with their censers. What was left was 250 bronze censers glowing orange in the ashes.

I find that satisfying. The problem is not so much my satisfaction but the reason for my satisfaction. I’m afraid I’m not satisfied because God in righteous indignation destroyed those who dared to question his appointment. No, I was satisfied because those who caused trouble got theirs! Instead of that story driving me to my knees, praying that I might not be so presumptuous, or causing me to weep over the destruction of the unrepentant usurpers of authority, I find delight in their destruction.

I bring this up because we’ve been following along as the apostle Paul dealt with the spirit of Korah alive and well in Corinth. There were those asking of Paul, “Who set you above this assembly?” They claimed that Paul was not the servant of God. They accused him of being a con artist and a fraud. How are we to deal with such conflicts in the church? There are still those who take the approach of, “Touch not the Lord’s anointed.” That it is never right to question the leader. On the other end of the spectrum of those who think nothing of taking a swipe at the leader and expect that there be no consequence to their actions even if proven wrong.

Living out the gospel together in the church is no easy task. Life in the church is not for the faint of heart. The church is made up of people and we all know people are jerks! People say and do hurtful things. People have impure motives and agendas. We are in the process of being made holy but we’re not there yet. Despite the problems the church is described as the “bride of Christ.” The people who make up the church are called “saints.” Holy ones, those called out from among the sinners and gathered together in the body of Christ. It’s messy. There are often problems and struggles.

Our text this evening is found in 2 Corinthians chapter 13.

Text: 2 Corinthians 13:1-14

As we work our way through this final chapter we discover that…

Thesis: Our life together in the church is to be governed by love; a love that is accountable, confrontational and optimistic.

The church in the New Testament is described as a body, a bride, and a family. At the heart of each of the pictures is relationship. The various parts of the body functioning together, needing each other. The bride and family obviously love is central. But we need to allow the Scripture to guide our understanding of love. What does it mean to love the church, Scripturally? Does that mean you have a “warm fuzzy” towards everyone and everything all the time? Does it demand that we wear blinders and refuse to see or recognize certain wrongs? Just how are we to love one another? I think this text helps us answer that question.

There are three demands I want to point out.

Love demands that we hold one another accountable. (13:1-4)

Love demands that we plead with and pray for the unrepentant. (13:5-10)

Love demands that we remain optimistic. (13:11-14)

Conclusion:

As the church we are to live together in love. That love demands accountability, confrontation and optimism.

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Lessons Along the Way: Exodus #29 (11/4/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 15:22-27 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 4, 2018.

Intro:

It’s not what they expected…at all! They wanted to be free. They wanted to be out from under the yoke of bondage. They were tired of the back-breaking labor. They were fed up with oppression. They wanted out of Egypt.

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They were not sure what life would be like post slavery but this wasn’t it. God miraculously brought them out of the land of Egypt but instead of going north along the coastline and directly into the Promise Land, they went south into the wilderness. There they found themselves trapped between a regretful Pharaoh and his army and the Red Sea. “What, there were no graves in Egypt so you brought us out here to die?” Again, the LORD in dramatic fashion delivered them and made it clear to the Egyptians and the watching world that He is the sovereign over all things, the true and living God. They danced there on the beach and sang the praise of their Deliverer. But that was days ago. Now they have been marching through the desert for three days and no water. They are exhausted and wondering just how long they can survive without water when they spot an oasis on the horizon. They reach the water just as their strength is gone only to discover it is undrinkable! You’ve got to be kidding. Our text this morning is found in the 15th chapter of Exodus.

Text: Exodus 15:22-27

Are you ever frustrated, discouraged or disillusioned in your faith? Do you ever find yourself saying, “This is not what I expected?” You turned from your sin and put your trust in the Lord Jesus and yet you’re still struggling to get by. Life is still hard, bills are still due and relationships are still fractured. You thought if you just trusted in Jesus all would be well. We all want to leave Egypt and go directly to the Promise Land. We want to get out of bondage and go straight to glory. We do, on one level. The moment you believe the Spirit of God takes up residence in you and your are bound for glory. In fact you are seated with Christ in heavenly places. You have the assurance of God’s gracious provision for your every need; you are assured that you will ultimately overcome; most importantly your a promised that He will never leave you or forsake you but will be with you always. But at the same time, your salvation has only begun. The moment you believe you start on a pilgrim journey that is your sanctification. That is your growing in holiness and being comforted to the image and likeness of the Lord Jesus. Scripture teaches us that salvation is past, present and future. We are saved (regeneration, confession, believing) we are being saved (sanctification) and we will be saved (glorification). The pilgrim path, your sanctification, takes some twists and turns along the way. Through it all God is working in your for your good and His glory. God is preparing you for eternity. Our text provides us some insight about that journey.

As we work through this brief text we discover that…

Thesis: The pilgrim path leads us on a journey on which we discover the wonder of God’s grace, the necessity of obedience and the abundance of our God’s gracious provision.

Let’s admit up front that as we follow this story we are scratching our heads. What are we to make of the fact that redemption brought Israel out of Egypt straight into the wilderness? How do you make sense of that experience at the Red Sea? What is the point of going days without water only to come upon an abundance of water that’s undrinkable?

We have to ask, “Why?” because Scripture is clear, God was leading them.
There was no misunderstanding, no way they could fail to understand His leading.
He went before them in a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.
The guidance was clear and unmistakable.
Exodus 13-17 is a lesson in the curious guidance of the LORD.
Why this long, round-about way to the Land of Promise?

There is something we ever keep before us - God knows what He is doing and He is always right. He is worthy of our trust. Israel’s experience is a concrete example of the truth of Acts 14:22, “…through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

We cannot help but ask, “Why?” The problem is we want an answer that fits our understanding and logic. An answer that makes sense to us. But the biblical answer calls on us to focus on God’s purpose and to trust. Never lose sight of the fact that the God who created us and redeemed us never ceases to work out His purpose for the world, the church and each of us individually. He is determined to bring His redeemed home to glory. He is determined to defeat His and our enemies. Along the way He is determined to teach us to trust, endure and obey.

There are 3 things I want to point out about the pilgrim path from our text.

The pilgrim path reveals our true character and displays the wonder of our God’s grace and mercy. (15:22-25a)

The pilgrim path becomes our school teaching us the necessity of trust and obedience. (15:25b-26)

The pilgrim path ultimately leads us to rest in our God’s abundant provision. (15:27)

Conclusion:

Having trusted in Christ we begin a pilgrim journey. The pilgrim path with take many twists and turns along the way. In process we will discover the wonder of God’s grace, the necessity of obedience and the abundance of our God’s gracious provision.

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The Basis on Which We Stand: Jude #1 (11/2/2018)
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This exposition of Jude 1-2 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, December 2, 2018.

Intro:

I do a lot of head scratch’n. I find myself on a daily basis wondering if I’m living in a dream. Things just don’t add up, they don’t make sense. I read comments on Facebook, I hear comments on the radio and in conversation and I wonder, “Are we having the same conversation? Are we talking about the same thing?” I have to admit much of what I hear passed off as Christianity has little or nothing to do with historic Christianity.

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I’m not talking about music styles or building design or what time services are held, I’m talking about the essence of the faith. I’m talking about the truth once and for all delivered to the saints. I hear some folk’s version of what it means to be Christian and I don’t even recognize it. But let’s be honest that’s nothing new. This is not a recent development due to secular humanism or postmodernism or any other “ism” to come along in recent years. The same was true before the Reformation. Luther and the other reformers where saying, “Wait a minute. What is this? This isn’t biblical faith. This is some hideous distortion of the truth.” But neither was it unique to Luther’s day. The apostle Paul said to the Galatians, “How is it you have so quickly abandoned the gospel for another gospel which is no gospel at all?” John said that the spirit of antichrist was alive and well in the first century. God’s truth has been under attack from the beginning. Understandably given that Satan roams to and fro seeking whom he may devour. The enemy of our souls wants nothing more than to distort and destroy the truth after all he is the father of lies, the old deceiver. That is why one first century writer pleaded with his readers to “earnestly contend for the faith.” That man was writing, probably in the mid to early 60s! He is writing within a few decades of the life and ministry of Jesus. Yet, he describes a cultural context very much like our own. Tonight we begin a look at the book of Jude.

Text: Jude 1-2

For most of us, Jude is that strange little book right before Revelation.
You probably know about the doxology at the end of the brief letter.

Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (24-25)

We are going to focus this evening on just the first two verses.

Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

This is a common greeting according the 1st century style.
But there is so much here that is important for what is to come.
It is in the manner in which he address his audience.

I began by talking about the confusion over what it means to be a Christian. What defines us as the people of God. When we talk about defending the faith and withstanding the threats from without this is where we must begin. What does it mean to be Christian? We are witnessing the shrinking of the Church. Fewer people are going to church. Fewer people have a loyalty to the Church. I would argue we are not losing the Church we are losing nominal christians. Christians in name only. We are losing those who are loosely associated with the church for the sake of convenience but not those who are genuinely converted.

As we work through these two verses I want us to see that…

Thesis: Facing the challenges of living in a hostile environment, bombarded with false teaching and lured by false prophets demands a solid grasp of what it means to be a Christian.

Knowing who we are, this is the basis on which we stand.
Jude says three things in this regard in this opening greeting.

A Christian is one who is effectively called out of darkness and into the light.

A Christian is one who is loved by God the Father.

A Christian is one who is kept by Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:
This sets the context for all that follows. Our contending for the faith, our standing our ground is based on the fact that we are the people of God, called, loved and kept.

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Qualities of a Christlike Ministry: 2 Corinthians #24 (10/29/2018)
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This exposition of 2 Corinthians 12:11-21 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 28, 2018.

Intro:

Sometimes when I read Scripture I wonder if they had twitter or facebook because they were certainly shallow and immature enough to have it!

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Petty bickering and self-promoting was as rampant then as now. The church at Corinth had more than its share of trouble linked to inflated egos and petty criticism. It is apparent that everyone had an opinion about what constituted genuine biblical authority and what a truly godly ministry looked like. That was evident early on. Even in Paul’s first letter he referred to division centered around different preachers. Some where followers of Paul, others of Peter, a few of Apollos and then the spiritual crowd, “We just follow Jesus.” By the time he is writing what we call 2 Corinthians he is dealing with some he calls “super apostles” or the “most eminent apostles.” These braggarts spoke of great visions and ecstatic experiences in order to validate their ministry and teaching. As distasteful as Paul found such boasting he felt compelled to boast a little himself. Yet his boast was dramatically different. He boasted of his weakness. He bragged of his “failures” as evidence of God’s favor and blessing. In fact he goes so far as to say, “I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Why would he say such a thing? Because as he pleaded with God to remove the “stake” in his flesh, that messenger of Satan to prevent conceit, God said, “No, I will not remove it. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Thus Paul embraces his weakness so that the power of Christ may rest upon him. In fact he summed up his philosophy by saying, “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities, for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

If that is the case then perhaps the standard of measurement we often use for determining the value or validity of ministry is all wrong. We focus on size, results and the ever important “wow factor” to determine a God-anointed work. I’m not so sure that’s a wise thing. This evening we will explore the 12th chapter of 2 Corinthians in search of the qualities of a Christlike ministry.

Text: 2 Corinthians 12:11-21

As we work through this passage we discover that…

Thesis: The person genuinely called and equipped for ministry by God, exhibits the qualities consistent with those so identified with the ministry of the Lord Jesus.

We all agree that the Lord Jesus is our model.
The Church is his Church - he is Lord and Master.
Our ministry, the Church’s ministry is his ministry.
So, it should look like his, it should reflect his values and methods and characteristics.

There are three qualities I want to note as we move through this material.

A genuinely God called and equipped minster exercises power and authority governed by truth and wielded with patience and humility. (12:11-13)

A genuinely God called and equipped minister exhibits a profound love and a determined willingness to sacrifice all for the sake of others in service to the gospel. (12:14-18)

A genuinely God called and equipped minister expresses godly fear and sorrow over the presence of sin and a lack of repentance. (12:19-21)

Conclusion:
The bottom line in all of this is when seeking to determine the qualities of a God-honoring, heaven-blessed ministry you should be looking for Christlikeness. You should see great power and authority governed by truth and wielded with patience and humility. You ought to find a profound love and a determined willingness to sacrifice all in the service of the gospel. And you must find godly sorrow over the presence of sin and a lack of repentance.

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I Gotta Sing: Exodus #28 (10/28/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 15:1-21 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 28, 2018.

Intro:

We are a “singing people.” The church has always been a singing body and rightfully so because we are a people of the Book and the Bible is filled with song.

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Job tells us that at creation the “morning stars sang out as all the sons of God shouted for joy” (Job 38:7). In Judges 5 Deborah and Barak led the singing as the nation celebrated the defeat of Jabin. David sang when God delivered him from his enemies (Psalm 40; 2 Samual 22). At the birth of Jesus the angelic chorus welcomed his arrival. The apostle Paul encourages the singing of psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in our hearts to God (Colossians 3:16). When John went through that open door into heaven he heard the angels singing (Revelation 4 & 5). It is no wonder when God delivered His people from Egyptian bondage He put a song in their hearts. Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 15.

Text: Exodus 15:1-21

I’m not an overly “expressive” guy.
I tend to sit with my arms folded at ball games.
I refuse to obey the demands of cheerleaders.
The only chant I participate in is the one I’m doing inwardly that says, “I will not be moved!”
But, like it or not - there are things that bring me to my feet and cause my voice to ring out.
Somethings just demand a response!

The more unexpected, the greater the response.
The more extraordinary, the more elaborate the praise.

I’m not particularly musical. I have no sense of rhythm and yet certain tunes set my foot to tapping without my giving it a thought. It just happens. Certain songs just, well, have to be sung. Israel has been on an emotional roller coaster. For 400 years they cried out to God pleading that they might be freed from the grip of Egyptian bondage. Moses returns after 40 years in Midian and announce that God has called him to lead the people out of Egypt. No sooner does he approach Pharaoh with this news then things go from bad to worse! Not only are they not free, their work load increases. Now, in addition to making the bricks, they will also be gathering their own straw. Thanks Moses for nothing! Then came those 10 plagues. Throughout that whole ordeal it seemed that they would be released then, nothing. Hopes up and then dashed to the ground. Finally came that glorious, terrifying night. The children of Israel, each family, killed a lamb and smeared its blood on the door of their houses. That night the angle of death passed through Egypt killing the firstborn in every house, man and beast from the house of Pharaoh who sits on the throne to the house of the lowest slave. But when the angel saw the blood, he “passed over,” that home bearing spared.

Finally Israel was allowed to leave.
But no sooner had they left then Pharaoh had regrets.
There they were with their backs to the Sea and Pharaoh in hot pursuit.
Miraculously, gloriously God delivered them.
While they stood safely on the other shore the army of Egypt was drowned in the Sea.

This was no time to stand with arms folded. Sometimes you gotta sing!

As we work our way through this text we are reminded that…

Thesis: The glory and wonder of God’s gracious deliverance demands a response of unbridled praise and adoration.

This is a song. This is a response of praise. It cannot be neatly outlined. But I do want to make three observations from this song.

Those delivered by his grace, glory in the wonder of his unique character and person. (15:3, 6-7, 11, 13)
First, God is praise because of who he is.
He is praised because of his character, his attributes.

God is praised because he is the Eternal One - 15:3
God is praised because he omnipotent - 15:6
God is superior - 15:11
God is loving - 15:13
God is faithful - 15:14-16

This is a God worth praising because of who he is. The beauty, the wonder, the glory of his person demands a response of unbridled praise. He alone is worthy of such adoration. But there is more…

Those delivered by his grace cannot help but sing the praise of his wondrous deeds. (15:4-5, 9-10, 12-13, 14-18)
Israel sings the praise of God:

• destroying their enemies/overthrowing their adversaries - 15:4-5, 7, 9-10, 12
• redeeming his people - 15:13
• guiding them to his abode - 15:13
• bringing them into his presence - 15:17 (His promise = I will be your God, you will be my people)

He is praise worthy because of who he is and because of what he has done but there is still more…

Those delivered by his grace stand in awe of his loving care. (15:2-3)
Note the word “my.”
• My strength
• My song
• My salvation
• My God
• My father’s God

Conclusion:
One day when we are safely home, we will sing:

Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished. And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed. (Rev. 15:1-4)

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Words and The Word: Selected Psalms (10/24/2018)

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This exposition of Psalm 12 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, October 24, 2018
Of Visions and Thorns: 2 Corinthians #23 (10/21/2018)
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This exposition of 2 Corinthians 12:1-10 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 21, 2018.

Intro:

He didn’t want to do it. It went against the grain of his character but he felt there was no choice. As much as he loathed boasting, he was forced to boast in response to the boasting of the false teachers, the super-apostles who had the ears and hearts of many of the Corinthian believers.

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Following the customs of the Greeks, who were convinced that if you were in deed a spokesmen for the gods you must have great stories of fantastic visions, the super-apostles had the Corinthians groveling at their feet due to their arrogant boastings. Thus Paul was forced to boast of his own ecstatic experience. As he began his boast, he did not mess around in the foothills, he went directly to the mountain peak. He spoke of his experience of being “caught up” into the very presence of God. Our text this evening is found in 2 Corinthians chapter 12.

Text: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Remember Paul’s critics have called into question his character, his integrity, his message, his methods, even his claim of apostolic authority. Along the way they have made fun of his appearance, his lack of oratory skills, and his life of trials coming to the conclusion that he could not possibly be God’s messenger. Paul has countered their charges with some boasting of his own. But he did not boast of the number of churches established, or the number of converts, or his acquaintance with the original apostles but rather has boasted of his weakness. In fact he went so far as to say that his weakness is the validation of his ministry. In this evening’s text he continues to boast of his weakness but he begins with an experience that trumps any experience claimed by his critics.

As we consider this text we note that…

Thesis: God’s method of equipping His ministers and determining their qualifications for ministry differ dramatically from the conventional wisdom of the times.

There is a surprising twist in our text. As Paul begins we assume he is going to do just like the false teachers and use his experience as the validation of a God-called, God-blessed ministry but he doesn’t do that. In fact he down plays his experience of heavenly glory and focuses on God’s humbling of his servant. What is it Jesus said, “If you want to be great in my kingdom then you must become the servant of all.” In God’s kingdom economy the way up is down. The way to glory is through humility.

What Paul is doing is brilliant.
He is laying out God’s method of preparing him and at the same time rebuking his critics.

There are just 2 things I want to note this evening.

Genuine power and authority in ministry are not based on visions or ecstatic experiences but on the actions and words of a true godly servant. (12:1-6)

Genuine authority for ministry comes to the one who embraces the crucified life. (12:7-10)

Conclusion:
It is the grand theme of the entire epistle. Authentic ministry is power in weakness. We find in in 1:89; 2:14; 4:7-12; 6:4-10 and again in the text before us. Power in weakness is the thread that runs throughout Paul’s letter.

Paul came to understand and to embrace that weakness was the key to the experience of Christ’s ongoing power. Thus, “I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Rest upon = language of the tabernacle.
Exodus 40:34; John 1:14 and 2 Corinthians 12:9

Paul then concludes with his philosophy of life and ministry in 12:10 - For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

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The Wonder of Our Salvation: Exodus #27 (10/21/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 14:15-31 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 21, 2018.

Intro:

That family had just said grace over the Sunday noon meal when the father asked the elementary aged son, “What did you learn in Sunday School this morning?” The son said, “We learned about the children of Israel crossing the Red Sea.” “Oh,” said the father, “tell us about it.”

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The boy gathered his thoughts and said, “Well, Israel was trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the Red Sea. There was no time to waste. Moses and Aaron called the men together and they built this pontoon bridge. They floated it out on the Sea and hurried the people across to the other side. Once they were safely on the other shore a team of Israeli commandos set charges on the bridge and waited for the Egyptians to get halfway across. They then blew up the bridge and killed all the Egyptian soldiers.” The father asked, “Son, is that they way your teacher told the story?” The son looked down at his plate, embarrassed and said, “No sir, but if I told it the way she told it…you would never believe it!” If you have any knowledge of the Old Testament you no doubt know the story of the parting of the Red Sea. It is one of the best known biblical text. You’ve probably seen Charlton Heston part the Sea every year during Easter season. And yes, we believe it happened just as the book of Exodus records it. God, supernaturally delivered His people. He brought them up out of Egypt with a strong arm and the Exodus is to the Old Testament what the Cross is to the New Testament. The story of God’s gracious deliverance of His people. As we work our way through the book of Exodus we keep before us the big picture, God is sovereignly at work saving a special people for His own glory. The Exodus is a gospel event. It is a picture of God’s ultimate deliverance of His people through His son the Lord Jesus. Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 14.

Text: Exodus 14:15-31

God heard the cries of His people and He has come to deliver them.
He is keeping the promise He made to Abraham centuries before.
After a series of plagues Pharaoh finally relented and Israel was set free.
Having “plundered” Egypt they Israelites marched out of Egypt.
They were led by God through a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

But rather than head north, the most direct route to the land of promise, they went south toward the wilderness. The LORD placed them out on the edge of Egyptian territory with their backs to the Red Sea and had them settle in. He was using them as bait to draw Pharaoh out for one last encounter. He had one last act to perform to ensure that all Egypt knew that He, Yahweh God of the Hebrews, was the true God.

As we work our way through this text we see that…

Thesis: The Crossing of the Red Sea gives us great insight into the wonder of our salvation.

We said last time, “Scripture is the revelation of God.” By that we might not just that God is the one revealing truth but that He is the one being revealed. Scripture is about Him. He is the focus of the story. So, as we read through Scripture we are to ask, “What does this tell me about God? What does it say about what He has done or is doing? How am I to relate to Him?” As we’ve seen already Exodus is about salvation, it is about redemption and deliverance. It is a foreshadowing of God’s ultimate deliverance of His people from sin and death through the Lord Jesus, the Lamb of God.

As we walk through this passage I want to point out 3 things.

In salvation, God demands the impossible and then He, himself accomplishes the impossible on behalf of His people. (12:15-16, 19-22)

God’s glory is the goal and purpose of both the salvation and the judgment of God. (12:17-18, 23-30)

Salvation is the work of God alone and faith is our response to what God has already accomplished. (12:31)

Conclusion:
When I’m asked, “When were you saved?” I want to answer, “2000 years ago, just outside the walled city of Jerusalem.” Of course I should say, “I don’t know the exact date but it was in eternity past, before the world was ever created when God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit entered into covenant to redeem fallen humanity. For the Lord Jesus is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.”

God saves, our response to His saving is to fear (reverence) and believe.

The New Testament ties the work of the Lord Jesus to the Exodus. At his birth there is reference to “Calling out of Egypt” God’s Son (Mt. 2:15). That is a quote from Hosea 11:1 in reference to the Exodus. When the Lord Jesus took James and John with him on the Mountain (Mount of Transfiguration) as our Lord met with Moses and Elijah they discussed his (Jesus’) “exodus.” Paul, in 1 Corinthians 10:1-2 connect our salvation/baptism to this crossing. Thus I say with confidence, The Crossing of the Red Sea gives us great insight into the wonder of our salvation.

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Weakness: My Validation: 2 Corinthians #22 (10/21/2018)
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This exposition of 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Bapitst Church on Sunday evening, October 14, 2018.

Intro:

I wouldn’t normally encourage you to listen carefully to what a “fool” has to say. I know, some of you are thinking, “So, you don’t want us to pay attention to you.”

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I wouldn’t normally encourage you to listen to a man who labeled himself a fool but I have to make an exception for the apostle Paul who says he’s acting like a fool or sounding like a “mad man” due to his boasting of his personal life and experience. Paul is dealing with false teachers, faux apostles, disguised as servants of righteousness. These have infiltrated the church at Corinth boasting of great spiritual visions, ecstatic experiences and special anointings. These “super-apostles” have managed to gain standing in the church at Corinth. As the spiritual father of the church who is “jealous” for the church’s well being Paul goes on the offensive. A part of that offensive demands that he do a little boasting of his own. Before he does, he makes it very clear that judging yourself by yourself is of little value. In the end all that matters is that you have God’s approval. But because these super-apostles have gained standing through their made up exploits Paul reminds the folks in Corinth that he is the genuine article and thus has earned the right to be heard.

Our text this evening is part of that boasting section.
It is clear Paul did not like boasting about himself, he would much rather boast of the Lord.
But he does lay out for the church his credentials as an apostle.
Tonight we consider 2 Corinthians 11:16-33.

Text: 2 Corinthians 11:16-33

I remind you that you must read 11:16-33 in light of 11:1-15.
Paul is addressing the unrepentant minority in the Corinthian church.
He specifically is deal with those he labeled, “False apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as servants of righteousness.”

Remember he also suggested they were like their father, Satan!
The gloves have officially come off.

As we work our way through this passage I want you to see that…

Thesis: An authentic gospel witness is both counterintuitive and countercultural.
This is a lesson in contrast. Paul is showing that there is a world of difference between they way he operates and the way of the false teachers. Remember these super-apostle claim to be working in the same way Paul does (11:12).

Paul is saying they are false but we are authentic. We are genuine. We genuinely, sincerely follow Christ, His teachings and His ways.

There are three characteristics or qualities reflected in an authentic gospel witness.

An authentic gospel witness willingly runs the risk of being misunderstood. (11:16-21)

An authentic gospel witness embraces weakness as validation of a god-honoring ministry. (11:22-30)

An authentic gospel witness recognizes humility and weakness as its greatest strength. (11:31-33)

Conclusion:
The point is, as believers we must acknowledge and embrace our weakness. This has everything to do with the church and its mission.

Our pride seeks places of power and honor.
Our culture prizes the powerful and the positioned.

Thus an authentic gospel witness that willingly and enthusiastically embraces weakness is both counterintuitive and countercultural.

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Our Great and Worthy God: Exodus #26 (10/21/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 13:17-14:14 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 14, 2018.

Intro:

Central to a great story is great characters. Whether you’re floating on a raft down the mighty Mississippi with Huck Finn and old Jim or sailing with captain Ahab in search of the elusive great white, Moby Dick. Characters carry you along and keep you engaged with the story. The story we’ve been following is no exception.

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Early on we met those two courageous midwives Shiphrah and Puah who dared to defy the command of the most powerful man on earth. Then there was Jochebed the loving, courageous mother who hid her infant son as long as so could then placed her child and her heart in that basket adrift in the Nile trusting that somehow God would intervene. Of course there is Moses, the reluctant leader and Aaron the well-spoken brother going up against the hot-tempered and tantrum-throwing king of Egypt. But, by far, the most fascinating character in our story is Yahweh, the God of the Hebrews. A God who reveals himself as a God who hears the cries of the His people. A God who speaks. A God who judges His enemies, a God who rescues, a God of mercy and grace. A God who is the central figure in this unfolding drama. The story behind the story being, God is sovereignly at work saving a special people for His own glory. Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapters 13 and 14.

Text: Exodus 13:17-14:14

Pharaoh and the nation of Egypt have endured 10 devastating plagues.
Blow after blow declaring, “I, Yahweh, am God.”
God was demonstrating his claim over the whole world.
I am Lord of all, including you o king.
Pharaoh stubbornly dug in following each plague, refusing to yield.
After the death of the firstborn, he said, “Go, get, out!”
Our text picks up where 12:39 left off.

In between is the establishment of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, Passover and the consecration of the firstborn. Those vivid reminders given to the people of God lest they forget what God has done.

Israel has plundered the Egyptians and now they are on their way out of Egypt.

[Read Text]

As we work our way through this text we are reminded that…

Thesis: Scripture is the revelation of God therefore when you read Scripture you need to see Him as the central figure and the focus of Divine revelation.

To say that Scripture is the revelation of God is not merely to say that He is the author of Scripture or that He is the one revealing the truth but that He is the one being revealed. Scripture is about Him. This is God saying, “This is who I am.”

Exodus 1-13 is the record of how God came to his people in their distress.
Exodus 13-18 is the record of how God went with his people on their pilgrimage.
God heard their cries, He has delivered them and now He becomes their companion.
Specifically our text is about the time immediately surrounding their exit from Egypt.

There are two revelations I want to point out from this text.

Our God reveals himself as a trustworthy guide who leads His people faithfully and personally. (13:17-22)
•He knows what He is doing - 17-18
•He is faithful - 19
•He is present - 20-22

Our God reveals himself as a God who delivers with a strong arm and is worthy of all glory and honor. (14:1-14)
•The perfect trap - 1-4
•A foolish response - 5-9
•An invaluable lesson - 10-14

Conclusion:
Scripture is the revelation of God therefore when you read Scripture you need to see Him as the central figure and the focus of Divine revelation.

And what does it reveal about our God in this text?

He is a trustworthy guide who leads us faithfully and personally.
He is a God who delivers with a strong arm and is worthy of all glory and honor.

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An Authentic Gospel Witness: 2 Corinthians #21 (10/7/2018)
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This exposition of 2 Corinthians 11:1-15 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 7, 2018.

Intro:

It seems out of place. You might even think it is contrary to what he had just said.

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The apostle Paul just finished a convincing and forceful argument against boasting. He concluded by saying, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” He is right. You don’t get anywhere comparing yourself with yourself. The only judgment the matters, in the end, is that of our Sovereign. But then he says, “Bear with me as I boast.” What’s going on? Why would he do that? How can you in one breath condemn boasting and then boast with your next breath? Paul is in the process of dealing with those false teachers in Corinth. Those who have been attacking his calling as an apostle, his preaching, his doctrine and thus undermining the gospel itself. They have made headway through their boasting. In combating that, Paul says, “Indulge me for a minute with some foolish boasting of my own.” What follows is not so much boasting about Paul but outlining what qualifies as an authentic gospel witness. This is a much needed truth for today’s church. Our text this evening is found in the 11th chapter of 2 Corinthians.

Text: 2 Corinthians 11:1-15

As we work our way through this text we are reminded that…

Thesis: In a day enamored with culture and marked by compromise it is essential for the church to maintain and authentic gospel witness.

We are constantly being challenge to be relevant.
We are told we need to reflect the times in which we live.

We are even told that if we don’t want to be left in the dust pan of history we need to change what we believe!

The call 25-30 years ago was to go out and ask the lost what it would take to get them in church and then give them what they want. Many heeded that call and what has it produced? Falling church attendance, record lows in baptism and a weak and anemic church. Our call, our assignment has not changed. We are to preach the gospel. We are to boldly declare the truth of God to every man, woman, boy and girl. Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not suggesting that we prove our faithfulness to the gospel by being as obnoxious as possible. I’m not suggesting that faithfulness must be harsh and uncaring. But I am suggesting that the gospel is not palatable to the sinful heart of the unrepentant. The gospel says, “You are a sinner incapable of saving yourself. You are a hell-bound, hell-deserving sinner but Christ died for you to give you life and hope. But that life and hope comes at the cost of your dying to self. It demands a total and unconditional surrender. Not what most want to hear but what all need to hear.

Paul is dealing with a church he dearly loves. He spent 18 months in Corinth teaching them the way of Christ and developing them in the truth of the faith. False teachers have come in and are disrupting that work, distorting the message of the gospel and jeopardizing the future of the church. As we consider the first half on chapter 11 we find some marks of an authentic gospel witness.

There are three I want to point out.

An authentic gospel ministry warns of the deadly consequence of following false teachers. (11:1-6)

An authentic gospel ministry is marked by the Christian graces of humility, sacrifice and love. (11:7-12)

An authentic gospel ministry dares to expose the true nature of the false teachers within their midst. (11:13-15)

Conclusion:
An authentic gospel witness takes its responsibility seriously.
It warns of the danger of false teachers and their teaching.
It stands in stark contrast to the false teachers and is marked by humility, sacrifice and love.
It dares to expose the true nature of the false teachers in their midst.

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More Gospel Truth from Exodus: Exodus #25 (10/7/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 13:1-2, 11-16 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 7, 2018.

Intro:

Why are we here? What is it we are supposed to do? What is the work of the church?

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It is, on the one hand a complicated question and yet on the other hand it’s not difficult to grasp. Obviously we are to be salt and light. We are to serve as a preservative within culture and enlighten people to the glory and wonder of God. But the need is so great. How do we preserve? How do we enlighten? Are we to crusade against the evils of society? God knows there is a need for that. We are to be a voice for those who have no voice. That would certainly include the unborn. There is clearly a need to speak out against abortion and to work toward the elimination of the government sanctioned killing of the unborn. Yet, it is not enough to stop abortion we have to care for those mothers who seek abortion because they see no other option. We need to care for those children once they are born. That necessitates that we care for the poor, that we seek viable ways to help the homeless, the unemployed, the fatherless, the widowed and the list goes on. Meanwhile we cannot tend to the physical and the emotional to the neglect of the spiritual. We are backed to complicated.

How do we sort it all out? Where do we begin? How do we determine what we are to do and in what order? I don’t think it is a matter of “either or.” I don’t think we either do “salt work” or “light work.” We are called to do both. I do think the best approach is to make primary what is primary in Scripture. I’m convinced there is a primary work from which the others flow. That primary work is what sets the church apart from all other social or public service organizations. The Red Cross, the United Way and any number of service organizations do great work everyday in our world. There are wonderful groups serving children, providing medical care, shelters for the homeless, drug rehab and many other services for the public good. What sets the church apart is that we preach the gospel. The “Great Commission” given to us by our Lord and Master is that we are to go and make disciples of all nations. We are to go preaching the good news of the kingdom of God and as men, women, boys and girls come to faith, we are to disciple them so that they in turn make other disciples. As these disciples go about the work of kingdom building they are caring for the poor, fighting for the oppressed, speaking for those who have no voice as the means of living out their faith. What is primary is an authentic gospel witness. Our text this morning is found in the 13th chapter of Exodus.

Text: Exodus 13:1-2, 11-16

For 400 years they cried out to God for deliverance.
God has heard their cry and now he has come to deliver them.
He delivered them in dramatic fashion - 10 different plagues - the final the most dramatic.
Because He did not want them to forget, He placed reminders in their national calendar.
The Feast of Unleavened Bread and the Feast of Passover.
This morning we find yet another vivid reminder - the consecration of the firstborn.

This goes back to Exodus 4:22-23 - “You’ve taken my firstborn, I will take yours.”
The night of the Passover the firstborn died, man and beast, from Pharaoh down to the lowest.

[Read Text]

The Exodus is a theology of Salvation - Remember the “big picture?”
The Exodus Event:
teaches about sin and judgment (plagues = judgment on sin)
teaches about election - God chose a people
teaches about substitutionary atonement - the lamb slain
teaches propitiation
teaches the communion of the saints - rescued together/worship together
teaches sanctification - unleavened bread

Now, in our text - teaches redemption.

As we consider Exodus 13 and its message for us we discover that…

Thesis: Gospel faithfulness demands that we faithfully proclaim God’s sovereign claim over every life and His gracious provision through redemption by a substitute.

There are three things I want you to note.

God holds a sovereign claim on your life. (13:1-2)

God’s sovereign claim is satisfied through redemption. (13:11-13)

God’s claim and his satisfaction through redemption must be faithfully proclaimed. (13:14-16)

Conclusion:
Think of the practical impact of this on a child, a mom and dad if they really understand it. You are not made for your own pleasure, or your parent’s pleasure, you were made for God’s pleasure and you will not find joy until you commit your life to Him.
When it comes to deciding how to live knowing that you are made for Him and His glory makes all the difference. As you make choices about where you will live, what you will do, how you will spend your time, what you will do with your talents, your resources - your primary concern is not to please yourself, or to please your parents, but to please the One who saved you for His own glory!

That makes all the difference in the world!

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Peace in Turmoil: Selected Psalms (10/7/2018)

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This exposition of Psalm 4 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, October 3, 2018.
Marks of a God-honoring Ministry: 2 Corinthians #20 (9/30/2018)
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This exposition of 2 Corinthians 10:7-18 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, September 30, 2018.

Intro:

I don’t understand it. I don’t understand what people see in it. It's the same thing you can get in any theater in town or just about any public place. It’s not worship. It’s worldly entertainment. Church is supposed to be different.

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You go to church for something different. Something that takes you out of this world and places you squarely in the presence of God. I just don’t see how that happens with the circus type atmosphere. I don’t see what so many see in that preacher either. He’s flamboyant, he’s always talking about visions and super-spiritual experiences, he claims God speaks to him, like he has some direct line. As for what he says, it think the technical term would be “gobbled goop!” I bet you’re wondering which church I’m talking about. You’re trying to pin down which flamboyant teacher I have in mind. I’m going to tell you. I’m talking about first century Corinth and I don’t know the preacher’s name! It did sound familiar though, didn’t it? Ever since he deceived Eve in the Garden, Satan has assaulted God’s truth with lies. The leaders of God’s people have always been forced to remain vigilant in guarding those entrusted to their care. Throughout redemptive history God’s watchmen have sounded the alarm.

Moses cautioned God’s people: “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, Let us go after other gods, which you have not known, and let us serve them, you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul…”
(Deuteronomy 13:1-3)

Jeremiah cried out: Your prophets have seen for you false and deceptive visions; they have not exposed your iniquity to restore your fortunes, but have seen for you oracles that are false and misleading. (Lamentations 2:14)

Even the Lord Jesus warned: Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves…And Jesus answered them, See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, I am the Christ, and they will lead many astray…And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray…For false Christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect. (Matthew 7:15; 24:4-5, 11, 24)

John the beloved warned that the spirit of antichrist was alive and well in his own day (1 John 2:18).
So, it has always fallen to the church to be vigilant for the truth and zealous for guarding the people of God. That is what is happening in 2 Corinthians. Yes, Paul is defending himself but not for his own sake. His concern is the gospel and the souls of those he feels responsible for. This evening we come to the second half of the 10th chapter.

Text: 2 Corinthians 10:7-18

As we quickly walk through this passage we will see that…

Thesis: In defending himself and confronting his critics the apostle Paul lays out for us two fundamental characteristics of a God-honoring ministry.

There is a time and place for calling others out.
There is a need to point out the wrong of others when the gospel is at stake.
That’s what Paul is doing in this text.

How do you avoid falling into the same error as these Corinthian troublemakers?
What is it that marks a God-honoring ministry?

There are two things I want to point out from this text.

A godly ministry is character driven and gospel oriented. (10:7-11)

A godly ministry is self-effacing and kingdom focused. (10:12-18)

Conclusion:
Thus we sing:
Forbid it Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

A God-honoring ministry is character driven and gospel oriented and it is self-effacing and kingdom focused.

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The Gospel in Sign and Symbol: Exodus #24 (9/30/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 12:43-13:10 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, September 30, 2018.

Intro:

It used to be funny, then it was annoying now it’s frightening! I can’t remember anything. I get up and head to the kitchen and by the time I get there I wondering, “What did I come in here for?”

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People ask me, “What’s your phone number?” I respond, “Uh…” If I start out the door without my phone I now say, “Excuse me I need to grab my brain.” Names and numbers are in my phone. My calendar with meeting alerts and reminders are on my phone. I like to think it’s because I’m just so busy but no, I’m forgetful. I know that’s not unique to me and it is not a recent development in the history of man. That’s why God was so big on reminders back in the Old Testament. That’s the reason for feasts and festivals. That’s what is behind the institution of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. God was putting a reminder in the national calendar of His people. Every year on this date you are going to rehearse and remember the events of this night. There will be a week-long celebration and a dietary change and special services to drive home to you the meaning, the significance of this night. I’m not going to let you forget. Really? After such a momentous event they needed a reminder? Yes! Why? Because we are prone to forgetfulness. Besides it is not just for those who experienced the event but for those who will follow. I don’t “need” a reminder for April 19,1995 because I remember that day. I was there a couple of days later and saw the devastation and witnessed the carnage. I don’t need a reminder for 911 I spent a week at ground zero. But as a nation we need it because of those who were not yet born or who were too young to remember. The Exodus was a nation shaping event for Israel. The Exodus is for the Old Testament what the Cross is for the New Testament. It was a gospel event, a demonstration of the power and glory of God in the salvation of His people. There needed to be a way to set before the people, on a regular basis, the meaning and the significance of that event. So on the evening of that event God told Moses to instruct the people in how they were to observe this day as a memorial. Later more detail will be given but this morning I want us to look at this initial institution of the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Our text is found in Exodus chapters 12 and 13.

Text: Exodus 12:43-51; 13:3-10

This is a gospel event.
It is about God delivering His people.
That’s clear from Paul’s use of it in 1 Corinthians 5:7-8.
The big picture: God is sovereignly at work saving a special people for His own glory.
The gospel is a Bible doctrine - Genesis through Revelation.
As we consider our text this morning I want us to note…

Thesis: Through the institution of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread we are reminded of some essential gospel truths.

Theses feasts, celebrations are a means of preaching the gospel.
They are a way of proclaiming God’s deliverance of His people.
The Passover is a shadow, a type for the cross and God’s ultimate deliverance of His people.

There are three great gospel truths declared through these signs & symbols.

While salvation is personal it is not individualistic. (12:43, 47, 50)

The gospel draws clear lines of distinction between those who believe and those who do not. (12:43-51)

The future of the church demands that we intentionally teach the gospel to our children and those who come after us. (13:3-10)

Conclusion:
No one inherits eternal life from their parents. Each person comes to faith for him/herself. Each one must believe but how will they believe unless there is a preacher and how will there be a preacher unless we preach? Yes, I know that Christ is building His church and the church isn’t going anywhere until He says so, but how does He accomplish this work? Through us! Thus we are commanded to pass the faith along. We are commanded to teach our children and those who follow after us.

Salvation is personal but not individual.

There is a clear distinction between those who believe and those who do not.

We have an obligation to intentionally pass the truth along to our children and the generation following.

These great truths are bound up in the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

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Navigating Despair: Selected Psalms (9/27/2018)

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This exposition of Psalm 3 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, September 26, 2018.
Gratitude for Grace of Salvation (9/24/2018)
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Lord’s Table Meditation: This short message from 1 Timothy 1:12-17 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, September 23, 2018.

Intro:

We’re all different. Some of us are more “out-going” than others. Some more verbal. Some easily share their feelings or emotions while others are more guarded.

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It’s not that one is right and the other is wrong – it’s just that we are different. When at a ball game I don’t clap and stomp and shout and cheer. When those cheerleaders tell me to stand up and cheer I sit there in absolute defiance! Stone faced, arms crossed declaring, “You can’t make me cheer.” You see I’m perfectly capable of enjoying a game without making a fool of myself. I just happen to believe what is needed is a little dignity and decorum in the stands. Let’s show a little class here. But try as I might, some things bring me to me feet. Sometimes, without warning, words, phrases fly out of my mouth. Without a moment’s thought, without being aware of any formation of words, I’m cheering. When that happens, I quickly survey the room and see if anyone noticed my outburst and then I regain my composer. Regardless of my disposition some things just demand a response. Something internal says, “You aren’t setting through this one and you aren’t remaining silent!” I didn’t plan it and I can’t stop it. The more unexpected and the more incredible – the louder and the more exuberant the response.

The apostle Paul was writing to young Timothy, his son in the Lord and co-laborer in the Gospel, about life in the church when all of a sudden he burst forth with a shout of praise concerning God’s grace in salvation. Our text this evening begins in verse 12 of 1 Timothy chapter 1.

Text: 1 Timothy 1:12-17

This evening we gather around the Lord’s Table. I think this is an appropriate text for us to consider. It is about the gospel. It is about God’s grace extended to hell-bound, undeserving sinners and the wonder of realizing the extent of God’s grace.

As we walk through these verses we learn that…

Thesis: The heart touched by grace erupts in spontaneous praise of God’s saving work.

When you consider what God has done for us in Christ – it is not time to sit on your hands. It is not time to defiantly sit with arms crossed – unmoved – it is time to cheer!

There are three things I want us to note in our text.

Those who have been forgiven are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the mercy shown to them. (1:12-14)

Those who have experienced the grace of salvation joyfully declare the wonder of salvation to all. (1:15-16)

The heart set free bursts forth in praise to God our Savior. (1:17)

Some things just demand a response.

The heart touched by grace erupts in spontaneous praise of God’s saving work.

It is in this spirit that we come to this table. We recognize none of us are “worthy” of this meal. None of us are deserving of God’s mercy and grace. That’s the point of grace! So we come in humility, overwhelmed at the grace extended to us. Overjoyed by the salvation lavished upon us. Come tonight in joy. Come tonight in gratitude. Come tonight in remembrance.

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The Sovereign Reign of Christ: Selected Psalms (9/22/2018)

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This message from Psalm 2 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, September 19, 2018.
Get Up, Get Out, and Go!: Exodus #23 (9/22/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 12:29-42 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, September 23, 2018.

Intro:

It was night like any other night. Moms had put their little ones to bed hours before, it was peaceful and quiet. But this was no ordinary night.

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That night, as the nation slept a visitor moved throughout the land, a dreadful, unwanted and unwelcome visitor. The quiet was shattered by a blood curdling scream. Wailing was heard throughout the land of Egypt as the angel of death moved with deadly precision from house to house. Soon there was not a house where someone was not dead! Yahweh, God of the Hebrews had come in horrifying judgment demonstrating that He is sovereign over all things and that He alone has the power of life and death. The Israelites had come to Egypt during a time of famine. They came seeking relief. God had sovereignly preserved the life of Joseph and had positioned him in Egypt to be a savior for his family. Jacob brought his family, 70 in all, to Egypt under the direction of his God. Eventually there arose a leader who “knew not Joseph.” That is a leader came to power who refused to recognize Joseph’s contribution to Egyptian life and culture and because the family had grown and thus he feared revolt, he enslaved the Israelites. For centuries they cried out to their God for deliverance. It seemed the heavens were brass, nothing happened. But God had heard their cry. He had come to deliver them. And tonight, after 430 years they would be free! Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 12 beginning with verse 29.

Text: Exodus 12:29-42

Pharaoh and the nation of Egypt had passed through 9 plagues.
9 blows declaring, the LORD is God.
Yet, Pharaoh stubbornly refused to obey the word and will of God.
This was the 10th and final blow.

It is critical to understand this is not some epic tale designed to teach some religious truth. This is history. This is God working out his plan in the real world. This is an actual deliverance of an actual people. Our faith is not built on myth or legend but on reality. Our God created this world. Our God chose to reveal himself in a personal, unique way to a specific people. The big picture in Exodus, in the whole of Scripture is that God is sovereignly at work, saving a special people for his own glory. The Exodus event is to the Old Testament what the cross is to the New Testament. The demonstration of God’s glory in salvation. The Passover/Exodus is a picture, a foreshadowing of the God’s ultimate deliverance of his people through the cross and resurrection. The Exodus is a gospel event. The gospel is not a New Testament doctrine it is a biblical doctrine. It runs from Genesis to Revelation.

As we consider our text this morning we will see that…

Thesis: The Passover/Exodus event reminds us of the necessity and the centrality of the gospel for the people of God.

There are three great gospel truths I want us to note in our text.

Our sinful, stubborn defiance of God’s will calls forth His sovereign and righteous wrath and thus demands our faith and trust in His gracious provision. (12:29-30)

Because God loves, he extends his tender mercies and gracious watch-care over those who humbly trust in him. (12:42)

God sovereignly brings his enemies to a tragic end while blessing beyond measure those who believe. (12:31-41)

Conclusion:
I’ve said this before in this study - if you choose to fight this battle. If you choose to defy the will of God you will lose and there is a high price to pay for that loss. Pharaoh is broken and his nation is in mourning.

The wages of sin is death.

Look at Israel in contrast.
They are free!
After 430 years of slavery they are free.
They did not leave the land empty-handed - 12:36 - “They plundered the Egyptians.”
All by the grace and mercy of God.
They didn’t deserve this - they were “graced.”

So it is for all of us, For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

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A Call to Action: 2 Corinthians #19 (9/16/2018)
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This exposition of 2 Corinthians 10:1-6 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, September 16, 2018.

Intro:

It seems they were relentless in their attack, constantly undermining the great apostle. If they weren’t belittling his appearance they were criticizing his oratorical skills or questioning why a godly man should experience such trials?

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The talk was dividing the church. The pro-Paul folks were fed up with it while the anti-Paul crowd couldn’t get enough of it. Ultimately it is the gospel that suffers as a divided church has nothing to say to a fragmented world. What do you do when there’s trouble in the church? Do you ignore it and hope is goes away? Do you take the nuclear approach and run the risk of destroying the church in the process? It’s not an easy question to answer. It is also important to note it is not an altogether foreign question. By foreign I mean it is a question that rarely comes up. A question or issue that is the exception. The church is a family and like all families there are disagreements regularly. Some disagreements are insignificant others are serious. Because the severity varies wisdom and care should be taken in addressing any disagreement. What is clear in our text is there comes a time when the church must take matters in hand and deal with them directly, with courage and firmness. Our text is found in the 10th chapter of 2 Corinthians.

Text: 2 Corinthians 10:1-6

Paul is writing to a beloved church. He had founded the church while ministering over a period of a year and a half. For 18 months Paul put his heart and soul in bringing the gospel to this thoroughly pagan city. A city known for its corruption. Corinth became a byword for immoral living. To engage in immorality was to “corinthanize.” After a year and a half Paul left behind a thriving church. Trouble soon followed. You remember the problems addressed in 1 Corinthians, divisions, strife, a member living in an incestuous relationship, drunkenness at the Lord’s Table, they were a mess and yet Paul referred to the “saints” at Corinth. Here in 2 Corinthians there is obviously a group who are undermining Paul’s character, his work and even his message. Paul’s concern throughout has not been his personal reputation but rather the gospel. In the first 9 chapters he has primarily addressed the repentant majority within the congregation. In chapters 10-13 he will address the unrepentant minority - the trouble-makers. In chapter 10 the gloves come off!

This evening we focus on 10:1-6

As we work our way through these opening verses we discover that…

Thesis: Love for the gospel emboldens the church to confront those who threaten the unity of the church and thus distort the gospel message.

What is clear in 2 Corinthians is that you have a small group in the church who are opposed to Paul and his ministry.

They have judged his ministry to be fleshly or carnal

They have attacked his unimpressive persona

They have attacked his lack of rhetorical skills

They despise his meek and humble demeanor

They ridicule his lack of ecstatic experiences and visions

They question his incessant trials (such wouldn’t happen to a truly godly person)

All of this combines to show that his is not a ministry of the Spirit.

It seems they are swayed by displays of flash, ecstatic utterance and stories of victorious living and supernatural visions. Does any this sound familiar?

There are three things I want us to note from these opening verses.

The gospel-centered church dares to confront the rottenness within. (10:1-2)

The gospel-centered church is committed to an all-out spiritual war. (10:3-5)

The gospel-centered church unites in the hope of repelling the enemy and restoring the saints. (10:6)

Conclusion:
The goal is to bring some to repentance and protect the church from error. His appeal is that the church flee from strutting preachers, splashy displays, prosperity dogmas and esoteric visions and embrace the apostolic gospel of Christ and the apostles. That’s pretty good advice for today!

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A Day to Remember: Exodus #22 (9/16/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 12:14-28 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, September 16, 2018.

Intro:

I’m sure it seems strange to those who’ve never been a part of it. You decide to go to church, you’re friend has been after you for so long and you finally agree to go. Church has never interested you, you’re not sure what they do in there and honestly you think they’re all a little nuts to begin with. They talk to God.

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They sing songs to Him and about Him, supposedly someone died and then came back to life, it’s all very confusing. You’re wondering if snakes will be involved - you’ve heard something about some of them pick up snakes. The service is not all that unusual. You actually enjoyed some of the music and the preacher wasn’t horrible but then a group of men gather around a table. The preacher says something about a body, take and eat and then those men come up the aisle with trays? Then they do it again, this time talking about blood and drinking it! They are crazy. What may seem crazy is actually a very important ritual within the church. It is a memorial, a remembrance. It is a visual preaching of the gospel. It is a reminder that the Lord Jesus suffered and died for our sin. It is a powerful picture of the heart of our faith. The Bible is clear all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and the wages of sin is death. What we’ve earned, what we deserve because we have sinned is death. From the beginning our first parents were told, “The soul that sins will die.” Sin brings death. We are sinners at the core of our being. That means we cannot do anything to save ourselves. We need a Savior. The Lord’s Table is a vivid reminder of that fact that God has provided us a Savior. So, that memorial meal goes back 2000 years to the night our Lord was betrayed. It was given to us as a reminder. But the reminder actually goes back long before that night. Because that reminder was given during the performance of an earlier reminder. Our Lord instituted the new reminder at the end of the other reminder, the Passover meal. The Passover was itself, a vivid picture of the gospel. On the night of that momentous event God instituted a reminder. A way of keeping this truth before his people for generations. Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 12 beginning with verse 14.

Text: Exodus 12:14-28

9 plagues. 9 consecutive blows declaring, “I, the LORD, am God.” Through these judgements on Pharaoh and the land of Egypt the LORD was declaring his sovereignty over all the earth. He was demonstrating his superiority over the gods of Egypt and his claim on the people of Israel. Pharaoh had been commanded to let God’s people go but he stubbornly refused. The message was pounded home by one devastating judgment after another. Yet, the obstinate king refused to yield. Now comes the 10th and final judgment. That night God himself would move through the land of Egypt and death would come to every house. The firstborn in every house will die, man and beast, from Pharaoh who sits on the throne to the lowest slave in the land. The only homes spared will be those marked by blood.

God has told the people of his provision for them.
They were to take a male yearling, without spot or blemish a sacrifice it to him.
They were to take the blood of that lamb and mark the doorposts and lintel of their home.
They were to roast the lamb along with bitter herbs.
They were to eat unleaven bread.
They were to eat the meal in haste, dressed and ready to leave Egypt.
When God passed through the land, when he saw the blood he would passover.
He would say, “It is enough. I am satisfied” because of the blood, that home would be spared.

And that night he instituted a reminder. A means of keeping the truth of God’s provision through blood before his people throughout their days.

As we consider the gospel through the Passover this text reminds us that…

Thesis: In response to an ever-increasingly secular world and due to our own tendency to drift believers must regularly remember and reaffirm our commitment to biblical faith.

There are three things I want to point out in our text.

Due to “spiritual amnesia” we need to regularly recall and rehearse God’s gracious work on our behalf. (12:14)

Because of our strong emphasis on salvation by grace alone through faith alone we need to be reminded that we are saved for/unto holiness. (12:15-20)

We must faithfully and intentionally instruct our children in the ways and works of God. (12:21-28)

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The Blessed Believer: Selected Psalms (9/13/2018)

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This message from Psalm 1 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, September 12, 2018.
Biblical Stewardship: 2 Corinthians #18 (9/9/2018)
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This exposition of 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, September 9, 2018.

Intro:

I realize that what I’m about to do this evening will feed a common misconception. I’m going to talk about money – specifically about giving to the church.

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Many believe preachers never talk about anything else. Of course any number of high profile television preachers have fed that notion with endless appeals and the hawking of holy trinkets. They offer you a $20 Bible absolutely free for a gift of $100. It’s no wonder the average person believes that every preacher takes a course in seminary entitled Fleecing the Flock 101. The course being designed to separate the good folks of the congregation from their hard-earned cash. When the preacher talks about money the cry from the pew is often – “What I do with my money is my business.” But I would suggest to the child of God – what you do with God’s money is His business!

As a child of God you must recognize that everything you have and everything you are, you owe to the grace of God. By his grace your eyes were opened to the truth. By his grace you were granted life eternal and life abundant. By his grace you were made part of the church. By his grace you are entrusted with the work of the Gospel here and around the world. And that work is financed through the regular faithful giving of believers like you and me. This evening I want to talk with you about your need to support financially the work of the church more importantly your responsibility as a faithful steward. Stewardship, that’s what we are talking about when we talk about money. A steward is a person who acts as the surrogate of another person, especially by managing property, financial affairs or an estate. A steward doesn’t own anything, he manages someone else’s money or property. Biblically when we come to Christ we declare him Lord, boss, sovereign over our lives. We come to him in total and unconditional surrender declaring ourselves his servants, his bond slaves. Thus we see ourselves as stewards of all that he has entrusted to us. In 2 Corinthians 9 Paul lays out some principles of biblical stewardship.

Text: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Chapters 8 and 9 are focused on an offering for the struggling church in Jerusalem. The church at Corinth had already committed to give to this offering. Their commitment inspired the church in Macedonia to give. In fact the church in Macedonia had given a tremendous offering toward Jerusalem relief. Out of their poverty they gave in abundance. Paul says they were eager to give and begged for an opportunity to be a part. As we work through the 9th chapter we are reminded that…

Thesis: The love and grace of God inspire biblical stewardship.

As in all things, we are inspired and driven along in our service to Christ and his kingdom by the God’s grace and compelled by our love and devotion to him. I want to quickly note three principles of biblical stewardship drawn from our text.

Biblical stewardship demands we hold one another accountable when it comes to giving to the church and the work of the Kingdom. (9:1-5)

Biblical stewardship is marked by a bountiful generosity and a cheerful willingness. (9:6-7)

Biblical stewardship benefits both the individual giver and the church as a whole. (9:8-15)

Conclusion:
As Paul reaches the end of his lengthy appeal for the Jerusalem offering he can no longer contain himself - Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

This is the first time the word “inexpressible” appears anywhere in Greek literature. Paul made up a word. In effect he is thanking God for a gift he can’t begin to describe. This of course is Christ and the gospel. God’s great, indescribable gift is the basis and motivation for our giving. As such he is not calling on believers to look deep down within themselves and come up with the very best they can give. Rather to recognize the grace of God given and then out of God’s gracious gift to us, we give the best his grace can provide!

We are stewards.
As such we are to be ready, willing and generous in our giving.
We are to hold one another accountable.
We are to give bountifully with great joy.
We are in turn blessed so that we can bless even more.

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The Passover Gospel: Exodus #21 (9/9/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 12:1-13 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, September 9, 2018.

Intro:

I was sitting in a crowded auditorium at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. I was there for their annual Pastor’s Conference. The man speaking was a doctor of psychiatry and he was telling us why people go into the field of psychology.

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He said the vast majority have “issues” and this is a way of getting help without having to admit they have a problem. The more reasons he gave the louder the laughter. We preachers were nodding with approval. Most of us thinking, “I know a guy like that.” Then everything changed. He said, “Keep laughing because in a minute I’m going to tell you why you’re a preacher!” He wasn’t funny anymore. Now he’s meddling. Who does he think he is? What gives him the right to say such things? Looking back some 30 plus years, I have to say, “His observations were painfully accurate.” I thought about that experience this week as I was preparing today’s message. I think the people of Israel may have had much the same reaction I did at that Pastor’s Conference. It was easy to understand why God came in judgment of Pharaoh and the nation of Egypt. After all Pharaoh sought to eliminate the Israelites. He forced them into slavery. He refused the will and Word of God. Not once or twice but nine times. Blow after blow and yet he would not yield. Such stubborn obstinance deserves the judgment of God. As God came in judgment and Israel was spared they must have nodded approval. They no doubt enjoyed seeing the Egyptians squirm. But now, in the ten and final judgment - they were involved.

God was going to pass through the land of Egypt in a great sweeping judgment and the firstborn in every house would die. From the house of Pharaoh down to the lowest slave; from the wealthiest to the poorest of the poor and everyone in between. Death was coming to every home throughout all of Egypt unless that home was under the blood. Our text this morning is found in the 12th chapter of Exodus.

Text: Exodus 12:1-13

Occasionally I meet someone who claims to be a New Testament Christian. I know what they mean but no one is truly a New Testament Christian. There has been a push in recent days by a very popular preacher who suggests that churches need to “unhitch” from the Old Testament. There’s just a lot of baggage in the Old Testament that is embarrassing or difficult to explain in our enlightened and sophisticated culture. Well, the problem with that is we are not New Testament Christians we are biblical Christians. The gospel is not confined to the New Testament it runs throughout the whole of Scripture. Don’t you remember our Lord and his journey with those two disciples on the road to Emmaus? How the risen Lord, beginning with Moses and the prophets, showed the bewildered disciples that the whole message of the Scriptures (the Old Testament) was about him!

The glory and wonder of the gospel is not merely a New Testament truth, it is a biblical truth.

This morning I want you to see the gospel in the Passover.
I want you to see that 1400 years before the birth of Christ…

Thesis: The glory and wonder of the gospel is powerfully and wonderfully displayed in the Passover.

There are three things I want us to note.

The Passover declares the uncomfortable truth of sin and its devastating consequences.

The Passover declares God’s gracious provision through a lamb without spot or blemish.

The Passover pleads for total, absolute trust in the blood of the lamb to turn away the sovereign, righteous wrath of God.

Conclusion:
Those who were “under the blood” were kept safe when God passed through the land in judgment. Christ is our substitute. He died that we might live. His blood stands between our sin and God’s holiness. When you look to the cross you see the payment made for your sin. When God sees the blood he says, “It is enough. The debt is paid in full. I am satisfied. Death will passover and you are safe forever more.

Paul tells us in Romans 3 - we are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (3:24-26)

You are a sinner.
God has graciously made provision for you in the person of the Lord Jesus.
Will you trust in the blood of Christ, alone?

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Trusting the Rock: Selected Psalms (9/7/2018)

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This exposition of Psalm 18:1-24 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, September 5, 2018.
Preaching the Biblical Gospel: Exodus #20 (9/2/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 11:1-10 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, September 2, 2018.

Intro:

There is no shortage of church gurus or consultants ready to help churches draw a crowd.

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That’s somewhat understandable given the times in which we live. Baptisms are down, church attendance is down, churches are closing their doors in record numbers. I heard a report just 2 weeks ago talking about the rapid decline in churches and the rise of secularism. The report said that in 1950 96% of Quebec Canada was Roman Catholic and regularly attended services. Today it is only 11%. From 96% to 11% in a single generation. Many of Quebec’s stately churches have become night clubs or art galleries and one is a cheese factory! I read last week about a church in California that their strategy, as a church, was to build a brewery, meet in it for services, sell their beer and give half the proceeds to Planned Parenthood! Just this week I read that within the Southern Baptist Convention with all of our emphasis on church planting convention-wide when you count the number of churches closing their doors, we have a net increase of just 99 churches a year. The ship seems to be taking on water faster than we can bail. We are in trouble. That being said I think I understand why some churches are willing to do almost anything to survive. Before we panic, before we give in, let me just remind you - the Lord Jesus said, “I will build my church and the gates of hell cannot stop it!” The Church, capital “C,” isn’t going anywhere until the Lord Jesus says so. Now, that doesn’t mean we just keep on doing what we’ve always done. It doesn’t mean we do not adopt new methods or strategies. We must speak the language of the culture if we are to reach the culture. If you are seeking to reach the Chinese it does not good to speak Portuguese. We must communicate the gospel in language that is understood. The gospel does not change but our words might, our methods might. Though it may look and sound different the message must be the truth once and for all given to the saints. We must preach the biblical gospel.

The Exodus is the message of salvation. It is about God’s redemption of his people. It is about God’s deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage. We’ve said the big picture of Exodus is that God is sovereignly at work, saving a special people for his own glory. With each new plague God is striking another blow declaring, “I am God. I am sovereign of everything include you, O king. Let my people go so that they might serve and worship me.” It is a battle between the will of God and stubborn, entrenched unbelief. Let’s be clear, this was not a “fair” fight. God even said to Moses, “I am doing all this so that you can tell your sons and grandsons how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians.” I’m doing this so that you can tell them how I “toyed” with, made sport of the mighty Egyptians. God was in complete control through all of this. This morning we come to chapter 11. Exodus 11 is a lengthy introduction to the 10th and final plague. As we work through it we find two necessary components of the biblical gospel.

Text: Exodus 11:1-10

Thesis: In a world long on tolerance and short on truth, it is imperative that the church faithfully preach the biblical gospel.

We must preach both the terrifying reality of God’s judgment and his tender mercies.
One without the other is not the gospel!
It’s not just unbalanced - it is no gospel at all.

2 essentials for the biblical gospel.

The biblical gospel tearfully warns of the devastating, righteous judgment of God on the unrepentant. (11:1, 4-6, 8)
2 truths are reflected in this -
–He is LORD of life and death
He is God of justice

The biblical gospel passionately proclaims the tender mercies of God toward his own. (11:1-3, 7)

Conclusion:
This is what I want you to see: It is possible to be familiar with God, his Word and his ways without ever giving him your life. You can be interested in the Christian faith, enjoy reading the Bible, attending services and even respect and appreciate the work of the church without ever surrendering to Christ. It is good to attend church. It is good to read the Scripture and get acquainted with the faith but that’s not enough. That will not get you to heaven.

Getting to heaven requires:
Repentance and faith.
It demands trust and reliance.
Sinners need to leave Egypt, leave their sin and pursue the Lord Jesus.

Times are changing but we cannot forsake the gospel. In a world that is long on tolerance and short on truth we must preach the biblical gospel. A gospel that tearfully warns of the devastating judgment of God on the unrepentant and passionately proclaims the mercy of God towards his own.

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Arguing Your Case in Prayer: Selected Psalms (9/2/2018)

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This exposition of Psalm 17 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, August 29, 2018.
A Model for Biblical Giving: 2 Corinthians #17 (8/26/2018)
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This exposition of 2 Corinthians 8:16-24 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, August 26, 2018.

Intro:

The old miser was told there was no hope. He was going to die and it was time to get his affairs in order.

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The old man sent for his doctor, his lawyer and his preacher. Once the three were gathered around his deathbed the old man said, “They say you can’t take it with you but I think I’ve found a way. I have three envelops and I want each of you to take one. You are the only ones I trust. Each envelop contains $100,000 in cash. Just before they seal the casket I want each of you to slip in your envelop.” All three pledged to do so. The day of the funeral each man slipped his envelop into the casket as promised. On the way home, the conscious stricken doctor said, “I’m building a clinic so I took $50,000 and put the rest in the coffin.” Then the lawyer confessed, “I kept $75,000 for a legal defense fund and put $25,000 in.” The preacher said, “Gentlemen I am ashamed of you. I put in a check for the full amount!”

Calvin said, “There is nothing that so leaves a man open to sinister insinuation as the management of public funds.” We know that to be true and unfortunately the church of the Lord Jesus has seen it share of scandals involving the mismanagement of money. When you consider some of what has been done it is understandable that a skeptical, scoffing world casts aspersions on preachers and their offerings. That is not new, apparently there were questions swirling around the apostle Paul and the offering being collected for the church at Jerusalem. We read about it in 1 Corinthians 16:1-4, 2 Corinthians 8-9 and Romans 15:14-32. 2 Corinthians chapters 8 and 9 are basically Paul’s urgent call for the Corinthians believers to fulfill a commitment they have already made (8:11; 9:2).

…So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have.

…for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them.

So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction. (9:5)

This evening our focus will be on chapter 8 beginning with verse 16.

Text: 2 Corinthians 8:16-24

As we work through this text we find that…

Thesis: In his instructions to the Corinthians believers about the offering for the church in Jerusalem the apostle Paul provides us a model for biblical giving.

I want to share with you 3 principles that should guide us in our approach to giving through the church to the work of the gospel and the relief of the poor.

Our giving is to be motivated by and a reflection of genuine concern for the gospel and for others. (8:16-17)

We should demand that our gifts be handled with integrity and accountability. (8:18-23)

Our giving should be a tangible expression of our love for Christ and His church. (8:24)

Conclusion:
This is the extension of the first half of the chapter.
Give to show your love.
Your love for Christ.
Your love for the Church.
Your love for the poor.

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God’s Sovereignty and Our Response: Exodus #19 (8/26/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 10:21-29 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 26, 2018.

Intro:

It was a cool, crisp autumn evening as my guide led me to a remote, yet promising spot. I was instructed to take up my position and wait for his signal as he moved to lure the illusive prey in my direction. My heart pounded with excitement. At last the signal was given and I sprang into action, “Snipe! Snipe…”

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After what seemed an eternity, in reality about 10 minutes, I realized they were not coming back and I was all alone in the wilds of Chandler Park. When you are 6 years old and alone, in the woods, in the dark - it’s terrifying. My life passed before my eyes, it didn’t take long. Every sound was amplified. I wanted to scream but couldn’t make a sound. I wanted to run but I couldn’t move. Darkness had me in its grasp. That night darkness was not merely the absence of light, it was a power and I felt it. Pharaoh had stubbornly refused to submit to God’s sovereign authority. Battered by 8 consecutive plagues he would not yield. At God’s command, without warning, Moses stretched out his staff and darkness cover the land of Egypt. The Hebrew text refers to it as “dark, darkness.” It was a darkness that could be felt and it lasted for three days.

Through these plagues God was making a statement. “I, Yahweh, God of the Hebrews, am the true and living God. I am sovereign over all things including you, O king.” The plagues were further designed to humiliate the gods of the Egyptian pantheon. To show that they were no match for the God of the Hebrews, in fact they are not gods at all. At times it seemed that Pharaoh was weakening and yet he continued to harden his heart, further entrenching himself in unbelief. At its most fundamental level this was a struggle between the will of God and unbelief. This morning we come to deal with the 9th plague. Our text is found in Exodus chapter 10 beginning with verse 21.

Text: Exodus 10:21-29

The most prominent note sounded throughout the Exodus was the sovereignty of God.
He is sovereign over creation.
He is sovereign over individuals and nations.
He determines the course of history.

The big picture being, God is sovereignly at work saving a special people for His own glory.

As we explore our text we will find that the 9th plague provides us a clear picture of God’s sovereignty, the terrifying nature of entrenched unbelief and the uncompromising nature of genuine faith.

From this text we learn that…

Thesis: God’s sovereignty over all things inspires believers to walk in unflinching faith while exposing the hopeless state of those who will not believe.

In our text we have 2 men who respond very differently to God’s sovereignty.
One stubbornly refuses.
The other gratefully yields.
Resistance and obedience.
Which path have you chosen?

There are three things to note in our text.

God’s judgment of Pharaoh and the nation of Egypt leaves no doubt about His absolute sovereignty over all things. (10:21-23)

Pharaoh’s stubborn resistance demonstrates the terrifying nature of entrenched unbelief. (10:24, 27-28)

Moses’ response to Pharaoh’s counter proposal reveals the uncompromising commitment of genuine faith. (10:25-26, 29)

Conclusion:
Many are willing to commit so long as they stay in control. I’ll say the “sinner’s prayer” as long as I’m not expected to go to church every week. I’ll go to church so long as I don’t have to be baptized. I’ll get baptized as long as I don’t have to get involved. I’ll give my time provided I don’t have to give my money - and on it goes.

The fundamental confession of the Christian life is that Jesus is Lord.
That demands unconditional surrender.
He demands your life, your soul, your all.

If you get nothing else out of this study of Exodus - you need to get this - God is absolute sovereign of all things and He demands that you submit to His will. My question for you is simple, “What is your response?”

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Faith in the Fire: Selected Psalms (8/25/2018)

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This exposition of Psalm 44 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, August 22, 2018
Salvation: A Biblical Understanding: Exodus #18 (8/19/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 10:1-20 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 19, 2018.

Intro:

It’s the question you cannot avoid. I know, I don’t like to be put on the spot either. I like to think there’s nothing I can’t get around if I set my mind to it.

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I mean if you don’t want to answer the question - don’t answer the question. You can get creative. You can skillfully change the subject, you can put it off, you can joke your way out of it. Surely there is a way out of any question. Not this one, because of who is asking the question. He was the most powerful man on earth and he wasn’t getting out of it. Your experience will certainly not be as dramatic but it will be just as real, just as binding and just as sobering. “How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me?” That is the question the Sovereign King of the universe put to Pharaoh, son of the sun, king of Egypt. Seven plagues had battered the obstinate ruler and yet he refused to yield to God’s command. Water to blood, an invasion of frogs, man and beasts covered with lice, great swarms of flies, livestock struck with deadly disease, men and animals covered from head to toe with festering sores, a devastating hailstorm yet he would not budge. The nation of Egypt was rocked economically, agriculturally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. The gods of Egypt had proven to be impotent against the God of the Hebrews. Yet, the stubborn king held tight to the delusion that he was still in control, that he was captain of his own soul. Such is the nature of unbelief. Our text this morning is found in the 10th chapter of Exodus.

Text: Exodus 10:1-20

Yes, the story is old. The events recorded happened some 3500 years ago but the story is as relevant as tomorrow’s news. The issues involved are contemporary and the truths revealed are eternal. The story of the Exodus is not the story of conflict and struggle between Moses and Pharaoh. It certain involves the struggle between the True and Living God and the gods of the Egyptian pantheon but even more fundamental it reveals the struggle between the will of God and the stubborn refusal of unbelief. The Exodus is the story of redemption, of deliverance and salvation. As such it is a story that needs to be told and more importantly understood.

There is great confusion today about salvation. What it means and how it is experienced. This confusion is found in the culture at large and within the church. Why is salvation necessary? What are we saved from? How do we come to possess salvation? How is salvation accomplished? What does salvation require? What is the result of salvation? These are important questions and they demand biblical answers. Everyone has an opinion but only God’s opinion matters! What has God said? What has he revealed?
Exodus is a picture of redemption. Thus as we look at it, it reveals certain truths to us about the nature of salvation. The people of God were enslaved. They were unable to deliver themselves. They were incapable of securing their own freedom. They had to be delivered. They needed a Savior. Through the story of the Exodus we gain valuable insight to how God saves, and what salvation requires.

The Bible says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23)

“The wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23)

We are sinners - bound, held captive by sin.

Our righteousness is worthless - “there is no good thing in us,” “none are righteous not a single one.”

Thus we cannot save ourselves - God requires perfection, everything we do is tainted by sin.
Like Israel, we need a Savior.
As we work our way through our text we are going to discover that…

Thesis: God’s judgment of Pharaoh and the nation of Egypt reminds us of the underlying issues of a biblical understanding of salvation.

There are three things I want to point out from our text as it relates to a biblical understanding of salvation.

God’s judicial judgment reveals his nature as absolute Sovereign and that he demands submission to his will. (10:1-6)

The Sovereign One will accept nothing less than unconditional surrender. (10:7-11)

God’s sovereign and devastating judgment reveals the stubborn resistance of the unrepentant heart. (10:12-20)

Conclusion:
He is seeking to manipulate. This but a ploy to get his way. He regrets the consequence of his sin he is not sorry or mournful over the sin itself. He just sent for the preacher because things were bad and he wanted the preacher to pray for him. There is no sorrow over his sin, no regret for what he had done, there was no repentance and thus he remained hardened in his sin. Such is the power of unbelief. This is what it means to be dead in trespass and sin. Your only hope is the grace of God awakening you and calling you out of your bondage to sin and death. That is the work of the Gospel.

God is absolutely sovereign and he demands you submit to his will.
The Sovereign One accepts nothing less than unconditional surrender.
Only the grace of God can break the stubborn resistance of the unrepentant heart.

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Dealing with Depression: Selected Psalms (8/16/2018)

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This exposition of Psalm 42 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, August 15, 2018.
Bovines, Boils & Bluster: Exodus #17 (8/12/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 9:1-35 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 12, 2018.

Intro:

Proverbs 27:22 speaks of the seemingly indestructible nature of a fool. “Crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle along with crushed grain, yet his folly will not depart from him.”

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No matter how often the fool is battered by the consequences of his folly - he goes right on being a fool. A fool never learns. When you consider the proverb you cannot help but think of Pharaoh. With each new plague the LORD was grinding Pharaoh between the mortar of his justice and the pestle of his wrath, yet he would not yield. Water to blood yet he hardened his heart. An invasion of frogs, yet he would not budge. Man and beast covered with lice yet he would not learn. Swarms of flies covered the land of Egypt to the point the land was “ruined” yet he remained in stubborn unbelief, refusing to yield to God’s demands. What is it going to take? When is he going to learn? How can he be so blind? The same questions could be asked concerning many today. We see the same stubborn refusal. An increasing number in today’s culture turn their backs to God’s demands. The majority refuse to acknowledge the LORD’s authority and even his existence though the heavens declare his glory, though existence of the Jewish people proclaim his faithfulness, and the church and his Word testify of the greatness of his grace. What is it going to take? When will they learn? How can they be so blind?

The story of the Exodus is not just the historical record of what happened 6000 years ago. It is not just the record of what God did back then. It reveals the nature and character of our God. It provides us insight into how God delivers his people. It provides guidance in how we are to continue his work in our own day. This book is living and active. Rather than a relic from a long-dead civilization it is as up-to-date and as relevant as tomorrow’s news! How do we minister to a culture that’s not interested? How do we take the Good News of God’s love and the demands of his holiness to a culture that stubbornly refuses to even listen? We don’t seek out the latest guru, purchase the most recent program or buy into some “innovative” method, we go back to the book. Our text this morning is found in the 9th chapter of Exodus.

Text: Exodus 9:1-35

Remember the big picture: God is sovereignly at work saving a special people for his own glory.
Exodus is the story of redemption.
It is the story of God’s mercy, love and grace.
Because it is the story of redemption it is also the story of God’s holiness and judgment.
Specifically God’s judgment upon an obstinate king and his nation.
Blow after blow the LORD was saying to this stubborn ruler, “I am God. I am Sovereign over all the earth. The Hebrews are not your people, they are my people and I’m telling you let them go that they may serve and worship me!”

We’ve already seen, through the first 4 plagues, how God has demonstrated that he is superior to the gods of Egypt and he is LORD of all. We’ve seen that he distinguished between those who belong to him and those who do not. There were no flies in Goshen, where God’s people lived. Each plague the result of God’s hand, heavy upon Egypt. The stated goal was that all of Egypt would know that the LORD (Yahweh, the God of Israel) is God.

This morning I want to take plagues 5-7 together and I want to draw from them principles about how we are to minister in a culture that’s not interested. How we are to minister the gospel in a culture that stubbornly refuses to acknowledge God’s authority. Oh, there are still many who acknowledge God’s existence. They “believe” in God but it is a god of their own making. They approach the Bible as if it were a cafeteria. “I’ll have some of that, and a little of that…no I don’t like that” it is their own personal religion. By the way that’s not just a description of non-church folk and their approach to God, it is also true of an increasing number of sitting in church pews.

As we look at these 3 plagues we see the same pattern as before. God makes a demand, Pharaoh refuses, there is a judgment and Pharaoh hardens his heart. Let’s take a quick survey of the judgments then I want to draw out those principles.

Plague #5 - Livestock dies (9:1-7)
Plague #6 - Boils (9:8-12)
Plague #7 - Devastating hailstorm (9:13-35)

As we consider these judgments as a whole I think we come away understanding that…

Thesis: Ministry in a culture marked by cynicism, skepticism and rampant unbelief demands biblical faithfulness.

What do I mean by biblical faithfulness? There are three demands of biblical faithfulness I want to pull from this series of judgments.

Biblical faithfulness demands we declare the whole gospel. (9:1-3, 6, 8-11, 14, 18, 22-25)

Biblical faithfulness demands our focus be the glory and exaltation of our God. (9:14-16, 29)

Biblical faithfulness demands that we warn of the danger of false confession. (9:27-30, 34-35)

Conclusion:

This is hard for us in a day on “counting decisions” and keeping stats but being faithful to the Scripture demands we warn of the danger of false confession. Not everyone who says, “Lord, Lord,” is going to enter the kingdom of heaven.

A partial repentance is a worthless repentance.
A hollow repentance is no repentance at all.
A confession of faith without the possession of faith will not do.

These judgments of God serve to reminded us of the need for biblical faithfulness.

Biblical faithfulness demands that we:

declare the whole gospel

focus on the glory and exaltation of our God

warn of the danger of false confession

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Meaning in Spite of Meaninglessness: Selected Psalms (8/11/2018)

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This exposition of Psalm 39 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, August 8, 2018.
The Joy and Heartache of Ministry: 2 Corinthians #15 (8/5/2018)

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This exposition of 2 Corinthians 7:2-16 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, July 29, 2018.

Intro:

Times change. I get that. I understand that our methods must adapt to changing times and things that fit well in times pass do not necessarily fit anymore. But I miss some things. I miss pastor gatherings. We used to have an active ministerial alliance.

[sections collapse="always"][section title="Read More"] We met together monthly and while we did discuss community matters it was primarily a fellowship opportunity. I miss meeting with pastors in the association. There is something about a “band of brothers” meeting. I guess what I miss most is pastors gathering and we would sing our unofficial anthem, “Gloom despair and agony on me. Deep, dark depression, excessive misery. If it were for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all. Oh, gloom, despair and agony on me!” I still tear up when I hear it. Yes, I’m exaggerating - maybe! The truth is depression is a common thing in ministry. Spurgeon was the most celebrated preacher of his time. An army of men sat in every service taking down the message is shorthand. They would then be printed verbatim and circulated throughout Europe and the United States. Imagine the shock of those folks gathered for worship on the that Sunday morning in 1866 when they heard their pastor say, “I am the subject of depressions of spirit so fearful that I hope none of you ever gets to such extremes of wretchedness as I go to.” Or again in 1887 when he said, “Personally I have often passed through this dark valley.” John Henry Jowett renown pastor of Fifth Avenue Presbyterian in New York City, and later Westminster Chapel in London wrote to a friend in 1920 saying, “I am often perfectly wretched and everything appears most murky.” Alexander Whyte one of Scotland’s greatest preachers often had season of deep depression regarding the results of his work in the pulpit and with his people. Luther, the great reformer was renown for bouts of depression. He would lock himself in his room for days at a time. Family members removed all dangerous implements from the house for fear he would harm himself. These dark periods could last for weeks. In the midst of one of those times his wife, Kathryn, entered his room dressed in mourning clothes. Startled, Luther asked who died? She replied, “No one but from the way you were acting I thought perhaps God had died!”

The apostle Paul found himself in a depressed state. He said that he was “downcast” when waiting word from Corinth. I said before preaching is not hard. Teaching is not hard. Participating in a program is not hard but ministry is. When you put your heart and soul into preaching, teaching, or engaging in a project or program you make yourself vulnerable. If you are vulnerable you will be hurt. Thus ministry is a two-edged sword. It is the source of great joy and crushing defeat. Our text this evening is found in the 7th chapter of 2 Corinthians.

Text: 2 Corinthians 7:2-16
[Read Text]

As we work through this text we find…

Thesis: The apostle Paul honestly speaks of the heartache of ministry and the God-ordained means of delivering us from ministerial despair.

This is not a message reserved for those in “full-time ministry” but rather speaks to every believer as we are all called to minister the gospel. We are co-laborers in the cause of Christ.

There are 4 things I want to call to your attention from this text.

A genuine heart for ministry often leads down the road of suffering and sorrow. (7:2-5)

The ministering heart finds comfort in the joy of like-hearted companions. (7:6-7)

The ministering heart finds encouragement in God’s gracious work in others. (7:8-12)

The ministering heart rejoices in restored relationships. (7:13-16)

Conclusion:

Ministry, genuine ministry is hard. If often travels down the road of suffering and sorrow. But comfort is found in the presence of like-hearted companions. Encouragement is found in God’s gracious work in the lives of others and there is great joy in restored relationships.

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Giving: A Reflection of Your Faith: 2 Corinthians #16 (8/5/2018)
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This exposition of 2 Corinthians 8:1-15, by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, August 5, 2018.

Intro:
The Brothers had established the monastery centuries before in this out of the way French valley. They had taken the customary vows of poverty and asceticism but the Brothers wanted to go further so they proposed a vow of silence.

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Not a word would be spoken except once a year. On the determined day one of the Brothers would be given the opportunity to speak one sentence. At the end of the first year of silence Brother John was given the opportunity to speak at breakfast. He stood, looked everyone in the eye and said, “I’m really tired of this runny oatmeal,” and he sat down. A year went by and Brother Francis was to speak. He stood and said, “This oatmeal is too lumpy,” and sat down. After the third year Brother Paul stood and said, “I’m really tired of all this bickering about oatmeal!” I’m afraid some in the church feel that way when it comes to talking about money or giving. It doesn’t matter how often it is spoken of – it’s too often. I’m the first to admit I don’t like to talk about money. But money is a legitimate and necessary point of discussion for the church. If you were to note every passage that addresses the subject in both Old and New Testaments you might be surprised by how often it is spoken of. Stewardship is a major emphasis in the Christian life. It is essential to Christian living that we acknowledge that all that we are and all that we have is the result of God’s grace. We are not our own, we have been bought with a price. He is Lord and we have been entrusted with certain things to be used for his glory and that includes whatever wealth comes into our possession. Charles Swindoll suggests there are 4 words that are essential to Christian stewardship – “He owns it all.” If God owns it all then He is free to take whatever He wants, whenever He wants. It is also true that when I am responsible for someone else’s money I’m far more cautious and conscientious with it.

Years ago when I was pastoring in Ponca City our associational children’s camp was at Glenco and various pastors were assigned responsibilities for the week. I hated it the year I was in charge of the store/concession stand. I liked the idea of staying in the air conditioned cabin with the camp pastor – I just hated being in charge of the money. It was not a large camp and thus not huge amounts of money but I counted the money about 12 times each evening. I wanted to make sure I accounted for every penny. This was not my money and I wanted to make sure that their money was taken care of. I felt very responsible. How do you view your money? Do you see it primarily as yours? Or do you see it as yours to be used for the glory of God? I do want to be cautious at this point. I don’t want you to misunderstand me.

I do believe that private ownership is a principle taught in Scripture.
I do not believe in a communistic system that everything you have belongs to everyone else.
I believe that giving is not a matter of legislation but of individual conscience.

While I believe there are biblical commands and principles that ought to guide your giving I do not believe that you are to be “forced” to do anything. Your giving to the work of God is not a tax to be taken from you but rather a gift to be freely given. Thus I do not believe that I or any other person can dictate to you what you ought to be giving to the church. However (you knew that the other shoe was about to fall!) I must say…

Thesis: What, when, how and why you give says something about your love for God and your commitment to the Lord Jesus.

Our text is found in 2 Corinthians chapter 8.

Text: 2 Corinthians 8:1-15

I want to deal specifically this evening with how your giving is a reflection of your love for God and your commitment to Christ.

The fact is your check stubs speak volumes about your commitments. This is what caused one pastor to say, “If you went to demonstrate your spirituality, don’t show me your prayer book show me your check book.” Where your treasure is there your heart will be also. Take an honest look at your giving. What is your attitude?

Grudgingly – “I have to”
Dutifully – “I need to”
Thankfully – “I want to”

There are two things I want to point out from this text.

Giving is a reflection of a genuine experience of grace. (8:1-5)

Giving is a proof that new life has begun. (8:6-15)

Conclusion:
Listen to the words of Harry Ironside, one time pastor of Moody Church in Chicago on this point of Christ-likeness in giving: How can I speak of following Christ, how can I speak of being

saved by His grace, if I do not seek to imitate Him in His self-denying concern for those in need? He saw me in my deep, deep need and He came all the way from His home in heaven, laying aside the glory that He had with the Father from eternity, down to the depths of Calvary’s anguish and to the darkness of the tomb. He who was rich became poor so that through His poverty I might be enriched through all eternity. How can I not follow His example by practicing grace giving?

Your giving is an expression of your love for God and your commitment to Christ.
Giving is a reflection of a genuine experience of grace.
Giving is proof that new life has begun.

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Behold Our God: Exodus #16 (8/5/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 8:20-32, by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 5, 2018.

Intro:

I shouldn’t do it. I know that I shouldn’t. I say, “I’m not going to do that anymore”…then I do it again. On some level I must enjoy it or else I wouldn’t do it. I get some perverse joy out of it. It’s like I’m addicted.

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I keep reading comment threads on blog posts or news stories or Facebook. I never do it without getting mad. I’m constantly shaking my head in disbelief. I find myself talking to my computer, iPhone or iPad saying, “What’s wrong with you people?” Most infuriating are those who claim to be Christian and yet their reasoning or their entire post is blatantly unchristian! I was following a post the other day. The original post called into question the practice of some churches of relying on entertainment to draw a crowd at church. Understand the issue was not having competent musicians or quality music. Specifically concerns were voiced about unbelievers leading worship, a circus atmosphere, the use of secular music and the lack of sound biblical, doctrinal preaching. Those who voiced such concerns were labeled as hateful, narrow-minded and accused of causing division with the body of Christ. The final straw seemed to be when some “neanderthal” posted a passage of Scripture. Not a word or phrase but an entire passage, in context, related to the discussion and that too was dismissed as divisive. Is it any wonder the church is losing ground? Is it really a mystery that the church has lost its influence? Gone are the days when the Word of God thundered from the pulpit. Gone is the call for the people of God to come out from among the peoples of the earth and be separate, distinct, and holy. Gone is the time for trembling before the Almighty and more is the pity. The God preached in most churches today is a far cry from the God who walks the pages of Exodus. A God of unrelenting wrath and judgment, a God who makes demands of those who would follow him, a God who demands kings and nations bow before him. But that God is the true and living God. The God of Exodus is the only true God and you would do well to sit up and take notice of him. Our text this morning is found in the 8th chapter of Exodus.

Text: Exodus 8:20-32

Judgment comes blow after blow to the stubborn king and his people.
The Hebrews are not Pharaoh’s people they are the people of God.
And God says, “Let my people go that they may serve me.”
But Pharaoh stubbornly refuses.
Water to blood, an invasion of frogs, man and beast covered with lice still he will not yield.

So, early in the morning, down on the banks of the Nile Moses comes yet with another judgment…

[Read Text]

Big picture: God is sovereignly at work, saving a special people, for his own glory.

The stated goal of these judgments is that all Israel and all of Egypt would know that the LORD is God: I will lay my hand on Egypt and bring my hosts, my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great acts of judgment. The Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I stretch out my hand against Egypt and bring out the people of Israel from among them. (7:4-5)

As we work our way through this text we are going to see that…

Thesis: The fourth plague reveals the terror of God’s holy righteousness and the comfort of his mercy and grace.

Earlier Pharaoh responded to God’s demand, “I don’t know this God of yours, why should I listen to him?” By the time God is through with him, he’s going to know the God of the Hebrews and hopefully you will know him too. I’m convinced this is the great need of our day in the culture at large and within the church! The Scriptures are the revelation of God. I don’t just mean they are God-given. I mean he is the message of the Scriptures. The Scriptures reveal who God is.

I want to point out 4 things in our text.

The righteousness of God comes with relentless fury against persistent unbelief. (8:20-21, 24)

The mercy of God makes a clear distinction between those who belong to Him and those who do not. (8:22-23)

The holiness of God rules out the possibility of compromise with His righteous demands. (8:25-28)

Only the grace of God can transform the hardened heart of the obstinate unbeliever. (8:29-31)

Conclusion:
How foolish, how arrogant and yet how many of you have “negotiated” with God. “O Lord get me out of this and I promise you I will…” Once relieved you forgot all about your promise. You need to understand, God will not be mocked and he cannot be deceived (he knows and sees all things).

Our God draws a line of distinction between those who belong to him and those who do not. Jesus Christ is that dividing line. Do you know him? Have you trusted in him and in him alone?Or better yet, does he know you?

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Emboldened Prayer (8/4/2018)

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This exposition of Exodus 38, by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, August 1, 2018.
Two Facts and a Sobering Reality: Exodus #15 (7/29/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 8:16-19, by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, July 29, 2018.

Intro:

Some people? I’ve dealt with some pretty stubborn individuals in my life, I’ve even been known to be stubborn myself on occasion but this guy?

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I just don’t understand. How could he refuse? What would it take for him to give in? Rivers, canals, ponds, vessels of stone and wood all turned to blood, an invasion of frogs, now rotting all over Egypt, and he will not yield. It’s official Pharaoh is truly the King of Denial! Moses has come as God’s chosen instrument of deliverance and demanded that Pharaoh release the Hebrew slaves. Pharaoh will have none of it. “I don’t know this God of yours, why should I listen to Him?” The plagues are a series of blows against the obstinate leader and his people. They are intended as punishment of the Egyptians but also as a means of humiliating their gods. The stated goal is that Israel and all of Egypt would know that the LORD (Yahweh) is God. Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 8 and beginning with verse 16.

Text: Exodus 8:16-19

Moses, uniquely prepared by God has returned to Egypt after 40 years in exile.
His brother Aaron is his spokesmen.
The two have come to Pharaoh repeatedly to no avail.
Following the 2nd plague it look as if Pharaoh was coming around.

“Plead with the LORD to take away the frogs from me and from my people, and I will let the people go to sacrifice to the LORD.”

But this was not biblical faith or even a sincere offer.
This was a plea for relief.
This was, at best, survivalist faith.
A plea for self-preservation.
That’s obvious because as soon as there was relief, Pharaoh hardened his heart again.

This time there is no warning. There is no demand to release the slaves. There is just a devastating, disgusting dose of divine judgment.

[Read Text]

As we work our way through this passage we discover that…

Thesis: The third plague reveals two important truths and one sobering reality.

There are three things I want us to note.

Our God is relentless in the declaration of His glory. (8:16-17)

Satan, though powerful, is no match for our Sovereign God. (8:18-19a)

Though the message is relentless and the evidence overwhelming, saving faith demands the work of grace transforming the hardened, sinful heart. (8:19b)

Conclusion:

Your only hope of salvation is that God in grace and mercy take that cold hardened heart of yours and transform it into a heart of flesh. Your only hope of salvation is in the grace and mercy of God. That is what God has promised to do through the faithful preaching of the Word.

But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news…faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:14-17)

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. (1 Corinthians 1:21)

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Marks of Righteousness: Selected Psalms (7/28/2018)

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This exposition of Psalm 37:21-40 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, July 25, 2018.
A Call to Holiness: 2 Corinthians #14 (7/25/2018)
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This exposition of 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, July 22, 2018.

Intro:

These are difficult times. It seems like I’m saying that every week. It is true the culture is becoming increasingly secular. Biblical standards are being questioned and outright ignored.

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Long-held convictions are being jettisoned and we, the church, are fast becoming strangers in our own world. But, that should not come as a surprise. The church has always been at odds with the culture. The city of God and the city of man have always been at war. Thus our Lord commanded us to be in the world but not of the world. The problem is that we have for too long associated our culture with the church or the church with the culture. For many the gospel was equated with winning the culture war. We’ve been fighting to “win back” the culture when our real concern ought to have been making sure we remain the church no matter what happens within the culture. I’m not saying that the culture doesn’t matter and I’m not calling on us to give up on culture but I am suggesting that the more important thing is that we be the church. That we recognize that we are first and foremost citizens of the Kingdom of God and that our primary allegiance belongs to King Jesus. That we recognize the chief end of man, the thing we are made for, is the glory of God. Our lives are to reflect His glory. We are to be driven and motivated by a desire to make Him known and that His will be accomplished on the earth. That we recognize that we are a royal priesthood, a holy nation.

When we understand this is our aim and goal as the church of the Lord Jesus then we understand that the greatest threat to the church is that which comes from within. It is not the godless pagan or the secular culture, it is the church not living out the truth of the gospel. It is the church failing to be the church. The apostle Paul was under attack from within the church. He had spent a year and a half establishing the church at Corinth. He left behind a living, vibrant body. Now there are those, in that church, who are attacking his integrity, his calling and his message. Paul has written them a sorrowful letter and made a painful visit to no avail. The church has compromised with the spirit of the age and in 2 Corinthians Paul calls them to holiness, to separation from the world. That is the focus of our text this evening found in 2 Corinthians chapter 6.

Text: 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

We all want to be “liked.” William James, a pioneer in the field of psychology, once said, “The deepest principle of human nature is the craving to be appreciated.” There is a basic need to be loved. Have you ever loved someone and they did not love you in return? There’s nothing worse than hugging someone who doesn’t hug you back! So, I get it that we want to be liked. I understand the desire on the part of the church that wants to “fit in” and be accepted but at what cost? Abandoning the gospel is too high a price to pay. To deny our fundamental call to live for the glory of God above all else is spiritual suicide.

Joseph Bayly wrote, “The evangelical church is sick, so sick people are crowding into join us. We are a big flock, big enough to permit…practicing homosexuals to pursue their lifestyle, big enough to tolerate almost anything pagans do. We are no longer narrow; it’s a wide road of popular acceptance for us.” I’m afraid he’s right. And it is over again such “wideness” the apostle Paul declares, “Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?”

This is not simply a command against marrying unbelievers or entering into business relationships with non-Christians, though both actions are clearly unbiblical, it is specifically a prohibition of being yoked together with those in the church who oppose the truth. This is a word about unbelievers within the church.

That is made clear by Paul’s long argument that proceeds this text as well as what follows. These critics are acting as unbelievers because they are disregarding the gospel. Thus those Corinthians believers who persist in siding with Paul’s opponents are in effect renouncing their own salvation. After all the gospel came to them through Paul’s preaching. Now they are setting that very gospel aside.

Paul was concerned about this enemy within, the unbelieving within the church. This is not a call for theological hair-splitting or demanding lock step agreement on identifying the ten toes of the beast in Revelation but it is a call to separate the believing from the unbelieving. It is a call to holiness.

As we work through the text we will discover that…

Thesis: In 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 the apostle Paul calls us to a passionate pursuit of holiness.

There are three reasons for such a call.

Holiness is demanded by the very nature of what it means to be Christian. (6:14-16)

Holiness is commanded in the Scriptures. (6:17)

Holiness is the demand of the Christ life. (6:18-7:1)

Conclusion:

Separation, holiness has always been the call of God on His people.
Go back to Abraham - “come out”
Israel was a separate people - dietary laws, etc - different
The early church -

It has always been a struggle. What were you to do as a first century stone mason commanded to built a temple to the glory of a pagan god? What were you to do as a soldier who was require to declare, “Caesar is Lord?” A man reportedly came to Tertullian, an early church father (late 2nd century) with just such a problem. The man excused his compromise by saying, “After all, I must live.” Tertullian simply replied, “Must you?”

Holiness is not easy.
It is exceedingly costly.
But there is no denying it is the will of God for His people.

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The Danger of Survivalist’s Faith: Exodus #14 (7/22/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 8:1-15 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, July 22, 2018.

Intro:

Everyone acknowledges there is a problem. You have to. We, as Southern Baptist, claim 16.5 million members and yet less then 8 million are ever gathered for worship on Sunday.

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Less than half of all Southern Baptist gather for worship. Let’s bring it closer to home. Technically we, Trinity, have well over 1000 on our roll. We are doing good to have 120 for worship on Sunday morning. That’s a problem. That says that the vast majority of those claiming a relationship with God through faith in the Lord Jesus, have no interest in expressing their love and devotion to the Sovereign king of the universe. This despite the fact that we are commanded to gather for worship. Imagine, you came to the realization that you were a hell-bound sinner rightfully the object of God’s eternal wrath and then discovered that God himself, through the Lord Jesus, suffered and died so that you could live forever as the object of His love and grace but you have no desire to publicly express your gratitude and devotion to Him. We have a problem. I understand that there can be many explanations for why a person may not want to go to church. They’ve been hurt by someone or by an entire congregation. They are angry at God because something did not go as they wished. But there is another terrifying option. It just may be that many on our church roll have never truly been converted. It is our Lord himself who said that at the great judgment the Sovereign Judge would say to many, “Depart from me, I never knew you.” I’m not the judge. It is not my place to make such determinations but we would do well to allow the Scripture to speak and to heed the warning. Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 8.

Text: Exodus 8:1-15

We’ve noted that the plagues of the Exodus are a series of blows against Pharaoh and the nation of Egypt. We’ve also noted that this showdown ultimately is not between Moses and Pharaoh but between the true and living God and the gods of the Egyptian pantheon. Further we’ve seen that this is an insight into the great struggle for the souls of men.

God brings a demand (the same one over and over - “Let my people go!”)

Pharaoh refuses

God brings judgment

Pharaoh hardens his heart

Repeat

The first plague was the waters of Egypt turned to blood. The mighty Nile, the rivers, canals, ponds, even the vessels of wood and stone. The 7th chapter ends with the people frantically digging for water - fending for themselves since the gods of the Nile were incapable of delivering them. This lasted a week. Imagine the devastation, the stench and the humiliation. Now Moses returns.

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You know Pharaoh dreaded seeing Moses again. This time the demand came with a solemn warning. As we work our way through this text I want us to see that…

Thesis: Pharaoh’s response to the second plague warns us the danger of a selfish, survivalist’s faith.

There are three things to note.

Our Sovereign God does not engage in idle threats. (8:1-7)

A doctrinally sound, respective plea for God’s mercy proves insufficient when not accompanied by repentance and faith. (8:8-11)

The unrepentant, when he finds relief from discomfort and pain, gleefully returns to his sinful ways. (8:12-15)

Conclusion:

This is revealing. What we witnessed was not Pharaoh’s new found spirituality but his old superstition. He should have prayed for God to take away his sins, instead he asked that God take away his frogs.

In the end Pharaoh serves as a reminder to us that the only ones safe in that great day of judgment are those who truly belong to God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and not those who selfishly seek to preserve themselves through shallow, vague and veiled commitments.

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Endurance: 2 Corinthians #13 (7/15/2018)
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This exposition of 2 Corinthians 6:4-10 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, July 15, 2018.

Intro:

Ministry is hard. Preaching a sermon is not. Teaching a lesson is not. Participating in a program is not.

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But ministry, pouring your life into the lives of others, loving the unlovely, caring for the hurting and the dying, being faithful to live a biblical lifestyle in an increasingly secular culture is excruciatingly difficult! Ministry is not for the faint of heart. I remember being told as a young seminary graduate that maybe 20 out of 100 of us would make it to retirement age. One in five would retire from ministry. Four out of five would quit much earlier. I have friends who have been battered and scarred for life through ministry. I know folks who were faithful laymen who want nothing to do with the church because of what happened to them in the course of ministry. It’s not easy to, as Paul put it, carrying about in your body the dying of Jesus and the burden of the church. “Doing church” isn’t hard and not much of a burden if it doesn’t involve your heart and soul. You can show up, visit with your friends, sing, hear a message, share a meal or two, attended a party and go on your merry way. But to minister you must open yourself up. You must be vulnerable. And you likely will be hurt. Your message may be misunderstood, your motives will be questioned, your methods will be criticized, and you will be talked about. By the way I’m talking about the ministry we all are called to. I’m not talking about “full-time” ministry, I’m talking about our living the faith together and the burden we share in ministering the gospel as faithful stewards of what the Lord has given to us. This is not your pastor talking about what you mean members do to your dear shepherd. I’m talking about the price every child of God pays for seeking to faithfully live out their faith. How do we remain faithful to the task assigned? How do we continue to minister despite the difficulties, despite the attacks, despite the fact we want to quit?

For a year and a half he faithfully preached the gospel. He lovingly built the church in one of the most pagan cities in the Roman world. Now, from within the church, came vicious attacks on his character, his integrity and his message. Paul’s critics in Corinth believed that his hardships and struggles were proof that he was not the servant of God that he claimed to be. Paul insisted that the hardships and struggles proved the authenticity of his claims! He insisted that his endurance in the face of such trouble proved the genuineness of his faith and his ministry. Our text this evening is found in 2 Corinthians chapter 6 beginning with verse 4.

Text: 2 Corinthians 6:4-10

As we walk through this passage I intend to show you that…
Thesis: Paul’s experience with the folks in Corinth vividly reminds us that endurance in the face of adversity is the mark of authentic ministry.

Ministry is hard.
To love people and the faithfully serve them in Jesus’ name is difficult.
When things get ugly and difficult the natural tendency is to walk away.
It is natural in the heat of the battle to say, “It’s not worth it.”
I have a resignation letter saved on my computer.
It’s been then since about 6 months into my ministry here.

Over the last 27 years I’ve updated it several times, I have no intention of using it but it’s there and on difficult days I look at. Honesty demands that we say, “Ministry is hard” but it’s worth it! I mean never play baseball and you will never strike out. Never lead and you’ll never be criticized. Never preach and you’ll never bore anyone. Ministry is an act of love and love is vulnerable and love hurts.

There are three things I want us to note in our text about enduring in ministry.

Ministry, by its very nature, comes with a boatload of trouble. (6:4-5)

Survival demands God’s gracious provision and a commitment to holy living. (6:6-8)

Biblical endurance defies the categories established by our critics. (6:8-10)

Conclusion:
Friends failed him, converts turned on him, his work threatened by evil men yet so sorrow, no disappointment could interrupt or take away the joy of his salvation.

He endured the trials and troubles of ministry by the grace of God and holy living and thus he defied the categories set by his enemies. Press on dear saint. Do not grow weary in well doing. Stay faithful to the end. Press on it is worth every heartache, every trial. God is faithful and He will lead you to victory.

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Showdown at the River: Exodus #13 (7/15/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 7:14-25 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, July 15, 2018.

Intro:

You know it had to be galling. He was like a bad penny - he just kept turning up. Every time Pharaoh thought he was through with the troublesome shepherd he was back again.

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It was early morning. Pharaoh had gone down to the river, as was his daily custom, to offer sacrifice to the gods of the Nile. There on the banks of the Nile stood Moses and his brother Aaron. I imagine Pharaoh, in disgust said, “Now what?” It is another epic showdown. This is a showdown, not between Moses and Pharaoh but between the true and living God and the gods of the Egyptian pantheon. When first confronted back in chapter 5 Pharaoh said, “I don’t know this God of yours, why should I listen to him?” By the time the Sovereign One is through with him, he will know Him. Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 7 beginning with verse 14.

Text: Exodus 7:14-25

What follows beginning here in verse 14 and continuing through the end of chapter 12 is a series of “signs and wonders” or judgments. God makes a demand of Pharaoh, let my people go. He refuses, God comes in judgment, Pharaoh’s heart is further hardened. Repeat. This continues until death reigns throughout the land of Egypt and Pharaoh forces the children of Israel to leave. God is sovereignly, righteously coming against Pharaoh. What appears a series of unfortunate natural disasters is, in fact, the hand of God heavy upon an obstinate king and his people. I will admit there are questions in all of this. What about God “hardening” Pharaoh’s heart (3:19; 4:21; 7 ;3-4, 13, 22)? There are other text that speak of Pharaoh hardening his own heart. Which is it? did God harden it or did Pharaoh? Yes! Both. Pharaoh refused to bow to the LORD and the LORD did not intervene but let him have it his way. The hardening of Pharaoh’s heart was a matter of the LORD leaving Pharaoh to his own desires. The kind of judgment we read about in Romans 1 when God “gave them over” to their own lusts.

There is another issue. As you read through Exodus 7-12 and you witness 9 ineffective judgments and the decisive blow when death engulfs the land of Egypt, knowing that God knew exactly what was going to happen - you cannot help but ask, “Why?” These judgments run from passing discomfort, to revolting invasion of frogs and disease bearing gnats and flies, to the death of livestock, to debilitating boils, to environmental disasters such as hail and locusts, to terrifying darkness and finally heart-stopping sadness with the death of the firstborn and you have to ask, “Why?”

To answer that you would need to understand God’s attitude toward obedience and disobedience. He is God. He is sovereign. Lord of all. He is to be obeyed. Obedience is prized, disobedience is abhorring. Why? Because obedience is the primary characteristic of God’s people. They obey Him. They serve Him. They bring glory and honor to Him, they worship Him. Disobedience is the primary offense. Disobedience is no minor thing. It is a very serious matter.

Go back to the Garden.
Don’t eat the fruit off of the tree in the midst of the Garden.
The day you eat of it - you will die.
Through the one act of disobedience - Adam, and the whole human race, lost everything.
Disobedience is treason.
God is God and He is to be obeyed.

We are troubled by the plagues because we do not accept the wrath of God against sin and the judgment of God upon sinners. We prefer the bliss of a kingdom of God without moral absolutes, presided over by a God without wrath and to enter through a Christ without a cross. But the price is too high. Because to get that, we would not just disregard this little thing or that little truth but we would have to disregard the whole God-given book! It requires doing away with the gospel!

With that as our background, let’s look at our text…

As we work our way through this text we discover that…

Thesis: Moses’ clash with Pharaoh on the banks of the Nile powerfully reveals the issues at the heart of the great battle of the soul.

There are three things I want us to note from our text.

Our Sovereign God’s demands are non-negotiable. (7:14-16)

Our petty idols prove to be false gods incapable of delivering us. (7:17-22a)

Our stubborn hearts refuse to believe despite overwhelming proof. (7:22b-25)

Conclusion:
God has promised that his war with Satan will end with the defeat of every false god. Listen to this from the 16th chapter of the Revelation - 16:3-7. The second angel poured out his bowl into the sea, and it became like the blood of a corpse, and every living thing died that was in the sea. The third angel poured out his bowl into the rivers and the springs of water, and they became blood. And I heard the angel in charge of the waters say, Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given them blood to drink. It is what they deserve! And I heard the altar saying, Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!

This awesome, fearsome judgment is the say as that visited upon the Egyptians.
Though given a chance to repent they did note - 16:9 - …They did not repent and give him glory.

If you learn nothing else from the book of Exodus learn this - do not trust in other gods, for they cannot save.

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I Know God’s in Control But…: Selected Psalms (7/12/2018)

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This exposition of Psalm 37:1-20 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, July 11, 2018.
The Primary Work of the Church: 2 Corinthians #12 (7/8/2018)
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This exposition of 2 Corinthians 5:18-6:2 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, July 8, 2018.

Intro:

We live in interesting times. There is much discussion within the Church about…well, what we are to be about.

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At this years Southern Baptist Convention there was a report from the Evangelism Committee appointed at last year’s meeting. The numbers are not good. We are at a generational low in baptisms. Churches are closing in record numbers, congregations continue to dwindle. “Church Revitalization” is now a thing within the convention. Questions are being asked, studies are being conducted, seminars are being offered but at the center of all of this is the issue - what is the primary work of the Church of Jesus Christ? Is it to shape the culture? To win the culture war? Is it to get the unchurch to attend church? Is it baptism? How we answer this question affects everything. We began a process a year ago to consider what we need to do to reach young families, to increase baptisms, to strengthen evangelism and discipleship. These are good things, necessary things but again the question is, “What is the primary work of the Church?”

To say something is primary is to say it is of chief importance; it is earliest in time or order of development. It is something belonging to or directly derived from the first stage of development or growth. To be primary to be of first importance or foremost. Using this as our definition, I’m going to suggest that…

Thesis: The primary task of the Church is the declaration of the biblical gospel.

Our text this evening is found at the end of chapter 5 and the beginning of chapter 6 in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian church.

Let’s review, let’s get a couple of things firmly in our minds. Adam and Eve were the crowning achievement in creation. Man made in the image and likeness of God. Male and female image bearers of God, made to live in fellowship and harmony with the Creator. They enjoyed unhindered access and fellowship with God until that fateful day when the did the very thing God had forbidden. Through the temptation of the Evil One, Eve took and ate of the fruit. The implication of the text is that Adam was right there all along. Eve offered the fruit to Adam who sinned willfully, with his eyes wide open. They were told, “Do not eat of the fruit of the tree least you die.” Eve, by all appearance was doing just fine - she didn’t die. Adam then took the fruit and in knowing rebellion ate the fruit. Immediately the eyes of both were opened and they knew they were naked (Genesis 3:7). They even tried to cover their own nakedness. Adam’s rebellion has been the lot and practice of the entire human race ever since. Our sin is not some minor infraction. It is open rebellion against the Sovereign of the universe. As such the human race, apart from the grace of God, is under divine wrath.

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
The wages of sin is death.
Every man, woman, boy and girl outside of Christ is condemned already.
This is the backdrop of our text.
This is not some theoretical test case - this is the condition of every human being.
Sinner - guilty - judged & sentenced - awaiting the application of the sentence.

Aliens, strangers, the object of Divine wrath.
Let those words sink in.
The greatest need of every living person is to be reconciled to God.
Reconciled = to restore friendly relationship/to make peace with.
This is the great text on reconciliation.

There are three things I want to note from this text.

The biblical gospel definitively declares salvation/reconciliation to be the work of God alone. (5:18-19)

The biblical gospel declares the work of Christ our substitute. (5:21)

The biblical gospel must be purposefully embraced lest it be declared in vain. (5:20; 6:1-2)

Conclusion:
It is not enough to hear the gospel proclaimed.
It is not enough to hear the gospel faithfully set forth.
You must believe.
You must trust Christ, you must savingly believe.

Now is the favorable time, today is the day of salvation, I plead with you do not hear the gospel in vain.

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The Battle Behind the Battle: Exodus #12 (7/8/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 7:8-13 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, July 8, 2018.

Intro:

It was a titanic battle. In one corner, Pharaoh of Egypt, the most powerful man on earth. In the other, Moses, the reluctant leader of a race of slaves recently returned from the back side of the desert.

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Pharaoh perched upon his massive throne, surrounded by the riches of a great empire. Moses, accompanied by his brother, carrying a stick. Those present would hardly think it significant let alone some great battle. Those of us reading the biblical account know better. This is an epic showdown. Not because it involves a great king and a nomadic shepherd. It’s not a great battle because it involves a great champion and an overwhelming underdog. It is a great battle because of the forces behind the battle. This really isn’t Moses versus Pharaoh. This is the God of the Hebrews versus the gods of the Egyptian pantheon. This is a showdown between the true and living God and the forces of Satan. Our text this morning is found in the seventh chapter of Exodus.

Text: Exodus 7:8-13

What’s the “Big Picture?” God is sovereignly at work saving a special people for His own glory. Exodus is God revealing himself in salvation and judgment. The fingerprint of God’s sovereignty is all over this story. It began back in Genesis with the story of Joseph. God’s favor was upon him from the beginning. Eventually he is sold, by his brothers, into slavery. But what they intended for evil, God intended for good. This was the means by which Joseph was brought to Egypt where he would rise to power. A famine brought the rest of the family years later. Over time new leadership rose to power and the Hebrews where enslaved. This too was by the will of God. Eventually a deliverer was born. By the hand of Providence this baby was preserved and uniquely equipped. Brought up in the house of Pharaoh, schooled in the wisdom of Egypt and then banished to the backside of the desert for the finishing touches, Moses, now 80 years old, has at last come to deliver his people.

Through the first 6 chapters of Exodus our God positioned himself to strike this decisive blow against Satan’s Pharaoh. God’s messengers deliver the ultimatum, “Let my people go!” Pharaoh’s stubborn refusal sets the scene for this confrontation. What follows is God’s unleashing of 10 plagues upon Pharaoh and his nation. Blood, frogs, gnats, flies, disease, boils, hail, locusts, darkness and finally death. What may seem a string of unfortunate natural disasters is in reality the hand of God heavy upon a ruler and his nation. Our text is a prologue to the coming judgment. In this prologue we are introduced to the themes that will play out in the coming drama: obedience, counterfeit miracles, God’s superior power and the perpetual hardening of Pharaoh’s heart. We must also remember that ultimately our battle is not with flesh and blood but with principalities and powers (Ephesians 6:12).

As we work our way through this passage we learn that…

Thesis: This initial face-off between Moses and Pharaoh sets the stage for the dramatic battle to follow but more importantly reveals the issues behind the ultimate battle for the souls of men.

There are three things I want us to note about this ultimate battle.

In the battle for the souls of men our Sovereign God wastes no time declaring himself Lord of All. (7:8-10)

All other gods are merely faint copies and ultimately prove to be inadequate and inferior. (7:11-12)

Pharaoh’s stubborn refusal demonstrates that unbelief is a matter of the heart and not of the head. (7:13)

Conclusion:
Pharaoh’s hardened heart must serve as a warning to anyone who has witnessed Gd’s power but refuses to receive God’s grace. Pharaoh demanded a sign but when it was given, he refused to believe. Of course the trouble began with his acting as if God owed it to him to prove himself. God doesn’t owe that to any of us. But because He is gracious He gave it - and Pharaoh still refused proving that the unbeliever’s problem is not intellectual but spiritual.

His problem is not in his head but in his heart.
The need is a change of heart.
The hard heart must be replaced with a soft heart, made righteous by the grace of God.
Such is the gracious work of God through the faithful preaching of the gospel.

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New Life: New Perspective: 2 Corinthians #11 (7/7/2018)
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This exposition of 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, July 1, 2018.

Intro:

“Come out from them and be separate and distinct from them.” That’s fundamental to the Christian life.

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As the people of God we are to be different, separate from the world. Further we are told to not associate with those who claim the name of Christ yet live an ungodly lifestyle. In the words of Psalm 1 we are not to, “Walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand n the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers.” Unfortunately some have taken this to mean that we should hold unbelievers at arms length. That we look down our noses at those who fail to “make grade.” The attitude advocated by some is that we go out among “those people” when we have to be we retreat as quickly as possible into our holy huddle and keep ourselves unstained by the world. Certainly there is a ditch on the other side of that road that says, “Embrace everyone no matter what.” “Judge not” is our motto. Just love and accept people as they are. As with most things in life - it’s just not that easy. It’s not that black and white. In this fallen, sin-cursed world we are in a constant struggle to maintain a proper balance between standing for truth and righteousness and loving the unbeliever. I say struggle because part of loving the unbeliever is to speak the truth to them. It is to say to them certain lifestyles are wrong. To love them is to warn them about the fact that the road they are on leads to death, eternal death and separation from God. As for not associating with the professed believer who embraces an unbiblical, ungodly lifestyle - it’s not that we refuse to have anything to do with them but that we treat them as unbelievers to be loved and pointed toward the path of righteousness and life. The Christian life is not for the faint of heart. If you are looking for a nice, easy life - this isn’t it! But if you are looking for the only way to true life, meaning and purpose - you’ve come to the right place. What is to be our attitude towards others? That is the focus of our text this evening found in the 5th chapter of 2 Corinthians.

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:16-17

Paul is writing to a church he dearly loves.
This church is one of his “spiritual children.”
He spent 18 months in Corinth establishing this church.
Now, a good number of folks within the church have turned on him.
They have questioned his integrity, his ministry and the very gospel he preached.
He’s written a hard letter and has made a painful visit.
This is the language of love - you don’t have this pain if you don’t love.
At the heart of this, for Paul, is the gospel.
He fights to establish his integrity not for his sake but for the sake of the gospel.
His heart’s desire is the salvation of the lost through the gospel.

Thus his heart was provoked in Athens because the city was full of idols (Acts 17:16). He told the Romans of his desire to visit them that he might have some fruit among them (Romans 1:13). And he made it clear to the Corinthians that he came to them to “preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 1:17). This desire to reach people with the gospel was so compelling that Paul told the Romans if possible he would forfeit his salvation, if possible, for the sake of his fellow Jews (Romans 9:1-3). You must hear our text in light of this prevailing passion. In fact the immediate context is 2 Corinthians 5:14-15.

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Now our text [Read Text]

Thesis: The gospel gloriously transforms our relationship with God and dramatically impacts the way we view others.

Our faith in Christ changes everything. It changes us, it changes the relationship between us and God and it changes the way we look at others.

There are 2 things I want to note in our text.

Because of the gospel we refuse to engage in shallow, superficial, evaluations of others. (5:16)

Because of the gospel we judge not according to past behavior but according to transforming grace. (5:17)

Conclusion:
Your faith in Christ changes everything. Including the way you view others. The way you evaluate the people around you. They way you interact with others. That’s part of the newness of this new life in Christ.

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Encouragement of Reluctant Servants: Exodus #11 (7/7/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 6:28-7:7 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, July 1, 2018.

Intro:

I’m wondering how many of you are like me? I’m happy to help out, I want to be involved but I’m not usually the first to jump up and volunteer. In school I never sat up front and when the teacher was looking for a volunteer I usually managed to avoid eye contact. My head was down or I was suddenly engrossed in something in the textbook. I was known to try to hide behind those seated in front of me. That’s not easy to do when you stuck out on both sides of them! I most assuredly did not want to “volunteer” for an impossible assignment.

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God said to Moses, “You go deliver this message to Pharaoh. Oh, and I’ve made sure that he will not listen to you.” The assignment was to go to the most powerful man on earth who despised your people, refused to acknowledge your God and tell him, “The invisible God of the Hebrew slaves says, ‘Let my people go!’” Sure! No problem. What could possibly go wrong with that? It is easy to be critical of Moses and say, “Where is his faith? Doesn’t he understand the power of God?” I have to ask, “Have you ever failed to do the will of God? Have you ever been hesitant to do as you’ve been commanded?” Do you jump at every opportunity to share the gospel? Are you quick to love your enemy? When the discussion is about LGBTQ issues are you quick to declare the biblical position? Do you relish the opportunity to stand in the minority? Do you find it easy to be black and white in a gray world?

In today’s culture biblical morality and Christian standards are in the minority. Even within the church folks are hesitant to stand where Scripture stands. You understand I’m not talking about a “Westboro Baptist Church” kind of stance. I’m not talking about a hateful, venomous ranting but rather a loving, heart-felt expression of biblical truth. To state that gender is fixed rather than fluid; that marriage is a loving commitment between a man and a woman for life; that there is only one way of salvation and that is through personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is to draw the ire of most of the culture. Such a stance demands courage and faith. I’m not talking about a post on Facebook but a bold stance in the real world, face to face with real people. I understand Moses’ hesitancy. I understand his pleading, “Please send someone, anyone else.” Because I understand it, I’m grateful for the way God dealt with His reluctant servant. Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapters 6 and 7.

Text: Exodus 6:28-7:7

Big picture: God is sovereignly at work saving a special people for His own glory.
We’ve seen Moses sovereignly preserved, prepared and called.
We’ve seen him reluctant, hesitant yet obedient.
We’ve seen his first visit to the palace of Pharaoh - it did not go well.
We’ve seen the people turn on him and we’ve seen him question God.
We’ve seen God reaffirm his call (first part of chapter 6).
Then we took a look at the genealogy of Aaron (that parenthesis in the story).
Now we come back to the story (could just go from 6:13 to 6:28 and wouldn’t notice).

Thesis: In the face of a culture increasingly hostile toward the gospel, there is great comfort in knowing that God deals graciously with His reluctant, hesitant servants.

You may not need such encourage but I do! I’m encouraged when I read through Exodus. Most of the time when we think of Moses we think of his standing before Pharaoh as God’s representative. We picture him at the Red Sea with staff outstretched or when see his glory face has he comes from the presence of God. We think, “Now, there is a man of God. Who who speaks with God as a man speaks with a friend, face to face.” But before he was Moses, the man of God, he was Moses the man on the run. He was Moses the reluctant, stammering, excuse-maker. I see that and I’m comforted because God was gracious with him.

I look back at Exodus 4:1 - “They will not believe me or listen to me…” I cringe. But God is gracious and demonstrates His power.

I look at Exodus 4:10 - “But I’m not eloquent…” and think, “Well, that’s it!” But God is gracious.

Exodus 4:13 - “Send someone else” - I expect fire to consume him and then hear God say, “Next.” But God is gracious.

Exodus 5:22-23 - yet again, God is gracious.

Here we go again in our text. There are three things I want us to note from this text that brings encouragement, comfort and peace to the LORD’s reluctant servants. By the way after this encounter, Moses is no longer hesitant.

There is encouragement in understanding that inability is no hindrance to divine service. (6:28-7:2, 6-7)

There is comfort in knowing that in the economy of God, faithfulness not results is the measure of success. (7:3-4a)

There is peace in accepting that God alone is God and He will accomplish His work. (7:4b-5)

Conclusion:
God is doing the same thing through the Lord Jesus.

Some receive him as Savior and Lord.
Confessing their sin and trusting his death on the cross and his resurrection.
They believe and are saved, thereby delivered from pain of hell.

Others reject him.
Uninterested in the salvation he offers.
Unwilling to call him Lord.

But one day they will: Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)

One way or another, whether a believer or an unbeliever, sooner or later, you will be compelled to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord and God. Why not make it sooner?

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The Confessing Heart: Selected Psalms (6/30/2018)

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This exposition of Psalm 32 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, June 27, 2018.
The Path to Genuine Freedom, from Romans 6:15-23 (6/24/2018)
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This exposition of Romans 6:15-23 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 24, 2018.

Intro:

We are a “Gospel People.” A people born of the Gospel, rooted in the Gospel, identified by the Gospel. The Gospel is not just good news for the lost. It is good news for the saved.

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We never move beyond the Gospel. We never outgrow the Gospel. We grow into it. We mature in it. It becomes the joy of our lives. It grows sweeter with each passing day as we plumb the depths Gospel truth. The great tragedy in the church is so many folks “get saved” and them seem to get over it. I checked the box, said the prayer got dunked in water, I’m good now let’s move on. No, we don’t move on. We spend eternity exploring the wonders of God’s salvation. The Gospel is not something I need for when I die, it is what I need in order to live. Thus from time to time we come together around this table. We come to remember and to reflect. We gather to rejoice in the life that is ours because of Christ. The life that is ours because of the cross. This morning I want to reflect on a text most of us are familiar with. It’s part of the Roman Road. It is a basic text for sharing the gospel. We know that if we want to share the gospel we need to talk about the effects of sin. So we point to Romans 3:23 - for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Then we point to Romans 6:23 - for the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 is certainly “good news.” It is the best possible news but you really need to see it in context. It comes as the capstone of an argument the apostle is making about living the gospel. Our text this morning is found in Romans chapter 6 beginning with verse 15.

Text: Romans 6:15-23

Paul’s message has been focused and driven:
We are guilty - deserving of God’s wrath
All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory
There is none righteous not a single one
The wages of our sin is death
But God has revealed, made known, manifested a righteousness, apart from the law
That is a righteousness that is outside of us
This righteousness is ours by faith
When we come to faith we have peace with God
We are no longer His enemies, we are His friends, children upon whom He will lavish His grace

He then gives this summary in 5:20-21: where sin abounds grace abounds all the more. Now Paul knows that this truth could be abused/misused. If sin causes grace to “super-abound” let’s sin more that grace might more abound. He responds with, God forbid, how can we who died to sin still live in it? (Romans 6:1-14)

The summary of 6:14 - For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace, could just as easily be abused - thus we have our text beginning with verse 15 and going down to verse 23.

As we explore verses 15-23 we are reminded that...

Thesis: The road to genuine freedom must pass through heartfelt, voluntary enslavement.

Now that doesn’t make sense.
How can that be?
What does that even mean?
Let’s look at it together.

There are three things I want to point out along the way.

Genuine freedom is the fruit of heartfelt enslavement. (6:15-18)

The Gospel, without apology, forcefully calls all believers to a life of such enslavement. (6:19)

This enslavement to righteousness brings eternal glory. (6:21-23)

Conclusion:
So you want to be free? You want to know the joyous freedom of fulfillment and happiness? Then wholeheartedly embrace a life of slavery. Slavery to righteousness. Because it is only in becoming obedient to the will of God you will ever find the joy of living as you were made to live!

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God’s Sovereignty and Flawed Vessels: Exodus #10 (6/17/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 6:14-27 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 17, 2018.

Intro:

Adrian Rogers was the pastor of the historic Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis Tennessee. Bellevue was a church with great history in Southern Baptist life. It was one of the great churches in the South. It had been the church of the great R.G. Lee a wonderful pulpiteer. Dr. Lee was one of the most sought-after preachers in the convention. When Dr. Rogers was invited to preach at the church in view of a call he was greeted by a couple of ladies after the service. The ladies were obviously “important” people. They were grand ladies of the South. They asked the young preacher, “Dr. Rogers, just who are your people?” They were checking his pedigree. They wanted to insure he was from the kind of people they would want associated with their church. Dr. Rogers smiled and said, “Well, my family has been traced back to a drunken sailor and a crooked farmer.” The ladies were shocked. Then he continued, “The sailor’s name was Noah and the farmer’s name was Adam. If you will excused me ladies.”

[sections collapse="always"][section title="Read More"]Who are your people? It is an important question. It’s the kind of question that does matter. It is helpful and good to know your history. For all of us that history is checkered. There are highs and lows. Things to be proud of and things we’d just as soon others didn’t know. When I was a kid I loved to sit with my grandmother and that shoe box full of pictures. I loved looking through all those old photographs and ask, “Who is that?” I could sit for hours and listen to tales of family in horse-drawn wagons and life on the farm. I love to watch the history channel for documentaries and biographies. Stories of individuals and families always intrigue me. However, I tend to find the genealogies of Scripture, “skipable.”

They are so low on the fascination scale. Not exactly exciting stuff. Just list of strange names that I’m incapable of pronouncing. Yet they seem really important in Scripture. I say important because there are so many of them. In Genesis we have the list of Adam’s descendants in chapter 5; the table of nations in chapter 10; the descendants of Jacob and Esau in chapters 35 and 36 just to name a few. The book of Numbers carefully records the clans of Israel while 1 Chronicles contains chapter after chapter listing the names of their descendants. The Old Testament seems to have a fascination with genealogies but then there are also those genealogies in the Gospels showing the lineage of the Lord Jesus. They must be important. They must be there for a reason. The apostle Paul said that, all Scripture is breathed of God and is profitable, but sometimes I ask, “Really?” Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 6.

Text: Exodus 6:14-27

At first glance this seems to be just a list of strange and difficult names but upon further examination we find that it’s a list of strange and difficult names with a purpose!

[Read Text]

What is the big picture in Exodus and really throughout Scripture? God is sovereignly at work, saving a special people, for His own glory. We witnessed God’s providence in preserving the baby Moses and seeing him raised in the house of Pharaoh as a prince of Egypt despite the order that all Hebrew male children be executed. We’ve seen God uniquely appear to Moses and call him as Israel’s deliverer. We are about to witness a series of miracles and extraordinary acts as God demonstrates His power and authority but first we are given a reminder through this genealogy.

Thesis: While God sometimes works through miraculous means He most often works through common, flawed, everyday folks like you and me.

This text seems like an interruption.
It seems out of place.
The story is moving along and then there is this genealogy and then back to the story.
You could remove it and the story would not suffer.

I think it is there to say to the Hebrews that Aaron is qualified in his own right as a leader. It also is there to remind us about the kind of people God uses to accomplish His will.

There are three things I want us to note in this text.

The genealogy of Exodus 6 reminds us that God’s chosen instruments of deliverance were common men of flesh and bone.

The genealogy further reminds us that some of those common, everyday folks gladly yield to God’s grace and serve as sterling examples of faith and faithfulness.

The genealogy also reminds us that others refuse to yield and thus serve as a somber warning.

Conclusion:
While God sometimes works through miraculous means He most often works through common, flawed, everyday folks like you and me. Some of those common, everyday folks gladly yield to God’s grace and serve as sterling examples of faith and faithfulness. Others refuse to yield and thus serve as a somber warning. God is sovereignly at work saving a special people for His glory what role will you play?

Let me point out just one other thing quickly. Note Exodus 6:23 - Aaron took as his wife Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon, and she bore him Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. The key is Amminadab and the sister of Nahshon. Now turn to Matthew 1:4 - and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon…
1400 years before the birth of the Lord Jesus, God was sovereignly at work in the process of saving a special people. Who are your people? It may be more important than you think and far more interesting than it appears!

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God’s Faithfulness: Our Only Hope: Selected Psalms (6/15/2018)
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This exposition of Psalm 106 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, June 13, 2018.

Two things most people fail to comprehend:

The Greatness of God's glory, and

The depths of one's own sin.

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We often have a low view of God and a high view of ourselves.

God is a simple being, that is, He is undivided. He has no parts. God is not one part love and one part holiness, one part justice, etc. God doesn't get up each morning in a different mood. In that we find great comfort. God is always faithful, even to his unfaithful people.

In Psalm 106 we discover three things:

We are to rejoice in God's faithfulness (vs. 1-5).

We are called to marvel at God's merciful patience (vs. 6-39).

We rest in God's gracious provision for His own (vs. 40-48).

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The Paradox of the Missionary Heart: 2 Corinthians #10 (6/10/2018)
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This exposition of 2 Corinthians 5:11-15 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, June 10, 2018.

Intro:

I was never what you might call…swift of foot. When I was in school and they did the 40 yard dash in gym class, they timed me with a calendar!

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In fourth grade during a baseball game against Park I hit a ball across two ball fields and they still threw me out at second base. Not fast. Until one Halloween. A group of us were approaching the Wakefield house over on 27th W. Ave and 46st Street. They really had it fixed up. Weird music playing and as we were going up the steps something stepped out and there was a scream and I stopped 2 blocks away at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church and waited for the others to catch up with me. It’s amazing what you can do when you are motivated. What motivates the missionary heart? What drives a person to give themselves to taking the gospel to unreached peoples? What was it that drove the heart of the apostle Paul to give his life to gospel ministry? What caused him to stay at the task assigned in spite of shipwreck and beatings and a stoning? What enabled him to continue on when his integrity was attacked, his character questioned and his ministry maligned? What enables us to get out of our comfort zone and say, “Yes,” to the will of God? Our text this evening is found in the 5th chapter of 2 Corinthians.

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:11-15

What drove Paul to live and die for the gospel?
What is it that motivates and empowers gospel ministry?

Earlier Paul said, “We have this treasure (the gospel) in jars of clay.”
We are afflicted but not crushed.
We are perplexed but not driven to despair.
We are persecuted but not forsaken.
We are struck down but not destroyed.

In the first part of chapter 5 we learned the secret of godly living. Now he comes to deal with that which motivates his gospel faithfulness.

[Read Text]

As we work our way through this passage we learn that…

Thesis: The missionary heart is motivated and empowered by the paradoxical pairing of love and fear.

Paradoxical because it doesn’t seem possible that love and fear would work together. They seem more like competing ideas rather than complimentary ideas.

There are 2 things I want us to note.

The missionary heart is driven by an overwhelming sense of Divine accountability. (5:11-13)

The missionary heart is controlled by love and thus is radically other-centered. (5:14-15)

Conclusion:
Christ’s representative death - Romans 5:12-15

He died for us (we died in him) He was raised (we were raised in him) now we live for Him.

Kent Hughes concludes the energy cell in Paul’s missionary heart was charged with a negative and a positive - the fear of Christ and the love of Christ. The combination was explosive!

May God give fuel us with that same missionary heart!

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The Gospel in Exodus: Exodus #9 (6/10/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 6:6-12 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 10, 2018.

Intro:

Wouldn’t it be great if you could take a vacation from your problems?

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It would be nice to get in the car and drive off leaving your troubles behind. Or hop on a plan and get away from family drama. Or get on a bus and leave your health scare behind. Of course in the real world, your troubles have a tendency to go along for the ride. Even if they don’t they are there waiting for you when you return and usually they’ve added friends! Your troubles have grown while you were away. This is why Scripture never prescribes fleeing from your troubles but rather taking them before the LORD. That’s what Moses did and he found that God was still on His throne and that He always remembers His promises. In the face of trouble we are to remember God is sovereign and God is faithful.

In Exodus 6 when God responds to Moses’ accusations that He had done evil to the people of Israel and that He had failed to deliver them, God said, “I am the LORD.” Moses, don’t forget who I am. That’s the most important thing God ever said to Moses. “Now, that’s quite a statement pastor given that Moses wrote the first 5 books of the Bible. Given that Moses spoke to God as one speaks with a friend, face to face. Why would you say that this was the most important thing God ever said to Moses?” Because God revealed himself to Moses with that statement. Moses I am the eternal, self-existing, all-powerful, all-wise, all-sufficient God.” That’s all Moses or any of us needs. Jesus said, “This is eternal life, that they know you the only true God” (John 17:3).

Four times in the first eight verses of Exodus 6 God says, “I am the LORD.” God wanted Moses, and His people to understand the He, Yahweh, was the answer to all their problems. Thus they were to bring all of their trials, troubles and heartaches to Him and to rest in His sovereign goodness knowing He is the answer to every difficulty. God was calling them and us to put our trust in Him. We are to rest our hopes and dreams in the One who says, “I am the LORD” for He is the God of salvation. Our text this morning is found in Exodus chapter 6.

Text: Exodus 6:6-12

I remember my grandmother talking about the Old Bible and the New Bible. She meant the Old Testament and the New Testament but I think many believe in practical terms in an Old Bible and a New Bible as if the New replaces the Old. Occasionally I met those folks who are “Red Letter” Christians. They take the words of Jesus recorded in the New Testament as God’s word and the rest is some how discounted. Others erroneously think we are “New Testament Christians.” No, we are biblical Christians. This is our book Old and New Testament. God still speaks through both. Both are His word. The gospel is not exclusive to the New Testament. The gospel is found throughout the Scriptures. Don’t forget on the Road to Emaus the resurrected Lord took the Old Testament and preached the gospel, showing that it was all about Him!

This morning we consider some gospel truths from the pages of Exodus.

The book of Exodus is a God-centered book. It is thus a gospel book. It is about salvation, about deliverance, about coming out from. It is no coincidence that on the Mount of Transfiguration, just before the cross, Moses and Elijah appeared with the Lord Jesus. They spoke of the coming “Exodus.” The deliverance of God’s people. The exodus here in the Old Testament as grand and as glorious as it is, is only a shadow or picture of a far greater exodus. The deliverance of God’s people from the bondage of sin and death.

As we walk through the passage we are reminded that…

Thesis: The gospel found in Exodus reveals the glory of our God’s salvation and the absolute necessity of Divine intervention.

There are two things I want us to note…

The salvation promised by our God exceeds all expectations. (6:6-8)

Man’s stubborn refusal to listen underscores the necessity of Divine intervention. (6:9)

Conclusion:
You cannot save yourself. You cannot come to God on your own. Unless and until the Spirit of God awakens you, you will not come to Him. The only way a sinner ever comes to God is by Divine intervention. God, himself, must break the chains of sin and that is what He does through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. John 5:24-25

No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. John 6:44

You cannot free yourself from sin anymore than Israel could free itself from Egyptian slavery. The glory of the gospel is that God in Christ is setting captives free. Freedom and life eternal and abundant is yours if you will repent and believe.

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Living for Now and for Eternity: 2 Corinthians #9 (6/3/2018)
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This exposition of 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, June 3, 2018.

Intro:

Everyone has a worldview. A perspective that governs how They understand and interpret the world around them.

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It determines how you act and react. Now, you may not have given it much thought. In fact your worldview my be by default rather than choice. It may be that you’ve not asked yourself how you see the world, how your values shape your understanding and the way your values determine your actions and choices everyday but they do. As the people of God the Scriptures are to shape our worldview. The truth revealed in God’s Word is to determine how we act and react, how we evaluate and determine what is true and beautiful and good. This is what marks us as unique or different. We are to be a “peculiar” people - some of you are pretty good at that! To be Christian is not just to believe certain things but to act a certain way and to think a certain way. Biblical truth is to work its way into every area of our lives and affect everything we do.

There is a principle that keeps showing up in Paul’s letter to the church at Corinth. The one we call Second Corinthians though it is probably the 3rd or 4th letter he wrote to them! It is a principle that shows itself again in our text this evening found in the 5th chapter.

Text: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10

[Read Text]

The principle is this…
What you believe about the future determines how you live today.

In our text we discover that…

Thesis: Confidence in future glory creates a sense of longing that produces hope that inspires godly living.

The naturalist worldview, that rejects a personal God, says that this life is all there is. Get all you can and can all you get because this is it. There is nothing beyond the grave. Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. That is not the Christian worldview, that is not the perspective of the apostle Paul. In fact he says, For we know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

This is our first point.

Believers live in the certainty of the future glorious resurrection of the body. (5:1)

This certainty of future resurrection create a heavenly longing within the heart of the child of God. (5:2-5)

This heavenly longing produces a confident hope that infuses the believer’s attitude. (5:6-8)

This confident hope inspires a definite resolve to live a godly life. (5:9-10)

Conclusion:
What you believe about the future determines how you live today.

Confidence in future glory creates a sense of longing that produces hope that inspires godly living.

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When Things Go from Bad to Worse: Exodus #8 (6/3/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 5:22-6:5 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, June 3, 2018.

Intro:

Sometimes things do not go according to plan or they don’t work out the way you expected. I have a tendency to get in trouble with my mouth.

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I say things that get me in trouble. I was sitting in chapel at OBU. It was a typical morning chapel. Everyone was talking, the service was due to begin. The president of the university stepped up to the microphone. He didn’t say a word. He expected his very presence at the pulpit would bring order. It didn’t. People continued to talk. He continued to stand there in silence willing the crowd to quiet down. I started laughing and then said something very funny. The people around me laughed. The guy behind me slapped me on the back giving hearty approval. I was a hit. The lady in front of me turned around and looked me directly in the eye. She wasn’t laughing. She was the president’s wife! I did not suffer any consequence from my failed attempt at humor, though I had the president for a preaching class that semester and I’m confident that evening, armed with the yearbook she pointed to my picture and said, “That’s the one.” Other than a moment of embarrassment and the sting of conscience there were no repercussions. That is not always the case. Usually our actions come with consequences. When those consequences are “earned” we take our licks and we move on, hopefully learning a lesson. But what happens when we suffer consequences that are not deserved? What happens when we suffer unjustly? What do you do when you suffer not for doing wrong but for doing what’s right?

We like to think that people do not suffer for doing the right thing.
We want to believe the world is just and so righteousness is applauded.
But we live in a fallen world - so the world is not always just.
And righteousness is not always applauded.

Particularly as our world becomes increasingly secular. In a secular culture standards change and what is considered good, right and true change. When culture rather than Scripture defines goodness and truth, biblical standards are often considered evil. Thus when you live according to the teaching of Scripture you may find that your actions are not applauded or even acceptable. To hold to the conviction that you ought to be in attendance at church on the Lord’s Day may cost you a job. To refuse to perform certain tasks demanded by your employer, because it would cause you to violate your religious convictions, may bring sanctions or worse. Your faith may cost you a friendship or even alienate you from your family. In a culture at odds with biblical faith, your faith will become costly.

Moses was hesitant but he did eventually obey. God spoked to him from the midst of the bush that burned and while he was reluctant to believe, he did believe. He gathered his family and his possessions and with the approval of his father-in-law he headed back to Egypt. He met up with his brother at Horeb, the mountain of God. Aaron joined him in the task God had given. They, together, met with the elders of Israel and the people rejoiced because God had heard their cries, He saw their affliction and He had come down to deliver them. Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and demanded the release of the Hebrew people.

But things went from bad to worse.
Now, in addition to making bricks they would gather their own straw.
Further they would meet the same quota on the bricks.
Their work greatly increase and demand remained the same.
Further their leaders were beaten for failing to meet demands.

Moses obeyed the call of God.
He was faithful, passionate, bold and sincere.
Pharaoh rebuked him and the people of Israel rejected him.

What do you do when you try to do things God’s way and it just makes things worse? What do you do when trouble is the reward for doing the right thing? What do you do when biblical faith just doesn’t pay? Our text this morning is found at the end of Exodus chapter 5 into the first part of chapter 6.

Text: Exodus 5:22-6:5

It just doesn’t pay - isn’t that the bottom line for most folks?
What’s in this for me?
What do I get out of this?

Too often this is our whole approach to faith. Our focus is not on what is true or right but what works and how does it benefit me? Pragmatism rules the day. We most often respond as the Hebrew foremen responded. They went to Pharaoh to see if they could strike a deal. They went to their oppressor and sought relief. As if their slave master would grant freedom or relief. How are we to respond?

Thesis: When shaken and discouraged by life’s troubles believers find relief and comfort in God’s sovereignty and His faithfulness.

Moses is shaken by what has happened and understandably so. He had such hopes. Things really seemed to be on track when he went to Pharaoh. He did what he was supposed to do. He said what he was supposed to say - so why did things get worse? Okay, maybe Pharaoh wouldn’t agree but the people are suffering even more than before. It was unbearable to begin with now it’s worse?

There are two things I want us to note in this text. Two things that we must understand and embrace, especially in a hostile culture.

In times of distress and trouble believers bring their fears, heartaches and frustrations directly to the throne of God seeking answers. (5:22-23)

When overwhelmed by trials and troubles it is enough to know that God is sovereign and He is faithful to His promise. (6:1-5)

Conclusion:
1500 years later, He remembered that covenant again and sent the Lord Jesus!
It was remembered on Christmas morning.
It was remembered on Good Friday.
It was remembered on Easter Sunday morning!

“Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant…” Hebrews 13:20

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Great Is Thy Faithfulness: Selected Psalms (5/26/2018)

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This exposition of Psalm 105 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, May 23, 2018.
Sustaining Truth: 2 Corinthians #8 (5/22/2018)
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This exposition of 2 Corinthians 4:13-18 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, May 20, 2018.

Intro:

It’s a basic biblical principle. One we often forget. Scripture encourages us to, lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:1-2).

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In Colossians 3:2 the apostle Paul urges us to, Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. We are to focus on heavenly things. You’ve heard the old adage, “He’s so heavenly minded he’s no earthly good.” That’s nonsense. The truth is we are so earthly minded we’re no heavenly good! As the people of God we are to be heavenly focused and kingdom oriented. Our perspective is to be an eternal perspective not an earthly perspective. Why is that? First and foremost because our citizenship is in heaven. We are pilgrims here. This is not our home. We are to long for our home in glory. But as the fallen sons and daughters of Adam we are easily captivated by this world. We are enamored with the here and now and that is harmful. Harmful because it suffocates our spiritual lives and harmful because it leads to great heartache and discouragement. That brings me to the second reason for our need to be eternally focused, because when we live for this life we live for that which will not last. To live for this life is to live for that which is doomed to perish. Now, we are to have this kingdom focus, this eternal perspective in every area of our lives. This is especially when we think about the gospel and our ministry of the gospel. Why do we, the church, do what we do? Is it to have a bunch of people to meet? Is it so we can have big, nice buildings? Is it so people can applaud the good we do? There is nothing wrong with having lots of people. Nice buildings - that’s a good thing. I like it when people appreciate what we do but what happens when the crowd is small? When the building deteriorate? When the people turn on us? What happens when we are faithful to the gospel and people are turned off, we are scorned, painful, hurtful things are said to us and about us? What do we do then? According to the Scripture we do right on doing what we’ve been called to do. We preach the gospel, the whole gospel. We continue to love people and seek to meet their needs. In other words we go right on being the church.

It’s hard to be the church in a post-Christian world. It’s hard to preach the gospel when the biblical gospel is despised. It’s hard to love when you are not loved in return. But that has always been the lot of the Church in this fallen, sinful world. We’ve just had it so good for so long. For our lifetime the Judeo-Christian worldview was in the majority. That’s no longer true. Our values were dominate now they are the minority. How are we to remain faithful to the task assigned? We keep our eyes on the prize. We keep our focus on the eternal. When I was a kid my grandparents always had a big garden. I remember going over and helping my papa when it was time to plant. He had a push plow. We would stake out the rows and he would have me plow. I wasn’t very good at it. I tried to plow by looking at my feet. He would say, “Son, you can’t plow staring at your feet. Look up. Keep your eyes on where you are going to end up. If you keep looking down you will just make a mess of things.” Faithful, effective gospel ministry demands a proper focus. Our text tonight is found in 2 Corinthians chapter 4.

Text: 2 Corinthians 4:13-18

Paul has just explained how his weakness was the occasion for God’s power - 4:7-12.
We have the treasure of the gospel in jars of clay - fragile, cheap, disposable containers.
We are afflicted but not crushed.
We are perplexed but not driven to despair.
We are persecuted but not forsaken.
We are struck down but not destroyed.

Now he is going to explain what sustains him in gospel ministry - 4:13-18

Thesis: In the daily grind and disappointment of ministry delivers find strength and sustaining courage by focusing on future glory.

We don’t live for today, tomorrow or the next five years but for eternity.
We don’t live for ourselves or our church but for Christ and His kingdom.

I’ve said before but I must say it again, to live for the glory of Trinity Baptist Church is too small a thing. Our lives are to be lived for the glory of God and for the advancement of His kingdom. That’s what we are reminded of in this text. Remember Paul is being attacked by folks in a church he gave a year and a half of his life for. They have questioned his integrity, his heart and his ministry.

There are two things I want to call to your attention from this text.

We are sustained in gospel ministry by our fervent hope in the life to come. (4:13-15)

We are sustained in gospel ministry by the transforming power of the gospel now at work in us preparing us for a glorious future. (4:16-18)

What are you living for?
Don’t waste your life.

In the daily grind and disappointment of ministry delivers find strength and sustaining courage by focusing on future glory.

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A Painful Yet Important Reminder: Exodus #7 (5/21/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 5:1-23 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 20, 2018.

Intro:

They were thrilled. After 400 years of slavery, finally some good news. After years of crying out to God and hearing nothing in response it seems that God has indeed been at work and He has come down to deliver His chosen people.

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Moses and Aaron have come with a fantastic tale of God revealing himself to Moses in a bush that burned but was not consumed. He gave specific instruction about how Moses and Aaron were to go to Pharaoh and demand the release of the children of Israel. Their message was validated by signs and wonders. This was a great day. A day they thought would never come. Slavery is all any of them had ever known. Their ancestors came to Egypt to escape a famine but for centuries now, they have been slaves. They have endured incredible hardship including Pharaoh’s attempt at genocide. Thus the people, knowing that God had heard their cry and had seen their affliction and had come to visit them, bowed their heads and worshiped. Armed with the promises of God, Moses and Aaron went to the royal palace to demand the release of the Hebrew people. Our text this morning is found in the 5th chapter of Exodus.

Text: Exodus 5:1-23

The opening chapters of Exodus have set the stage for this confrontation with Pharaoh.

Chapter 5 is the account of the first encounter with Pharaoh. Chapter 4 ends with the people rejoicing in worship. Chapter 5 will end in bitterness and pain.

Thesis: Exodus chapter 5 is a reminder that we live in a fallen, broken world and the life of faith is often dark and difficult.

If someone tells you, “Just trust Jesus and everything will be great” you should run! It is in fairytales that people live happily ever after. The Christian faith is no fairytale. The gospel is the glorious good news that God loves us and has provided the answer to our sin problem. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and the wages of our sin is death. But God, in love, sent His Son, the Lord Jesus to bear the penalty for our sin and purchase our redemption. The gospel assures us that through faith in the Lord Jesus we are cleansed from our sin and set on the path that leads to eternal joy in relationship with the Father. Having believed in Christ we then are called to the obedience of faith that is lived out in the sin-cursed world. Life has its ups and downs, its heartaches and victories as we grow in holiness and Christ-likeness. Yes, there is joy and peace in the midst of our struggle. We are not immune from heartache here.

What is the “big picture” from Exodus?
God is sovereignly working to save a special people for His own glory.
God is at work - always, in everything, even when we are convinced He’s not.
The dominant note throughout is the sovereignty of God, the working of providence.

It is critical that you remember that as we consider 3 painful truths from our text.

The ungodly, in ignorance and unbelief, arrogantly refuse God’s commands. (5:1-5)

The righteous suffer at the hands of the ungodly. (5:6-14)

Pain and suffering darken the understanding of God’s people causing them to forget God’s promises and even accuse Him of great evil. (5:15-23)

Conclusion:
Life in this fallen, sin-cursed world is often dark and difficult. Even the people of God falter in their faith. In their pain they cried out, confused, dazed by their circumstance. But God is at work and hope is born in the very next verse - But the LORD said to Moses, Now you shall see what I will do to Pharaoh; for with a strong hand he will send them out, and with a strong hand he will drive them out of his land.

Listen child of God when the days are dark and difficult. When hope is all but lost - hang on. Our Sovereign God is at work. He is faithful to His word. He is worthy of your trust. Deliverance will come and you will stand amazed.

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Bless the Lord O My Soul!: Psalms (5/16/2018)
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This exposition of Psalm 104 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, May 16, 2018.

In many worship services we have exchanged the glory of God for felt needs. But worship isn't about me and my needs. Worship isn't about bringing God down to to our level, but rather lifting man up to God. The classical architecture of the European cathedrals emphasized this by drawing man's gaze upwards to heaven.

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To a culture that is dying we have the answer. Genuine worship zealously celebrates the glory and greatness of God. In Psalm 104 we discover that there is ample reason for our passionate praise to God.

Biblical worship praises God for His majestic greatness (vs. 1-4).

Biblical worship praises God for His mighty work of creation (vs. 5-9).

Biblical worship praises God for His abundant provision (vs. 10-23).

Biblical worship praises God for His many works and His Spirit who attends to His works (vs. 24-30).

Biblical worship praises God for His everlasting glory and sovereign reign (31-35).

Verse 31 is the key to the whole of Psalm 104: God rejoices in His creation because it declares His glory.

You cannot conclude a look at this Psalm without dealing with the hard words of verse 35. God is great in glory, and the harmony in the universe is marred by sinful men. When unrepentant, they perish and God is glorified.

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A Gracious, Affirming and Terrifying Truth: Exodus #6 (5/13/2018)
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This exposition of Exodus 4:18-31 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 13, 2018.
May 13, 2018

Intro:

The older I get, the less I know. That’s not due solely to memory issues, though I think I may be well on my way down that road but I’ll save that for another day.

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No, my loss of knowledge is due to growth or maturity. It’s not that I’m losing knowledge across the board but that I’m less certain about some things while more certain about others. There is a mellowing that comes with maturity. It’s not that I’ve lost confidence in the truth or that I no longer believe in the authority, and sufficiency of Scripture (In fact I’m more convinced than ever on that subject) but I’m less certain about my ability to always discern the truth and thus I’m less dogmatic on certain subjects. I’m no longer afraid to answer a question by saying, “I don’t know.” I am more willing to be tolerant of those whose views differ from my own. I’m also more willing to embrace the mystery of our faith. There are certain things we simply do not know. We don’t know because God hasn’t bothered to tell us! His ways are not our ways, neither are His thoughts our thoughts. The secret things belong to Him. While there may be more holes or unanswered questions than I’d like, I’m not concerned because here is what I’ve come to understand, the Sovereign, Eternal, All-wise, All-sufficient God is worthy of my trust. God has revealed himself to us. That revelation is sufficient. It is trustworthy and reliable. It is factual and it is true, thus I believe. I embrace the truth of God as He has revealed it in Scripture. God is not silent. He has spoken to us in His Word and I believe it, I embrace it as revealed, regardless of what the culture thinks of the truth revealed. Now, such a stance will put you at odds with the culture. It may, as the culture now claims, put you on the “wrong side of history,” but along with the apostle Paul I will declare, “let God be true and every man be a liar” (Romans 3:4). God has spoken, God has revealed himself and honestly some of what He reveals is troubling. This morning we come to consider a gracious, affirming and terrifying truth, the assurance of God’s sovereign presence with His people. Our text is found in the 4th chapter of Exodus.

Text: Exodus 4:18-31

Remember Israel has been in Egypt 400 years, most of that time enslaved.
They have been crying out to God for centuries and nothing (as fare as they could tell).
Moses has been 40 years on the backside of the wilderness tending sheep.
For a chapter and a half he’s been standing before the burning bush - objecting to God’s call.
God has deal with him loving, patiently and graciously.
Even to the point of accommodating his stubborn refusal.
Now, Moses has agreed and he is heading down to Egypt and all is well…not so fast.

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As we work our way through this text I want us to note…

Thesis: Assurance of God’s sovereign presence brings the comfort of His gracious provision, the peace of His guiding hand, and terror of divine accountability.

This is another of those, “Good news/Bad news” texts in Scripture.
Moses agrees to go to Egypt and he goes with the blessing on his father-in-law - that’s good.
Along the way God decides to kill him - oh, that’s bad.
But God spares him and he is reunited with his brother and Israel rejoices - that’s good.

3 great truths in our text and then I want to leave you with an epilogue or a postscript.

The comfort of our God’s gracious provision. (4:13-17, 27)

The peace of our God’s guiding hand. (4:18-23, 27-28)

The terror of Divine accountability. (4:24-26)

Postscript:
There is a postscript in our text. It is there in 4:29-31 - Then Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the people of Israel. Aaron spoke all the words that the LORD had spoken to Moses and did the signs in the sight of the people. And the people believed; and when they heard that the LORD had visited the people of Israel and that he had seen their affliction, they bowed their heads and worshiped.

Worship is the only appropriate response to the assurance of God’s sovereign presence among His people.

Nothing has happened yet, but the exodus has begun.
God is at work.
He has heard their cry.
He has seen their affliction.
He has come down to deliver and therefore they bowed their heads and worshiped!

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Stability in Spite of Frailty: Selected Psalms (5/12/2018)

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This exposition of Psalm 102 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, May 9, 2018.
Powerful, God-honoring Ministry: 2 Corinthians #7 (5/6/2018)
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This exposition of 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, May 6, 2018.

Intro:

I went to a lunch meeting this week. It was at the Tulsa Metro Baptist Network building. One of the two announced candidates for the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention was in town and a question and answer time was set up for him to meet with pastors and church leaders.

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He is a good man. I’ve known about him for years. He has been a faithful servant to the denomination for 20-30 years. He’s been a pastor, a college professor, president of one of our seminaries, a vice president of the Home Mission Board (now known as the North American Mission Board), and for a time worked for Lifeway in church revitalization. I know of the other candidate. I’ve heard him preach. He pastors a mega church in North Carolina. He’s a good man. Either man would serve us well. What concerns me is the nature and tone of things anymore. The man in town this week has been announced as a candidate. He gave out the website he has set up that outlines his plan and there are position papers, and videos for laying out his vision. He worked the room like a seasoned political pro. Shaking hands and making small talk. He is currently working across the state in what must be described as a “whistle stop” campaign leading up to the vote in Dallas in June. Our convention has been shaking in recent days with the Chief Executive Officer of the Executive Committee stepping down for having had and “in appropriate relationship in the recent past.” The president of the International Mission Board has announced he is stepping down to go back into the pastorate. A campaign in social media is calling for the resignation of the president of one of our seminaries who is the architect of the conservative resurgence for a series of incidents that range from enrolling a muslim as a student at the seminary in violation of the school’s charter, to questionable spending practices, to being accused of covering up sexual abuse, to plummeting enrollment numbers at his seminary to advice given to a woman who was the victim of abuse. In the meeting this week we were reminded that baptisms are the lowest they’re been since the 1940s. Cooperative Program giving is down, church attendance is down, Sunday School is disappearing and therefore the ship must be righted.

Yes, that’s all true. The SBC has some really challenging issues. The church, as a whole, is struggling. Unless you’ve been asleep for the last 20 years, you know the world has changed. Culture has shifted. We live in a post-Christian world. I’m sure you are aware of the case of Alfie Evans, the child born in England that the state took control of his care and refused treatment against the wishes of his parents. The judge ruling over the court battle said, “Stop telling me this child is a human being. He isn’t.” The court ruled there was not sufficient brain activity so there was no life and all treatment, including food and water, was terminated. The child died 5 days later. Another court, this time in Germany, ruled that religious organizations did not have the right to determine that religious commitment to their faith was a necessary condition for employment by that organization. We live in a different world. What does gospel ministry look like in this kind of world? How do we remain faithful to the Scripture and relevant to the culture in this context? Is that even possible?

We have 2 strategic teams working right now to help us answer some of these questions. We know we must preach the gospel. We know that we must remain faithful to the faith once and for all delivered to the saints. We must be the church. We must reach the lost. But what if they won’t listen? What if they won’t even give us the chance to be heard? We turn again this evening to the book of 2 Corinthians.

Text: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12

Paul is writing to a church he dearly loves.
He gave a year and a half of his life to these folks.
Now, some are questioning his credentials.
They are questioning his integrity, even the validity of his message.
As he responds, he gives us some insight into what ministry should look like.

As we consider ministry in a “foreign” culture we must understand that…

Thesis: Powerful, God-honoring ministry demands a mindset at odds with the culture and counter-intuitive to our own sinful hearts.

We have to think in biblical terms and not in the terms of the culture. Right and wrong, truth and error, success and failure are defined biblically not culturally. Culture may define success as “nickels and noses” but biblically success is defined by faithfulness and truth. Hear me. I’m not saying that increase in numbers and dollars do not matter, I’m saying they do not determine success. God’s not impressed by big crowds and record offerings. He is not opposed to them but He is impressed by faithful obedience and truth.

With that I want to consider three things in our text.

Powerful, God-honoring ministry begins with a proper understanding of our place and our role. (4:7)

Powerful, God-honoring ministry demands that we embrace our weakness and trust in the power of God. (4:8-9)

Powerful, God-honoring ministry finds its fulfillment in being the instrument through which God’s glory is revealed. (4:10-12)

Conclusion:
It is the will of God that His frail jars of clay be used to show that the surpassing power belongs to God. The power of the gospel comes in our weakness, not in our strength, not in our greatness, but in the fact that we are dispensable, cheap clay pots.

That is why I say, Powerful, God-honoring ministry demands a mindset at odds with the culture and counter-intuitive to our own sinful hearts.

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A Reluctant Servant: Exodus #5 (5/6/2018)
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This is an exposition of Exodus 4:1-17. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 6, 2018.

Intro:

It is easy to forget that the men and women of Scripture were men and women of flesh and blood. They were not “super saints.” They did not have things unavailable to us. And it is not a matter that man has devolved over time. That those folks closer to the original creation were more spiritual than those of us so far removed. In fact, when you read Scripture honestly and carefully they are all noticeably flawed. Before we see Moses standing before the Red Sea with his staff out-stretched and the children of Israel crossing on dry ground, before he comes down from the mountain carrying the tablets of stone that contain God’s Ten Words, before we hear him bolding pleading with God to spare His wayward people, we see him barefoot before the burning bush trying to dodge God’s call. I find that very comforting! It is comforting because it is another gracious reminder of our God’s long-suffering patience with His less than stellar people. You may not need such a reminder but I do. Are you ever reluctant to do what God commands? Do you lie about other things too? Moses was minding his own business, taking care of his father-in-law’s sheep when he caught sight of that bush burning but not being consumed. He went over to investigate and God spoke to him. God said, “Moses, Moses!” Moses responded, “Here I am.” Moses, said, “Yes, sir. I’m right here.” Implied in that is a willingness to do whatever God wanted him to do. Eventually God says, “I want you to go down into Egypt and tell Pharaoh that I said, ‘Let My people go!’” He didn’t see that one coming. “Who am I to do such a thing?” He objected saying, “I’m inadequate for such a task.” God said, “I know you are but I’m going with you.” Moses then asked, “Who are you? What is Your name?” God then graciously reveals himself as the eternal, ever-existing, ever-powerful, all sufficient God. Now, if the ever-existing, all sufficient God to whom everyone and everything owes its existence, calls you to do something and promises His abiding presence - you would think the matter is settled. But Moses is still not convinced. Our text is found in Exodus chapter 4 beginning with verse 1.

Text: Exodus 4:1-17

Remember 400 years of slavery.
Crying out to God to deliver, to do something, anything.
Moses sentenced to die at birth but miraculously preserved.
He did attempt to intervene on behalf of his people 2:11-15.
That was a disaster.
Then 40 years on the backside of the wilderness.
Now, God is calling and commissioning His chosen instrument.
Moses objects and I understand that.

Given the circumstances, the passage of time, all that has happened, Moses’ objections or questions seem to be reasonable. It is also worth noting that God is gracious and patient in dealing with Moses. His objections continue.

As we work our way through this text we are reminded…

Thesis: When faced with the impossible you can be assured that God deals graciously, lovingly and mercifully with His reluctant servants.

When God calls we should go. When He demands we should respond but we are the flawed, fallen sons and daughters of Adam. When we come to Christ we are declared righteous because of Christ, and we begin the process of sanctification thus we are, in Luther’s terms, at the same time righteous and yet sinners. We are called to the obedience of faith but that is a long and difficult process. In our text Moses serves as an example of how our God deals with His reluctant servants.

There are three (3) things I want us to note.

God graciously combats lack of confidence with a demonstration of His power and authority. (4:1-9)

God lovingly confronts inability with the assurance of His sovereignty and His abiding presence. (4:10-12)

God mercifully deals with stubborn unbelief by accommodating that unbelief in reaffirming His will. (4:13-17)

Conclusion:
When faced with the impossible you can be assured that God deals graciously, lovingly and mercifully with His reluctant servants.

God promised Moses He would send His people a prophet like Moses (Deut. 18:18) and we know that was Jesus (Acts 3:20-23). I’m grateful that though he was like Moses he was also different. “Father if there is any other way let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless not my will, but your will be done.” He delivered us not from Egypt but from the bondage of sin and death.

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A Portrait of Godly Leadership: Psalms (5/5/2018)

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This is an exposition of Psalm 101. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, May 2, 2018.
Characteristics of Gospel Ministry: 2 Corinthians #6 (5/5/2018)
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This is an exposition of 2 Corinthians 4:1-6. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, April 29, 2018.

Intro:

If the apostle Paul had fallen asleep in the first century and then awakened in the twenty-first century, like Rip Van Winkle, he would be more than a little surprised.

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Can you imagine him stumbling from church to church rubbing his eyes in unbelief? How depressing it would be for him to see so many powerless, ineffective churches. Paul, who participated in the birth of the church and who cared for it in its infancy would be horrified to see it today in its adult state. Church Swindoll described today’s church in this way, “Ours is a day in which the gospel has been packaged like cereal in a supermarket. It has been brightly packaged, sugar-coated and offers free prizes inside. People are buying it and feeding on it. Is it any wonder the church is weak? The church is dangerously malnourished from consuming all those empty calories.” The Church has fallen on hard times. Attendance is down. Churches are closing. Interest in and commitment to the church is quickly disappearing. We are living in what many have labeled a “post-Christian” culture. Historic, traditional, orthodox teachings are now considered outdated and dangerous. Holding to basic historic orthodoxy will likely get you labeled a fanatic and part of the “lunatic fringe.” If you hold to such outdated and dangerous notions as there being such a thing as truth - something that is always true, for everyone, in every situation you are suspect. If you think gender is a simple matter of one being either male or female you are considered ignorant. If you are not prepared to embrace the notion of same sex relationships, if you will not celebrate the broad spectrum of gender identity and joyfully adopt the new morality you are not to be taken seriously. The church is being told if you want to be on the right side of history you had better change what you believe. Sadly many are doing just that. Oh, they are not denying essential doctrines, at least not yet, just making “minor” adjustments at the edges. A small compromise here a wink and a nod there all in an effort to be heard. But, can we afford such adjustments? At what cost are we heard? How are we to minister in an age when our message is considered dangerously out of step with the culture? Our text is found in the 4th chapter of 2 Corinthians.

Text: 2 Corinthians 4:1-6

The culture of Corinth was not unlike our own, progressive, indulgent and immoral with an emphasis on personal freedom. It was to this corrupt culture the apostle Paul came preaching Christ crucified and risen. For a year and a half he preached Christ. He called them to a new standard of holiness. As a result the gospel gained a foothold in the west. But all was not well. False teachers moved in and called into question Paul’s integrity, the truth of his message and the validity of his ministry. A part of his response was to point out the glory and wonder of the gospel. He reminded the Corinthian believers of the power of this gospel to transform lives and the superiority of the new covenant over the old. Now, in chapter 4 he gives us insight into what this new ministry looks like.

Let’s look at our text beginning in chapter 3 verse 18…

Thesis: Genuine gospel ministry is mark by certain, defining characteristics.

When we talk about gospel ministry we are talking not just about the content of the gospel but also the methods employed in communicating that content. If we are not careful the message is corrupted by the way it is communicated. It is not just what we say but how we say it. There are three things I want us to note in this text related to genuine gospel ministry.

We are sustained in ministry by the mercy of God granted to us in the glorious gospel entrusted to our care. (4:1)

Because of the power of this glorious gospel we do not rely on cleverness or gimmickry but rely on the clear, direct proclamation of the truth. (4:2-4)

Because we are focused on Christ and not ourselves our ministry is infused with Divine confidence. (4:5-6)

Conclusion:
The world is hostile to the gospel.
The world is a dark place.
That means there is all the more opportunity for the light of the gospel to shine!

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Our Sufficient God: Exodus #4 (5/5/2018)
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This is an exposition of Exodus 3:10-22. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 29, 2018.

Intro:

Dazed, bewildered and barefoot, Moses on the backside of the desert stood before a bush that burned but was not burnt.

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He was in the region of Horeb tending the flock of his father-in-law when the strange sight caught his eye. He approached the bush and a voice spoke to him out of the midst of the bush, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground. I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” That’ll wake you up! The voice continued assuring Moses that He had seen the affliction of His people in Egypt, He knew of their sufferings, and that He had come down to deliver them out of Egypt and to take them to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey. Moses had to be wondering, “Well, that’s great but what does that have to do with me?” He was about to find out. As if this experience was not life-jolting enough, God then said, “Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.” Though it’s not in the text, I’m pretty sure that’s when Moses sat down. Our God seems to have a knack for demanding the impossible. You want to be my disciple? Take up your cross daily, and follow me. Someone comes up and slaps you on the cheek? Turn the other cheek. Love your enemy. Pray for those who despitefully use you. Go into all the world and make disciples. Somewhere along the line we got the foolish notion that God will not give us more than we can handle. Everything He demands of us is more than we can handle. What do you do when God calls upon you to do the impossible? Our text this morning is found in the 3rd chapter of Exodus.

Text: Exodus 3:10-22

The children of Israel have been enslaved in Egypt for 400 years.
Remember they voluntarily went down to Egypt to escape a famine.
There they enjoyed the good life as a favored people.
They grew from a family of 70 to a great people who filled the land.

Then there arose a king in Egypt who refused to recognize Joseph and his contributions to Egyptian life and culture. He viewed the Hebrew people as suspect. Suspicion grew into fear, fear gave birth to hostility and hostility erupted in hatred. They were afflicted, enslaved and then made the object of genocide. As the Hebrew people cried out to God, groaning under the weight of injustice they were convinced that God was indifferent. They assumed their prayers went unheard. Why did God respond? Why wont He do something?
All-the-while God was doing something. For He is always working. Our God is not indifferent or uncaring. He is not the watchmaker God who creates and then steps back to see how it all plays out. God was sovereignly at work. God was sovereignly at working saving a special people. God was sovereignly at work saving a special people for His own glory.

Moses assumed he was put into a position of power for the sake of his people but when he acted on their behalf and killed the Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew, the people did not rally around him. In fact they responded by saying, “Who made you ruler and judge over us?” He fled from Egypt and has spent the last 40 years in exile, tending someone else’s sheep. He is content with the nomadic lifestyle of his in-laws. Content to live out his days in the wilderness. That’s about to change.

Thesis: When faced with an overwhelming task you must trust in the sufficiency of God alone.

There are three things I want you to learn from this text. Three things that will comfort and encourage you as you are faced with impossible odds.

God knows that you are inadequate for the task assigned. (3:11-12)

God graciously promises His abiding presence. (3:12)

God lovingly calls you to look beyond your obvious weakness and failings to gaze upon his glorious sufficiency. (3:13-22)

Conclusion:
Let’s just make one application.
Your greatest need is salvation - how is it you, a sinner, can be made right with a holy God?
The answer is by faith in the person of the Lord Jesus.

The great “I AM” - Jesus said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am (John 8:58). Back in verse 24 of the same chapter Jesus said, I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins. In Revelation 1:8 - I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Thus Jesus was able to say, If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father because I and the Father are one.

You cannot save yourself, you are inadequate but He is sufficient to save you.
You cannot live the Christian life, you are inadequate but He is able to live it through you.
You cannot teach that Sunday School class, you are inadequate, but He is able.
You get the idea, stop looking to yourself and start looking to Him.

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Genuinely Enthusiastic Worship: Selected Psalms (4/25/2018)

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This is an exposition of Psalm 100. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, April 25, 2018.
Celebrating the Lord’s Table: Lessons From the Table (4/25/2018)

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This is an exposition of John 19:28-30. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, April 22, 2018.

Intro:

This evening we gather around the Lord’s Table. It is a time of reflection and celebration.

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This is one of 2 ordinances given to the church. We are told to observe this memorial meal as a proclamation of our Lord’s death until He returns. I just want to stop and reflect for a moment this evening on the events of that last week of our Lord’s earthly ministry. The week we refer to as Passion Week.

It was an amazing time. It began with a great parade and a cheering crowd. It ended with a violent mob shouting, “Crucify Him!” In between there were moments of tenderness, love and compassion mixed with bitterness and betrayal. Of course it is misleading to say it began on that Sunday – it actually began much earlier. It began in eternity past when the Father, Son and Holy Spirit agreed upon a plan. A plan that would redeem fallen humanity. A plan that would demand the slaughter of the innocent for the sake of the guilty.

The plan was put into motion some thirty years before when the Lord Jesus left the glory and splendor of heaven to become a man. God, the Eternal One, the Creator stepped into His creation. The Sovereign Lord who enjoyed the worship and adoration of heaven; the Sovereign One, to whom the whole of creation bowed in obedience, became flesh and bone. He who had enjoyed eternal worship was scorned. He who had known only love and acceptance was despised and rejected. Laughed at, mocked and ridiculed. Shamelessly nailed to a cross. Humiliated for all the world to see.

Yet that moment of shame became the time of triumph.

Text: John 19:28-30

After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), I thirst. A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, It is finished, and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

I know, it doesn’t seem triumphant.
Until you know, the rest of the story…
Following three horrifying hours in darkness as the Father turned His back on His beloved Son, the parched lips of the bleeding, dying Jesus formed the words – “It is finished.”

Then, in a scene that defied the moment – he bowed his head and whispered a simple child’s prayer, “Father into thy hands I commit my spirit.” Silence. An eerie silence fell across the Golgatha.

The moans of the other victims pierced the silence. The muffled sounds of orders and the talk of the executioner broke the silence. But the words hung in the air “it is finished.” Finished? What was finished? In what possible way could this scene be interpreted as victorious?

To answer that question we have to back up – to the beginning.
“The soul that sins, it will die.”
That’s what the Father had said to our first parents.
Adam and Eve understood the penalty for rebellion.
But they rebelled.

Lesson #1 – sin brings death.

Fast-forward several generations - Egypt had been rocked with plague after plague. Stubborn Pharaoh refused to let go of God’s people.

Lesson #2 - deliverance comes through the blood of an innocent one.

That is the message of the Gospel. That is the message of the cross. That is the meaning of this Table. We are guilty. It is not that we “feel” guilty, it is that we are guilty! We have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Most of us will say, easily enough, that we are sinners. After all, no one is perfect.

Why did he come? What was his mission? He came to perfectly fulfill God’s righteous demands. He came to satisfy the holy law of God. He was without sin. He perfectly obeyed the Ten Commandments and every other law of God. He came to satisfy all of God’s requirements and he came as our substitute.

Romans 5:6-11 –

He came to give his life as a ransom.

He, who knew no sin was made sin for us so that we could become the righteousness of God in Christ. So we come this evening. This is my body given for you. Take and eat. This is the new covenant in my blood. Drink in remembrance of me.

There are those who want to rid the church of these horrible, awful hymns of the blood atonement. But I say, “sing on!” For without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness. I’m in agreement with the great old hymn based on 1 Peter 1:19 –

Gadsby’s Hymnal #1156 —— C.M. —— J. Irons Precious Blood. 1 Pet. 1. 19

What sacred Fountain yonder springs
Up from the throne of God,
And all new covenant blessings brings?
’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

What mighty sum paid all my debt,
When I a bondman stood,
And has my soul at freedom set?
’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

What stream is that which sweeps away
My sins just like a flood,?Nor lets one guilty blemish stay?
’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

What voice is that which speaks for me
In heaven’s high court for good,
And from the curse has set me free?
’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

What theme, my soul, shall best employ
Thy harp before thy God,?And make all heaven to ring with joy?
’Tis Jesus’ precious blood.

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Our God’s Secret, Ceaseless Care: Exodus #3 (4/25/2018)
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This is an exposition of Exodus 3:1-10. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 22, 2018.

Intro:

Have you ever felt alone? Have you ever been convinced that no one knew or cared about your circumstance? It is bad enough to hurt. It’s hard enough to suffer some injustice or some indignity but to suffer knowing that someone who has the power to do something about your pain but just doesn’t care is unbearable.

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The second chapter of Exodus ends with the Hebrews “groaning because of their suffering.” The writer says they, “Cried out for help.” Centuries before a family of 70 came to Egypt to escape a famine. In Egypt they experienced the good life. Over time they grew from just 70 in number to a “great people.” It is said that the land was filled with them. They had settled into Egyptian life and life was good. They enjoyed the status of a favored people due to the life and influence of Joseph, the son of Jacob whom God had placed in power. Over time things changed. A new king came to power who viewed the Hebrew people as suspect. A surge in Egyptian nationalism brought about a great change. First there was suspicion but that soon gave way to fear, which fuel hostility, that erupted into hatred. They were afflicted and enslaved but in no time an order was given to murder every son born to the Hebrews. By the time we reach chapter 3 the Hebrews had been suffering under such a regime for 80 years. 80 years, that’s a long time to suffer. 8 decades of pain, humiliation and back-breaking labor takes its toll. “God, where are you? Why haven’t you responded? Why don’t you do something?” Can you sense the pain and the frustration? Wouldn’t you be frustrated? Are you frustrated with God’s lack of response? How do we deal with our pain, our hurt when it seems God is indifferent? Our text this morning is found in the 3rd chapter of Exodus.

Exodus 3:1-10

Remember the big picture:
God is sovereignly at work (His is not passive, He is not the watchmaker God).
God is sovereignly at work saving a special people.
God is sovereignly at work saving a special people for His own glory.

The message hammered home throughout the book of Exodus is that God is always at work. He does not slumber nor does He sleep. Our God is not indifferent. He knows and cares for His people. There are times that is hard to believe. There are times when we are certain that cannot be but that is the consistent testimony of Scripture. Our God works all things for the good of those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). The promise is not that everything that happens is good but that God uses it for our good. There are no wasted experiences in the economy of God. We are assured that everything that comes our way has to passed by Him. If He allows it, He allows it for a reason. There is purpose in all things. You may never know the specific purpose for a thing that happen in your life but you know the ultimate purpose for everything, it is to prepare you for eternity. It is for the purpose of comforting you to the image and likeness of the Lord Jesus. It is so that you can bring glory and honor to God.

Thesis: The third chapter of Exodus vividly reminds us of the secret, ceaseless care of God for His own.

Too often we think of salvation and the work of God only in terms of heaven. We think of salvation and the life of faith as a life insurance transaction. I walk an aisle, I say a prayer, sign a card and I’m given my “get out of hell free” card and I go on my way. Oh, sure there are a few perks that come with the plan. If things get too tough I can pray and God will get my out of some tight spot but for the most part I live my life and God will do His part when death comes knocking. No! To enter into salvation is to pass from death to life. It is to move from being the object of His sovereign and righteous wrath to the object of His loving grace. It is to embark on a life-long journey into holiness.

At the moment of salvation God begins a work in you that He will bring to completion.
Salvation is a gracious work of God that is past, present and future.
Justification, sanctification and glorification.
Saved, being saved and ultimately saved.

You become the object of His secret, ceaseless care.
Genuine salvation always brings a progression in holiness because God is always at work in you!
Even when you are sure He isn’t.

There are three things I want to note in our text.

God providentially prepares His people through ordinary means. (3:1-2a)

God graciously awakens His servants through Divine Encounter. (3:2-6)

God encourages His people through a show of sovereign mercy. (3:7-10)

Conclusion:
400 years under the whip making Pharaoh’s bricks and building Pharaoh’s cities. They’ve cried out, “Save us! Deliver us!” They thought they were forgotten. They were convinced God was unresponsive. All they while they were the object of His secret, ceaseless care. Now, the time has come for their deliverance.

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Ministers of the New Covenant: 2 Corinthians #5 (4/16/2018)
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This is an exposition of 2 Corinthians 3:1-18. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, April 15, 2018.

Intro:

A year ago we began a process. It started as some folks got together for a meal and after dinner began to talk about the church. The talk rightly led to prayer. This group meet again and again for prayer.

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That eventually led to including others in prayer and discussion. Eventually to a survey and the formation of two strategic teams. We are currently studying and strategizing. Our goal is to honor the LORD. “Pastor, I thought our goal was to grow our church?” I sincerely hope that is not our goal. Our goal, the aim of all we do, ought always be to bring glory to our God. Do I want to see us grow? Yes! Do I want to see us reach new people, see them come to Christ, baptize them into the fellowship of our church and disciple them into vibrant Christians? Yes, but that is an unworthy goal. We are to aim for something greater. That the name and the fame of our God would be known throughout the earth. To live and work for the growth of Trinity Baptist Church is too small a thing. We are called to minister the gospel. We are to give our lives for the life-altering truth of the saving work of Christ. That is a work worthy of our souls, our lives, our all. Do we need to study and strategize? Yes. Should we question what we do and how we do it? Of course. But we must use caution as we seek to evaluate and determine our effectiveness. This is a spiritual work, a biblical work therefore we must use biblical standard in evaluating.

From the moment Saul of Tarsus was captured by the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, his life had a single focus - Christ, and His kingdom. Saul, the Pharisee and persecutor of the church had because Paul the apostle, and the slave of Christ. It was not an easy life as 2 Corinthians 11:21-29 makes clear. For 18 months he ministered the gospel in Corinth. For a year and a half he labored in that pagan city teaching, caring for, praying for the people of that city. A church was established and he fed their souls with the word of God. He counseled and encouraged them to live the truth of the gospel. Now there were those who viciously attacked his integrity, his character, his teaching and the very thought of his being a spiritual leader. “Why, he’s no apostle. He did not sit at the feet of Jesus. Who does he think he is? He doesn’t even have a letter of recommendation from the Baptist Building in Jerusalem!” It stung. Nothing could hurt him more than to have such things said about him but his greatest concern was not his personal feelings or his reputation but the gospel. Our text this evening is found in the 3rd chapter of 2 Corinthians.

Text: 2 Corinthians 3:1-18

What I think is essential for us to note from this chapter and to keep in mind as we evaluate our ministry is this…

Thesis: In offering a defense of his own ministry the apostle Paul points not to himself but to the glory and wonder of gospel itself!

There are three things to note.

The validation of gospel ministry is found in the lives it transforms. (3:1-3)

The sufficiency for gospel ministry comes from God alone. (3:4-6)

The superiority of gospel ministry is made clear by its greater glory and profound benefits. (3:7-18)

Context: Exodus 34:29-35 - when Moses came down from the mountain and his face shone.

Conclusion:
We have been called to a new covenant ministry.
A ministry that finds its validation in the lives transformed.
A ministry that finds its sufficiency in God alone.
A ministry that is far superior to all others.

May we be found faithful.

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Birth, Preservation & Preparation of a Savior: Exodus #2 (4/16/2018)
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This is an exposition of Exodus 2:1-25. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 15, 2018.

Intro:

A change in status is hard. It’s hard when it comes even though it’s no ones’ fault. To go from happily married to widowed is excruciating. To go from the only child and thus the center of the family universe to older brother is a bitter pill to swallow.

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But such is the natural course of life. Spouses die. Families grow. More difficult to manage is the change that comes by the force of someone else’s will being imposed on you. Image what it was like for the Hebrews to go from a favored people to an enslaved people. The change was signaled by an innocent sound bite, “Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.” Jacob and his family had come down to Egypt centuries before. They totaled 70 in all. They came because there was a famine in the land and God had providential provided for them in placing Joseph in a position of power in Egypt. Joseph was God’s instrument for preserving His people along with the Egyptians. The descendants of Jacob had grown into a great people. They filled the land of Egypt but now a man came to power for refused to recognize Joseph, his contributions to Egyptian society, and who had grown to despise the Hebrew people. This ruler called on the people to deal “shrewdly” with the Hebrews lest they become too powerful. The shrewdness grew to suspicion which turned to fear which produced hostility which eventual erupted into hatred. First they were enslaved and afflicted. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied. Next, Pharaoh sought to secretly eliminate all the male children at birth. His instruction to the 2 midwives, “Every son born is to be killed, every daughter allowed to live.” But the midwives feared God more than they feared the king of Egypt so they refused. Next Pharaoh declared to all the people, “Every son born to the Hebrews is to be cast into the Nile.” Enslavement, infanticide, genocide. What was the response of the Hebrew people? “God where are you? Why don’t you do something? Save us!” Yet, nothing changed.

It seemed the heavens were brass. Their prayers got not higher than the ceiling. Meanwhile, everyday was just as bitter as the day before. The burden grew with each passing day. Their children were dying. Why doesn’t God do something? Have you ever felt that way? Have you ever wondered why God was silent, why He was unresponsive? Our text this morning is found in the second chapter of Exodus.

Text: Exodus 2:1-25

Remember the big picture of Exodus that came from pastor Mark Dever. God works sovereignly. God works sovereignly to save a special people. God works sovereignly to save a special people for His own glory.

God was at work. God is always working. Our God is not the watchmaker god who sets things in motion then sets back to see how it all plays out. Our God sovereignly, providentially works in all things. Further, He is always working for our good and His glory. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like He is. There are times when we see no good in anything going on around us but that does not change things. This is why we live by faith and not by sight. We live according to what He says, not how we feel or how we see things.

Pharaoh has called for the death of all male children born to the Hebrew slaves.
Each son born is to be cast into the Nile, a sacrifice to the gods.

[Read Text]

Thesis: Exodus 2 underscores the fact that the gracious, providential hand of God alone can deliver His enslaved people.

Remember the book of Exodus opens in away that points our attention back to Genesis 46. When God told Jacob not to be afraid to go down into Egypt. That He would be with them, that He would keep them and that He would bring them out of Egypt. Exodus is the story of redemption and deliverance. The tile “Exodus” means “to depart” or “to come out from.” The message from the book is that God delivers. Salvation is the work of God.

There are three (3) things I want you to note from this chapter.

God sovereignly orchestrates history to provide and providentially preserve a deliverer. (2:1-10)

God patiently guides a sincere yet impetuous would-be deliverer . (2:11-15)

God graciously prepares an appropriate instrument of deliverance. (2:15-22)

Conclusion:
Meanwhile back in Egypt things had not changed…
2:23-25.
Note: God heard their groaning, God remembered his covenant, God saw and God knew.

Friend, you are not alone, you are not forgotten. God knows you. He knows your circumstance and He is working for your good.

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Marks of a Biblical Ministry: 2 Corinthians #4 (4/8/2018)
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This is an exposition of 2 Corinthians 2:12-17. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, April 8, 2018.

Intro:

Early last week someone sent me a link to a YouTube video. I clicked on it and I will say it was funny. It was a pastor hurriedly moving through his church making sure everything was ready for Easter Sunday.

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“We want our guest to feel welcome people, are the rose pedals in the guest parking spaces?” Later he says, with frustration, “No, we do not have a ministry area but we do have a petting zoo.” Yes, it was overblown and satirical but it hit a little too close to home. That led me on a journey through this man’s other videos. This was a man very much aware of the evangelical culture. This was satire from an “insider.” Sadly, many would not recognize it as satire - it’s the church they are used to. It is the church they attend. In our dash to be relevant again, in an attempt to reach a culture dismissive of the gospel and the church, we are in danger of losing the gospel. We are in danger of become a spoof of ourselves. The story is told of two ministers walking past a great cathedral. One turns to the other and says, “Brother, no longer can we say, ‘Silver and gold have I none.’” To which the other replied, “Yes, and no longer can we rise, ‘Rise and walk!’” Compromise comes at a price. Yes, we need to speak the langue of our culture. We must be able to communicate the great truths of the gospel in a way that can be understood and embraced by the people we seek to reach but we must not compromise the message and we must not use perverted means.

Paul’s, “I’ve become all things to all men so that by all means I may save some” is not a call to abandon biblical standards or to approach ministry with a “Whatever it takes” mindset. Well, how do we bring the gospel to a pagan culture? How do we communicate gospel truth to those whose lives are opposed to everything the gospel stands for? We are not the first to face such questions. That is the culture in which the church was born. That is what Paul found in Corinth. This evening we continue our look at 2 Corinthians.

Text: 2 Corinthians 2:12-17

Paul’s relationship with the Corinthian church was a mixed bag.
As the founding pastor he was loved and respected.
After 18 months with them, they were near and dear to him.
After he left trouble soon followed.
Divisions developed - “I’m of Peter, I’m of Paul, I’m of Christ.”
There was open immorality.
Confusion about gifts of the Spirit, marriage and a host of other issues.
1 Corinthians was written to deal with many of those.
Then some false teachers were critical of Paul, his integrity, commitment and his teaching.
There was the painful visit and the tearful letter.
Finally we have 2 Corinthians.

Paul begins the letter by talking about affliction and God’s comfort (1:1-11).
It is to be expected and it is necessary (part of God’s sanctifying work).
Paul then addresses his critics and in so doing helps us understand how to so respond (1:12-2:4)
He then deals with the issue of discipline within the church (2:5-11).

Now, his focus turns to ministry within the church.

[Read the Text]

As we work through this brief text we are reminded that…

Thesis: With church culture fixated on celebrity and desperate to be embraced by an increasingly secular world, the need is for a return to a genuinely biblical model of ministry.

This passage seems to be little more than a transition statement but I’m convinced there is something more for us here. Something important given our cultural moment. Something necessary for us to see.

I want to point out three marks of a biblical ministry.

A genuinely biblical ministry burdens the heart and can lead to despair. (2:12-13)

A genuinely biblical ministry embraces the crucified life. (2:14-16)

A genuinely biblical ministry is marked by simplicity and sincerity and is empowered by God alone. (2:17)

Conclusion:
Yes, ministry, biblical ministry is hard. It will hurt and there is no way around that. At times it is frustrating and discouraging but there is no greater joy and privilege. Thanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere.

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From Favored to Enslaved: Exodus #1 (4/8/2018)
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This is an exposition of Exodus 1:1-22. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, April 8, 2018.

Intro:

If I’m to believe some of what I hear in Christian media, God always wants us to be happy, healthy and victorious. If I’m sick it’s because of a lack of faith.

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If I’m struggling financially it’s due to my failure to practice seed-faith giving. If I’m not walking in victory it is because I’m not exercising my rights as a true son of the kingdom. That all sounds well and good but that doesn’t seem to fit with what our brothers and sisters in Christ are experiencing in most of the world. It is not consistent with what most believers have experienced throughout the 2000 year history of the church and most importantly it doesn’t fit with Scripture! I would suggest that the apostle Paul was a genuine man of faith yet Paul wrote of his life as a minister of the gospel,“..[a life of ] great labor, [with many] imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.” (2 Corinthians 11:23-28)

Jeremiah was a great man of faith yet he is called, the “Weeping Prophet” because his was a difficult life of great heartache and trouble. Our Lord was a man of sorrows, well acquainted with grief. Yes, I know we are blessed with every spiritual bless in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. I know that we are more than conquerors through Christ who strengthens us. In Christ we are doubtlessly blessed beyond measure, my concern is that we are so tied to this sin-cursed world we think too often of blessing in terms of this world rather than the world to come! I like comfort. I want to have a good standard of living with good health and a nice bank account. I’m not suggesting that such things are wrong or sinful, I’m merely calling for some perspective. I’m grateful for all that I have. God has been gracious to me, I’ve got it way better than I deserve and that is wholly due to the grace of God but this world is not our home. This world is a training ground for our future glory. In this world we will have tribulation. In this world there will be tears and heartache. This world demands a life of faith. Our text this morning is found in the first chapter of the book of Exodus.

Text: Exodus 1:1-22

This morning we begin our journey through the 2nd book of Moses. Moses is the author of the Pentateuch, the books of the law, the first 5 books of the Old Testament. Exodus is the story of the birth of the nation of Israel. It is born out of adversity. The title, “Exodus” comes to us from the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. The word means, departure of going out. The Hebrew title is, “And these are the names” taken from the opening lines of the Hebrew text. Demonstrating that the book is a continuation of the drama begun in the book of Genesis. Genesis ends with Jacob and his family down in Egypt. In fact the book ends with Joseph in a coffin in Egypt. Exodus continues the story.

Pastor Mark Dever outlines the book beautifully with a simple outline. There are just three points:

God works sovereignly

God works sovereignly to save a special people

God works sovereignly to save a special people for His own glory

That last point is really the key to the whole book. Throughout God is the central actor. He is the focus, not Israel, not human freedom, not religion or ritual but God himself. God does what He does so that Israel will know that He is the LORD (6:7), so that Egypt will know that He is the LORD (7:3-5), so that all the earth will know that He is the LORD (18:8-11).

We begin this morning by looking at the opening chapter.
I want us to walk away understanding that…

Thesis: The life of faith trusts God to do what is good and right regardless of the circumstance and despite confusion and even doubt.

Faith is not about our believing for some reality we desire and create. Faith is about trust, belief and reliance upon the God who is. The object of faith is always God himself. I want to look at three things in our text.

A life of faithful obedience does not guarantee a pain-free existence. (1:1-11)

Our Sovereign God providentially works in our pain and sorrow ultimately for our good and His glory. (1:12-14, 22)

God graciously delivers His people in extraordinary ways through unexpected means. (1:15-21)

Conclusion:
Life in this world is often hard. To us it even appears that we experience great heartache and pain without explanation. We face adversity without purpose and hostility without protection. “God, where are you? Why is this happening? Why are you silent?” This how it looks to us, this is how it feels but The life of faith trusts God to do what is good and right regardless of the circumstance and despite confusion and even doubt.

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Our Glorious Salvation (4/1/2018)
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This is an exposition of Hebrews 10:1-18. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Easter Sunday morning, April 1, 2018.

Intro:

It’s what stirred the heart of the old sea captain as he wrote, “Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.” It was the thing that broke the shackles that bound the sin-laden heart of Martin Luther.

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It is that which loosed the pen of the apostle Paul as he wrote to a world held captive by ritual and superstition, “...by grace are you saved through faith” and “...it is not to the one who works but to the one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness.” The Gospel. God’s gift of forgiveness, life and righteousness to all who believe. It is an amazing message. One that seems too good to be true, in fact it seems foolish to those who are perishing but it is life to those who believe. How can sinful men be made right with God? How is it that those who are deserving of God’s judgment and wrath can be loved and accepted? The answer is found in the gospel.

Today is Easter. Churches are filled as people gather for the annual celebration. But why are we here? What are we celebrating? Central to our faith is the person of Jesus Christ. The Bible is clear, Jesus is uniquely the Son of God (John 1:1-4, 14). As Jesus enter into public ministry (around the age of 30) John the Baptist pointed to Him and declared, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” For three years Jesus lived and ministered in Palestine. The Gospels record His teachings and miracles. After years of mounting threats and increased hostility He is finally arrested, charged and executed. Three days later He rose triumphantly from the grave. Easter is the celebration of the resurrection.

Okay, we are celebrating the resurrection. Christ rose from the dead. But why does it matter? Is it worth celebrating? In answer to that I invite you to turn to our text this morning found in the 10th chapter of the book of Hebrews.

Text: Hebrews 10:1-18

Their world was crashing down around them.
Rejected by their families and targeted by the government - they struggled to believe.

Their faith was costly - But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one (10:32-34).

The writer says to these frightened believers, “Hold on. Christ is better than the best Rome or Judaism has to offer.” He sets forth the Lord Jesus as superior to angels, to Abraham, to the high priest and the whole sacrificial system. As God’s final word he is unsurpassed in revealing God and in guaranteeing our acceptance before a holy God.

In this text the writer leaves no doubt...

Thesis: The sacrifice of Jesus Christ alone enables cleansing and forgiveness.

This is our greatest need. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and the wages of our sin is death. The death I’m speaking of is separation from God now and forever. Left to ourselves, to our own devices, we are without hope. But, the Gospel is the good news that God has not left it to us. He has redeemed us. He has saved us. There are three things about this salvation I want to point out from this text.

The biblical writer makes clear the weakness and ineffectiveness of the Old Covenant. (10:1-4)

The biblical writer declares the power of Christ to save. (10:5-10)

The biblical writer glories in what Christ has accomplished for us. (10:11-18)

Conclusion:
Yes, today is Easter Sunday. A day for thanksgiving and celebration. A day for rejoicing. It has nothing to do with bunnies, eggs or candy. It is the joyous celebration of the fact that Christ died and rose again to make you and me perfect, forgiving us completely and renewing our hearts. Heaven has been laid at our sinful feet. There is no greater folly than to turn away from such a glorious salvation.

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Trusting Him: Selected Psalms (3/28/2018)
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This is an exposition of Psalm 94. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, March 28, 2018.

We are called to live by faith. Our confidence is in the God who never fails.

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In this brief look at Psalm 94, Pastor Harris considers the believer's progress in faith in three stages:

Believers often struggle with evil's apparent triumph (vs. 1-7).

Believers affirm God's sovereignty and welcome His instruction (vs. 8-15).

Believers ultimately rest in God's abiding comfort and are certain of his righteous judgement (vs. 16-23).

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Discipline: It’s a Matter of Covenant: 2 Corinthians #3 (3/27/2018)
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This is an exposition of 2 Corinthians 2:5-11. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 25, 2018.

Intro:

In 1984 a Collinsville, Church of Christ followed what they understood to be a biblical mandate. A member of their church was engaged in conduct forbidden by the Scripture and demanded church actions.

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That action led to a law suite that eventually made its way to the United State’s Supreme Court. Without getting into the details, this very complicated case led to a verdict in favor of the plaintiff (the excommunicated member) and awarded her $390,000 in damages. The amount awarded was six times the annual budget of the church! I’m not interested this evening is discussing the merit of that case or how that church handled that particular case - my interest is the topic itself. Church discipline, once a staple in Baptist life, is all but extinct in our day. If you were to read the minutes of Baptist church meetings and Baptist Associational meetings in the 19th century, more than half the meeting time was taken up with church disciplinary issues. There is no doubt that there has been abuse of disciplinary powers within churches. I’ve known of cases where church discipline was an excuse for raw power. Discipline was used to extract a pound of flesh rather than a loving act of restoration. Such an act is nothing short of the abuse of Scripture but the abuse of Scripture is no justification for ignoring a Scriptural command. The Bible is clear, the church is a covenant community. The local church is a body of believers who have joined together in a covenant relationship and are therefore responsible to and for one another. As members of the church we have committed to walk together in living out our faith. We are covenanted to hold each other accountable to a biblical lifestyle. As members of the body of Christ we are called to a higher standard. We are called to live holy lives. Lives that are above reproach, lives that demonstrate a higher standard of morality and ethics than the culture around us. We live in this world be we are not of this world. That distinction will become more and more apparent as our culture becomes increasingly secular. It is not that we are “better” than the people around us but that we choose to live according to different standards. Because we are no better than the people around us, in that we too are sinners in desperate need of grace, we should recognize, all the more, our need for loving discipline within the church. Repentance is not just something we do when we “get saved.” Our lives are to be lives of continual repentance as we learn to walk in holiness. Repentance, grace and forgiveness are on-going necessities within the church if we are to understand biblical church discipline and how it is to be applied. Our text this evening is found in the 2nd chapter of 2 Corinthians.

Text: 2 Corinthians 2:5-11

Paul loves this congregation. He established the church on his second missionary journey (Acts 18). Yet there have been struggles. It was a troubled church. There was immorality and divisions (see 1 Corinthians). Paul wrote them a total of 4 letters (2 of which have been lost) and several visits including a “painful” visit dealing with critical matters. There are those in the church questioning Paul’s integrity and his doctrine. This issues have led to disciplinary action. Last time we talked about responding to criticism and said Paul could not ignore the accusations because the gospel was at stake. He could not lash out with a “scortched earth” mentality because he did not want to harm the church. Yet matters had to be dealt with. Those responsible must be held accountable.

Our text makes it clear that action has been taken.
As we walk through the passage we learn somethings about discipline within the church.

Contrary to popular opinion, church discipline is not about kicking people out of the church, it is about keeping people in the church who are determined, by their actions, to be taken out of the church! More about that as we make our way through the text.

From this text we discover that…

Thesis: The covenant nature of the church demands the practice of church discipline as a means of strengthening the fellowship of the church and as a safeguard against the schemes of the Enemy.

This issue of church discipline is not keeping people in line. It isn’t about making sure everyone “toes the mark” or being the Holy Spirit for your church. It is about loving each other enough to encourage godly living and holding each other accountable to Scriptural standards.

There are three things I want to point out in our text. Three things that are essential to having a biblical understanding of discipline within the church.

Church discipline is made necessary because we are in a covenant relationship and because we are in a covenant relationship, church discipline is painful for all involved. (2:5-6)

The goal of church discipline is pardon and not probation! (2:7-9)

The purpose of church discipline is to restore and strengthen fellowship while guarding against Satan’s scheme to weaken the church. (2:10-11)

Conclusion:
Church life can get messy. The church is made up of people like you and me. So, there will always be problems. The covenant nature of the church demands the practice of church discipline as a means of strengthening the fellowship of the church and as a safeguard against the schemes of the Enemy.

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Behold Your King: Palm Sunday, 2018 (3/25/2018)
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This is an exposition of John 12:12-19. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Palm Sunday, March 25, 2018.

Intro:

The date was December 4, 1977. The place was Bangui, the capital of the Central African Empire. It was the day of the coronation of his Imperial Majesty, Bokassa I. I must say, “It was an impressive affair.”

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The ceremony began with the blare of trumpets and the roll of drums. Bokassa’s twenty-nine official children paraded down the royal carpet to their seats. They were followed by Jean Bedel Bokassa II, heir to the throne, dressed in a white admiral’s uniform with gold braid. He was followed by Catherine, the favorite of Bokassa’s nine wives. Finally the emperor arrived in a gold imperial coach drawn by six matched Anglo-Norman horses. He wore a thirty-two-pound robe decorated with 785,000 pearls and gold embroidery. On his brow he wore a gold crown of laurel wreaths, symbolic of the favor of the gods. He took his seat on his $2.5 million eagle throne, took off his gold laurel wreath and, as Napoleon 173 years before had done, took his $2.5 million dollar crown, topped with an 80-caret diamond, and placed it on his own head declaring himself emperor. That little affair cost $25 million dollars. His kingdom lasted 2 years.

It was the year 30 AD. The place was Jerusalem. It was Passover season. The streets were crowded with pilgrims. The air was filled with joy and excitement. There was singing, dancing and laughter throughout the city. Off in the distance there came the faint echoes of a shouting mob. The shouts grow louder and louder until finally this strange parade made its way down from the Mount of Olives. But this was a very different kind of parade. Old clothes. Broken branches. Peasants shouting about a king. But what kind of king enters triumphantly on a donkey?

And how does such a one inspire people to cry, “Save us! Save us now?”
Our text this morning is found in the 12th chapter of John’s Gospel.

Text: John 12:12-19

Our Lord entered the city in a precise and calculated manner.
The citizens of Jerusalem had been debating for days about whether he would even show.
It is well known the religious establishment was determined to kill him.
So why enter in such a public way?
Why such a conspicuous display?
The answer is simple, His time had come.
That time determined by His Father in eternity past.

The Passover Lamb must be offered in payment for sin.

As we survey the chaos of that moment. We note the presence of impassioned believers. There are those who have heard His teaching and know that no one teaches like this man. They’ve watched as the eyes of the blind have been opened and they’ve seen the lame walk. Many have been in the presence of Lazarus, the once decaying corpse, and they believe this is the Christ! Others are just curious. They have heard the stories and they’re not sure what to believe. Still others are filled with rage and long for the destruction of this trouble-making Galilean. One thing is certain...

Thesis: The revelation of Jesus Christ demands a response.

He cannot be ignored. You cannot remain neutral. That option is not available to you. Once He is revealed you must believe in Him or you must reject Him.

John tells us the purpose of his writing is to present Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God that you might believe in Him. That you might trust in Him.

That you would surrender to Him as Lord and Savior. He says, “I’ve written this that you might know that He is the Christ and that you might have life by believing in His name.”

There are three things I want us to note from this text.

Our Lord purposefully and deliberately reveals himself as the promised Messiah, the fulfillment of prophecy. (12:12-14)

Our Lord graciously and deliberately reveals himself as the servant king and the Lamb of God. (12:15)

Once revealed, He cannot be ignored. (12:16-19)

Conclusion:
There were those who waved palm branches and cried, “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.” There were those who feared the whole world was going after him and thus despised Him all the more.

What is your response?

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The Comforting Doctrine of God’s Sovereignty: Selected Psalms (3/23/2018)
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This is an exposition of Psalm 93. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, March 21, 2018.

The fact that God reigns over all the earth is where we find our peace of mind. What a comfort!

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Note in this short psalm:

God's Sovereign reign is over all (vs. 1,2).
Four attributes found in these opening verses are majesty, omnipotence, immutability, and eternality.

The tumult and struggle of this world is no threat to His reign (vs. 3,4).

Truth and justice distinguish God's decrees (v. 5).

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Responding to Critics: 2 Corinthians #2 (3/18/2018)
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This is an exposition of 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 18, 2018.

Intro:

How do you respond to criticism? Is it something you find easy to deal with? What about when people say mean, hurtful and spiteful things about you?

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As children we said, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.” We know that is a lie. Broken bones heal in a matter of weeks but words can wound for a lifetime. As a believer how am I to respond to criticism? Abraham Lincoln sent an important message to Edwin Stanton, his Secretary of War, at a crucial moment during the Civil War. The messenger returned and was obviously embarrassed. “Did you deliver my message” asked the president? “Yes, sir, I did.” “Well, what did Mr. Stanton say” required an impatient Lincoln. The messenger stared at the floor and final spoke with a timid voice, “Mr. Stanton tore up your message and said that you were a fool.” Lincoln paused, then replied, “Well, Mr. Stanton is usually right. If he called me a fool, I’d better look into the matter.”

The apostle Paul faced his share of criticism in his day. In our text, found in 2 Corinthians chapter 1 beginning at verse 12, he comes to deal with some of the accusations leveled against him by his Corinthian detractors. These critics have called into question the apostle’s integrity, they have questioned his motives and accused him of duplicity and deception. They say, “He’s no apostle and that he is only interested in lining his own pockets.” There are two common responses to criticism. One is to simply ignore it. You can treat it by saying, “I’ll not dignify that with a response.” The other response is aggression. You can lash out at your accusers with a few accusations of your own. Paul cannot afford to leave such questions unanswered for by attacking his integrity and motives they are discrediting his message. He cannot lash out - that would only seems to validate some of the accusations. Instead he must respond in a way that is firm, measured and seasoned with grace.

Text: 2 Corinthians 1:12-2:4

Remember Paul’s history with this church.

He founded the church while on his 2nd missionary journey (Acts 18).

He spent 18 months with them establishing the church.

After leaving he received word about immorality within the church.

He wrote a letter addressing the issues (a letter lost to the church) mentioned in 1 Cor. 5:9.

While in Ephesus on his 3rd missionary journey he wrote another letter responding to reports and addressing concerns - that second letter is our 1 Corinthians.

Word reached Paul again about troubles in the church and he made a “painful visit” (2 Cor. 2:1).

Trouble persisted and he wrote for a 3rd time.

This was the “sorrowful letter” also lost to the church (2 Cor. 2:4).

Finally Titus came with good news and he wrote a 4th letter - 2 Corinthians.

Churches likes families are messy. We don’t always get along and sometimes we fight and fuss.
It is clear from the 2 letters we do have, there was a great deal of love and affection between the apostle and the people of Corinth. At the same time there were real difficulties and struggles. We often have the mistaken idea that the early church was this pristine environment that became corrupt over time. No, there were problems from the beginning. The reason is simple. The church then, as now, was made up of people! People are rotten. We are in the process of being made holy we are not there yet. Heaven’s going to be great but it is a rocky road down here. As long as we are going to live together there will be problems.

The visible church, the church on earth is a mixed bag. There are true believers and there are false converts. The wheat and tares grow together. There are false teachers in the church today and there were false teachers in Paul’s day. There are legitimate disciplinary things in the church that must be addressed and there are false accusations driven by selfish motives and impure desires.

As we work our way through this text Paul provides us an example of how to respond to criticism. He reminds us that…

Thesis: Responding to criticism within the church demands firmness and truth tempered by love and grace.

Because the church is a covenanted community and because the church represents Christ and because the church is built upon the gospel we cannot just ignore accusations. As a church we must not entertain accusations without substantiation. There must be corroborating testimony or evidence. If it is discovered that accusations are true the offender(s) must be dealt with according to Scriptural standards. That would include how the accusations are handled, and how the matter is resolved. The goal, always within the church, is restoration. If an accusation is proven to be false those who brought the accusation must be dealt with and again the goal is the same, restoration.

In this text the focus is on how the accused it to respond.

There are three things to note.

When responding to criticism it is imperative that believers be able to point to a clear conscience and genuine integrity. (1:12-14)

When accused of inconsistency and conflicting messages believers must be able to demonstrate a consistent motivation and an unquestioned commitment to truth. (1:15-22)

When accused of indifference and hostility believers must be able to articulate genuine love and concern for their accusers. (1:23-2:4)

Conclusion:
We live in a fallen world and we go to church with folks who are, as Luther put it, as the same time just and sinners. They are declared righteous in the sight of God by the inputed righteousness of Christ but are in the process of being made holy through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

So, things will be said. Accusations will be made - some of them innocently through misunderstanding, others purposefully with wicked intent. How are we to respond? We are to respond with firmness and truth tempered by love and grace.

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We Are a Mission People: Gospel of Luke #98 (3/18/2018)
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This is an exposition of Luke 24:44-53. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 18, 2018.

Intro:

We are a mission people. As Southern Baptist we were born out of mission concerns. Yes, racial issues were involved. We were born in the South in the year 1845. Slavery is a stain that marks our beginnings and it is a stain we can never removed.

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To our everlasting shame our forefathers were slaveholders. For that reason Northern mission sending agencies refused to appoint missionaries from Southern churches. The Baptist churches of the South banded together to form a new convention and the first item of business was the establishment of the Foreign Mission Board. Fast forward to today and we, as Southern Baptist, have 4000 missionaries serving in over 100 countries around the world through our International Mission Board. We have another 5000 missionaries serving the United States and Canada through the North American Mission Board. Last year Southern Baptist gave $153,000,000 to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. We gave another $59,000,000 to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. Those monies are in addition to what is already given through the Cooperative Program. Add to that thousands of churches who sent members out on short-term mission trips like our folks going to Nicaragua and you see, we are a mission people. We believe we are called to take the good news of the gospel to the world. We also know that missions start here, outside our own front door and it extends to the ends of the earth. We are a mission people not because in 1845 we decided to make that an emphasis but because we have been commanded and commissioned by our king.

It had been an extraordinary day. It began with the report from some women who came with the news of an empty tomb and an angelic announcement. Others went to the tomb and confirmed it was empty. Throughout the day there were reports of various sightings. That night two disciples from Emmaus came with a fantastic tale of the risen Lord and his journey with them and a remarkable sermon. Finally, with all of the them gathered in an upper room the Lord himself appeared before the whole gathering and brought the announcement of peace. It was a long, emotionally and physically draining day but it was not over. Our Lord had something more to say. Our text is found in Luke chapter 24 beginning with verse 44.

Text: Luke 24:44-53

If we just had Luke’s gospel we might think that Jesus ascended into glory the very day he rose from the dead. But of course we are not left with just Luke’s gospel, we have the other gospels and we have Luke’s second volume, the book of Acts. From Acts we know that our Lord was around for 40 days after the resurrection. During those 40 days he met with the disciples and taught them. It was a time of preparation for the work that was to be entrusted to them and in turn to us. There is some questions as to whether the teaching we read of here in our text took place that night or is this a summary of what he taught over that 40 day period. My answer is, “Yes.” I believe he taught them that night and he reinforced the same message over and over for the next 40 days.

We have in this text, Luke’s version of the “Great Commission.” These are our marching orders. This is the task assigned. This is what the church is to be about. We are on mission. It is clear from this text that…

Thesis: The risen Lord commissions and empowers His church to take His Gospel to the nations.

The key is verse 47 - …that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

We are called to proclaim, announce, or declare his message to the nations.
The word nations is “ethnos” or peoples (ethnic).

There are three things I want to point out from our text.

The Lord graciously grants believers a genuine understanding of the gospel. (24:44-45)

The risen Lord commissions His church to take His Gospel to the nations. (24:46-47)

The risen Lord promises to empower His church to fulfill the task assigned. (24:48-49)

Conclusion:
God has promised the Holy Spirit to equip and empower us for the work assigned. The gospel advanced when the messengers were empowered by the Holy Spirit so that they spoke with great boldness and the Spirit was pleased to do his work of regeneration. Thus Paul said to the church at Thessalonica, “Our gospel came to you not simply with words, but with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction” (1 These 1:5).

May we be a gospel people devoted to the mission of the church empowered by the Holy Spirit and determined to be at the task assigned until He comes or calls us home!

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The Sabbath: A Day for Worship: Selected Psalms (3/16/2018)

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This is an exposition of Psalm 92. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, March 14, 2018.
Affliction and Comfort: 2 Corinthians #1 (3/16/2018)
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This is an exposition of 2 Corinthians 1:1-11. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 11, 2018.

Intro:

Life is hard. If you don’t know that you are either living in denial or you’re just not paying attention! People are mean and hateful. They constantly harass, annoy and infuriate you. There’s the constant back and forth you have to restrain yourself from just punching them right in the nose but enough about family the folks “out there” are not so great either!

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Then add to that the economy, the threat of terrorism, the general decline of our culture and we live in a very troubled world. As Christ-followers, those who believe the Gospel and seek to live it, we have to add that we are faced with an ever increasingly secular world. The church and the things of God are being pushed to the margin. There is a vast majority who would like to remove our set from the cultural table. “We are not interested in what you ‘Bible thumpers’ have to say. If you want to continue in the conversation, you need to change what you believe.” None of this should surprise us as people of the Book. The Scripture is clear this is a fallen world. This is a world dominated by sin. The first three chapters of Romans paints a very clear picture of what a godless world looks like. It is a world that refuses to acknowledge God as God. A world that exchanges the truth for a lie. A world with no fear of God before its eyes. A world given over to its own lustful desires. In such a world, the church is out of place. The Gospel is foreign and those who seek to declare and live by the Gospel are going to find opposition. It is the Lord Jesus who said to his followers, “In this world you will have tribulation” (John 16:33). He said, “They have hated me, they will hate you” (John 15:20). In speaking of the last days he said, “All nations will hate you because you are committed to me” (Matthew 24:9).

It is not a matter of “if” you will experience heartache, trials and troubles but “when” you experience heartache, trials and troubles. This is our lot. I’m convinced this is a message much needed in our day. We’ve had it so good for so long. We’ve lived in relative ease as Christians in the United States. For so long and biblical worldview dominated. A Christian memory saturated our culture. Gospel truths wielded great influence but that is changing and as a result we are facing increasing hostility. Biblical assumptions are not only questioned they are denied. Those holding biblical views are considered dangerous, bigoted and hateful. What I want you to understand is that the Gospel is big enough to handle all of that hostility. The church is not going to fold. The Gospel is not going away. For some help in navigating the troublesome waters ahead we turn to the New Testament book of 2 Corinthians.

Text: 2 Corinthians 1:1-11

The context is important. You cannot take verses 3 and 4 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, put it on a magnet and hang it on your refrigerator and boast of God’s blanket promise to always comfort you in every trial. There is a context.

Look at verse 5 - For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.

Not comfort just because we are suffering but because we suffer for Christ. We suffer because of our faith. Not when we suffer because of our sin. Not because we suffer for our bad choices, wicked behavior or willful disobedience. Also you must note that the assumption is when you are faithful, you will suffer.
This is what I want us to see…

Thesis: In a culture fixated on ease and obsessed with self, the church must be reminded that affliction and hardship are not only possibilities in this life but are expected and beneficial to the ministry of the church.

There are two things to note in our text.

Faithful believers are reminded of the certainty of affliction and the purpose of God’s comfort. (1:3-7)

Faithful believers are assured that affliction has a purpose and that deliverance will come. (1:8-11)

Conclusion:

Affliction is a given in this life. It’s not a matter of if but when. What do you do when it comes? Allow your suffering to be a laboratory in which you discover the adequacies and sufficiencies of our God. Allow him to comfort you, undergird you and uphold you; molding you into a comforter that reaches out to comfort others while singing the praises of His glory. Allow the darkness of the storm to drive you into the loving arms of your heavenly Father.

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Unbelievable: Gospel of Luke #97 (3/12/2018)
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This is an exposition of Luke 24:36-43. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 11, 2018.

Intro:

We live in a scientific age. A time in which truth is more and more determined through a scientific methodology. The dominate ethos of our time is that our problems will be solved through science. We no longer look to the church. We look to the academy.

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We do not want to know what the Bible says we want to know what the social sciences tell us about us? Who are we? What are our greatest needs and how can we find true happiness? While biblical faith is not anti-scientific, it is not in opposition to reason it is mysterious. There are things we do not understand, things we cannot reconcile with our normal daily experience. Thus there are things we accept by faith. It’s not “blind” faith. It is not a “leap in the dark”. It is not faith for no reason but it is faith based on what God has spoken to us through His Word. It may not seem reasonable to you. It might even contradict your experience but it is none-the-less true. Our experience tells us dead people do not get up and walk out of cemeteries. Yet central to our faith, in fact essential to our faith is the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul said to the church at Corinth, “I delivered to you what was of primary importance…that Jesus died for our sins, according to Scripture, he was buried and he rose again on the third day.” In fact Paul makes it clear, without the resurrection there is no Gospel.

The Nicean Creed says, “We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.” The Apostle’s Creed states, “We believe in the resurrection of the body.” This has been the confession of the church from its earliest days. It is an essential doctrine. First, that Christ rose from the dead and second, that we will rise. Yet there are many who do not believe. They are convinced that this life is it. This is all there is and there is nothing to follow. Others would say, there is a life to come but it is a “spiritual” existence. The soul returns to God or whatever is out there. Still others hope there is something and hope the body is raised but doubts that such a thing will actually happen. After all, dead bodies are…well, lifeless. And what about when it returns to dust? It just seems so impossible.

The disciples certainly didn’t believe. The day began with an extraordinary report. Some women had gone, just before dawn, to the garden tomb. They returned with a fantastic tale about the tomb being empty and some angels saying that Jesus was alive. The disciples dismissed it as the hysterical rantings of a few women. But Peter ran to the tomb and found it empty. He wasn’t sure what to make of it so he went home wondering about what it meant. Throughout the day others went and confirmed that the tomb was empty. Various reports began to come in from those who claim to have seen the Lord. Late in the afternoon two disciples where on their way home to Emmaus when a stranger joined them. This stranger began to teach them from the Old Testament how the Messiah must suffer, die and be raised to life in order to enter into his glory. After reaching their home their eyes were opened and they realized that had been walking and talking with the resurrected Lord. Once they recognized him, he vanished. They hurried back to Jerusalem with the news. Upon arrival they learn that the Lord had appeared to Peter. The two then told their story and as they all tried to wrap their minds around what had happened…the Lord Jesus entered the room. Our text this morning is found in the 24th chapter of Luke.

Text: Luke 24:36-43

You have to keep in mind this all happened in just one day.
They watched him die.
They saw him buried.
Then beginning early that morning - “He’s alive!”
Various reports throughout the day and now - here he is.

As we work through this text I want to remind you that…

Thesis: At the heart of the Christian gospel is this remarkable, unbelievable, astonishing and yet absolutely essential truth of the bodily resurrection of Jesus.

It is not that the influence of Jesus lives on.
It is not that we have his teaching and our wonderful experience with him.
No, it is that he, bodily, physically rose from the dead.
Not a ghost or a disembodied spirit - but Jesus, the whole person, body, soul and spirit.

I say this is essential because Paul said if he didn’t physically rise from the grave our preaching is in vain, your faith is worthless and we are still in our sin. We are lost, and to be pitied more than anyone on the planet.

I want us to note 3 things as we move through this passage.

A Startling Appearance and a Remarkable Gift (24:36-37)

A Gracious Rebuke and Convincing Proof (24:38-43)

A Curious Expression but an Understandable Response (24:41)

Conclusion:
It had been an incredible day. So much had happened in such a short time. It was just so remarkable, so unbelievable, so astonishing they could not believe it - but they did believe it and so must you.

For at the heart of the Christian gospel is this remarkable, unbelievable, astonishing and yet absolutely essential truth of the bodily resurrection of Jesus.

Without it there is no Gospel.
Do you believe?

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Humility in Worship: Selected Psalms (3/12/2018)
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This is an exposition of Psalm 90. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, March 7, 2018.

This first Psalm in Book four of the Psalms is the only Psalm attributed to Moses.

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Worship is the response of all that I am to all that God is. This requires:

A clear vision of God, and

An honest evaluation of who I am.

From Psalm 90 we consider four elements of worship:

The worshiping heart stands in awe of the glory and grandeur of God (vs. 1-2).

The worshiping heart humbly acknowledges the transient frailty of man (vs. 3-6).

The worshiping heart reverently bows before the wrath of God (vs. 7-12).

The worshiping heart expectantly pleads for God's gracious favor (vs. 13-17).

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How Have We Despised Your Name? (3/5/2018)

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This is an exposition of Malachi 1:7-14. This message by guest preacher Dennis Gunderson was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, March 4, 2018.
How Have You Loved Us? (3/5/2018)

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This is an exposition of Malachi 1:1-6. This message by guest preacher Dennis Gunderson was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, March 4, 2018.
Overcoming Confusion and Doubt: Selected Psalms (3/1/2018)
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This is an exposition of Psalm 89. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, February 28, 2018.

Ever since the fall we have lived in a troubled, confused world. In this psalm the psalmist both confirms and questions God's faithfulness. The believing heart overcomes doubt in God's faithfulness by looking at the long record of His faithfulness over time.

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When faced with conflicting reality, the child of God:

reflects on God's faithfulness in the past and promise to continue to do so (vs. 1-18).

remembers God's gracious gifting (vs. 19-37),

recognizes and acknowledges that reality (vs. 38-51).

resolves the conflict with faith (v. 52).

God is worthy of your confidence. He is worthy of your faith.

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A God Worthy of Your Fear (2/25/2018)
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This is an exposition of Isiah 40:12-31. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, February 25, 2018.

Intro:

“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” That was Paul’s conclusion regarding those who were “outside of Christ.” It is equally appropriate today. If fact it is increasingly true among those “inside the church!”

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God has definitely been made “user friendly.” He has been made safe. We need not fear the Almighty. But is that true? Is that a safe position? I would argue it is an extremely dangerous position. In fact I am becoming convinced that until you learn to fear God – you cannot trust God. You can only trust Him to the extent you have learned to fear Him. I think there is biblical precedent for such a belief.

You remember the Exodus. That little excursion Moses took the children of Israel on. The children of Israel had gone down into Egypt during the time of Joseph due to the famine. Later a leader came to power who refused to recognize Joseph and his descendants. Israel then was taken captive and made slaves. They cried out to God and God delivered them. You remember the plagues and how God brought them to the point of letting Israel go. Finally Israel is leaving and the look back and the army of Egypt is in hot pursuit. They turn around and they are heading into the Red Sea. They are stuck. The army of Egypt on one side and the Red Sea on the other.

What’s going on? Why did God bring us out here to die? They had no idea how they would ever get out of their predicament. God did something they never imagined.
The Red Sea parted and they crossed on dry land. The army of Egypt drowned in the Sea.

Look at the result.
Exodus 14:31 - Thus Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so the people feared the Lord, and believed or put their trust in the Lord and His servant Moses.

Did you catch it? They feared the Lord and put their trust in Him. The two are related. Once they experienced His power and glory. Once they were awed by Him, they put their trust in Him. God specifically led them into a dead-end so that He could build their trust. We can only trust Him to the extent that we stand in awe of Him.

Text: Isaiah 40:12-31

Here we find a classic passage dealing with the greatness of God and designed to inspire confidence in Him.

Throughout this passage Isaiah uses anthropomorphic language. He uses the language of man to describe God. We know that God is a spirit. He does not have a body. He does not have hands, feet, arms, legs etc. This is the use of picture language to help us grasp His greatness. A careful reading of this chapter will bring us to only one conclusion.

Thesis: As believers we can confidently trust in our awesome God.

Isaiah declares in chapter 40 that God is awesome and he means it in the classical sense of the word.

There are 4 things I want you to note as we travel through this passage.

God is infinitely greater than the most majestic elements of the world around us. (40:12)

God is infinitely greater than the nations of the earth. (40:15-17)

God is in control of all earthly leaders. (40:23-24)

God’s power, glory and wisdom is beyond all comprehension. (40:26)

Conclusion:
The fact is you compare things to God every day.
Whenever you run head on into trouble you stop and ask – can God handle this?
You don’t understand I could lose my job. God is bigger.
You don’t understand this operation can be tricky. God is bigger.
This could really harm me financially. God is bigger.

Stand back and take a good look at our God. Then stand in awe of Him and watch as He delivers you. You will find that He will do exceedingly, abundantly above and beyond what you ask or think.

Our God is an awesome God and worthy of your trust and confidence.
He is worthy of your fear.

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From Disillusioned to Impassioned Evangelists: Gospel of Luke #96 (2/25/2018)
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This is an exposition of Luke 24:13-27. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 25, 2018.

Intro:

Out of the darkness came the triumphant cry, “It is finished!” With that our Lord, from the cross, declared redemption complete. He then cried a second time, “Papa, into Your hands I commit my spirit.” With that, He breathed His last.

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Yet those gathered around the cross failed to understand that victory had been won. They could not see beyond His lifeless body. As He was removed and placed in that tomb the icy fingers of death tightened about their hearts in chilling, numbing grief. None of his followers had the slightest notion of resurrection. They walked away in despair. When the sun rose early Sunday morning some women found his tomb empty. They returned with tails of angels and the announcement that He was alive. It was thought an idle tale, the deranged babbling of some hysterical women. Peter ran to the tomb and finding it empty he went away wondering what happened. It was now late afternoon. Two of His followers, having heard bits and pieces of the story were on their way home to the tiny village of Emmaus. As they walked slowly along they were trying to make sense of all they had heard. They were reasoning together. They were discussing and evaluating all the news that was flying around. Then a stranger joined them on the road. Our text this morning is found in Luke chapter 24 beginning with verse 13.

Text: Luke 24:13-35

We are not given much detail about these two disciples. We know they lived in Emmaus, a village about 7 miles outside of Jerusalem (13). We know they were discouraged, disillusioned and confused. One of them was named Cleopas (18). Now, an interesting theory is that this is a variation of the name given in John 19:25 as Clopas. I don’t know, but it is interesting. Why? Because John 19 describes those near the cross as, “His mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” Kent Hughes takes the phrase, “his mother’s sister” as a descriptive of Mary the wife of Clopas. So, Hughes says, “Aunt Mary and uncle Cleopas were on their way home.” It’s an interesting idea but I’m not sure it is one that is well supported by the text! All we know is that they were followers of Jesus and they were heart-broken over the crucifixion and now the disappearance of His body.

Let’s look at the text…

This account is unique to Luke.
Mark makes reference to these two disciples but only that Jesus appeared to them (16:12-13).
When we dealt with Luke 24:1-12 I made a point of Jesus’ absence. I said, “I believe Luke was place an emphasis on the prophetic word.” That he wanted his reader to understand the importance of what Jesus said and the need to believe the word. Joining that with Peter’s comment in 2 Peter chapter 1 that we have a more certain word. Something more reliable than experience. I think that is why Luke includes this encounter of the risen Lord on the road to Emmaus.

As the story unfolds we discover that…

Thesis: The life-giving, energizing truth of the Risen Christ takes doubting, struggling and faltering followers and transformed them into gospel inflamed evangelists.

There are three things I want to call to your attention in this text.

A gospel without the resurrection is not merely a defective gospel, it is no gospel at all! (24:13-24)

The resurrection is not a New Testament doctrine, it is a biblical doctrine! (24:25-27)

The whole gospel enlightens, inspires and transforms. (24:28-35)

Conclusion:
What a difference. They left the city heart-broken. They returned with triumphant joy!

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The Fear of God (2/19/2018)
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“The Fear of God” This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, February 18, 2018.

Intro:

Fear is a powerful emotion. We use the word or talk about it on a number of levels. On the one hand we love to be “scared.” We say to each other, “Have you see such and such movie?” “Yeah, it was great. I was scared to death!” On the other hand we don’t like it at all. “Oh, don’t say that you scared me.”

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There is a paralyzing fear and then there is a healthy fear. If I’m laying in bed and here a window break and I know someone has just broken in my house – that is a paralyzing fear. I would really be afraid something could happen to Rheadon as she takes care of that situation! On the other hand if I’m going to do anything involving electricity – I have a healthy fear. I’m not going to take any chances. I’m going to be extra careful. Fear can be a good thing. In fact fear is a necessary thing.

Fear is a good thing, a necessary thing, when we talk about our faith. In Romans 3 when the apostle Paul describes those folks who stand outside the faith – both Jew and Gentile, those who do not know Christ – he says of them, “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Now we must add to that the fact that even within the church, vast numbers of those who say they know the Lord – have no fear of Him. God has been made “safe.” You have nothing to fear from God as He is preached in most churches today. The all Mighty has been tamed. Oh sure those pagans have something to fear. They need to be afraid of the judgement of God. They need to fear the fires of hell. But for those who have walked an aisle or said a prayer or “made a commitment” – they have nothing to fear. Where is that in the scripture?

Doesn’t the scripture say – “perfect love cast out fear?” Yes. It eliminates that paralyzing fear of eternal punishment and banishment from God’s blessing and presence. But, while we are delivered from the ultimate wrath of God, we are not guaranteed deliverance from His temporal judgements.

Do you remember Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu? They dropped dead on the spot because they mixed “strange fire” on the altar of God.

Uzzah dropped dead because he reached out to steady the ark of God. The instant he touched the ark – he was struck dead.

Ananias and Sapphira died because they lied to the apostles and the Holy Spirit.

It is at best naïve and at worst arrogant to think that believers live above the judgement of God. It is naïve to say those judgements only happened in biblical times. We just have the advantage of divine commentary on those events. Who knows today the extent, if any, to which tragic and traumatic events may be the expression of God’s judgement against those who do not fear Him?

We must be careful and not fall into the trap of Job’s three friends – but it is not unreasonable to think that God still brings swift judgement in our own time. He is the same yesterday, today and forever isn’t He?

It is critical to our faith that we have a biblical view of God.
We need to see God as presented in scripture.
There are some very distorted views today.
For example:

The God of the great big stick

and the gullible grandfather.

Yes, God is good and loving.
It is His nature to give – He delights in doing good – and He is the God of all grace.
This evening I want to look at the opposite side of that coin.

In years gone by people of faith were described as “God-fearing.”
That was a badge of honor proudly worn by those who embraced the Gospel.
That is not a message you hear much anymore.
But one that is desperately needed.
Perhaps more now than ever before.

We as believers need to recapture a biblical sense of who God is and how we are to relate to Him. There is a profound lack of respect and reverence for the things of God in our culture and in our churches. There is a cozy attitude toward God that has little or nothing to do with biblical standards. God is not your buddy. He is not someone you pal around with. He is the Sovereign ruler of heaven and earth. The eternal, holy and righteous God. And we had best not forget that.

I am convinced that:

Thesis: A genuinely biblical understanding of God demands an overwhelming reverential fear.

Boy that doesn’t sound like fun.

I’m convinced that we will never know real joy until we are rightly related to God and we cannot be rightly related to Him until we know who He is!

There are three things I want us to note this evening about reverential fear. And I want to look at them through the eyes of three individuals who had profound encounters with God – encounters that greatly impacted their lives.

Reverential fear begins with a profound sense of the presence of God.
(Genesis 28:12-15)

Reverential fear flows from a sense of God’s holiness and power. (Luke 5:1-11)

Reverential fear results from a sense of the infinite majesty, power and authority of God. (Revelation 1:12-17)

Conclusion:
I’m bothered/concerned about the cheap, flippant attitudes of modern day preachers who claim to have had encounters with the risen Christ and with God. I hear and see in them arrogance and boasting, when in scripture I find the opposite. I’m concerned about the cozy way we speak to God and refer to Him with such familiarity. I think we would do well to rediscover a biblical sense of the holiness of God and stand in reverential fear of the All Mighty.

Reverential fear begins with a profound sense of His presence.
Reverential fear flows from a sense of God’s holiness and power.
Reverential fear results from a sense of the infinite majesty, power and authority of God.

A genuinely biblical understanding of God demands an overwhelming reverential fear.

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He Is Risen!: Gospel of Luke #95 (2/19/2018)
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This is an exposition of Luke 24:1-2. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 18, 2018.

Intro:

I said last week, “None of the Gospels begin with, ‘Once upon a time.’” The reason is simple, the Gospel is no fairy tale. It is not a morality tale, it is not a made-up story to teach a principle. It is a fact rooted in time and space. It is the account of something that happened in this world. It is the glorious good news that God has redeemed for Himself a people.

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God so loved this world that He gave His one and only Son to save us. Now, that does not mean that it is a story easily believed. We all know people who do not believe. We know people who have heard the story but find it unbelievable. They dismiss it as myth, legend or superstition. Some regard it as foolish, others believe it to be “dangerous” or harmful. I understand that. There are elements of the story that are hard to accept because they are so out of the ordinary. They stand in contrast to what we normally experience in our everyday lives. Perhaps foremost on that list is something that is at the heart of our faith. We are not used to corpses walking out of the cemetery! In fact if we ever come across something like that it will be in the pages of the National Inquirer or on some crazy internet site. Yet the apostle Paul said to the Corinthian believers, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). He said this is of primary importance, this is something that is essential to salvation; Christ dead, buried and raised.

This is the fact that dominated the preaching of the apostles and it is the core truth of the message we have been given to take into all the world. Fantastic? Yes. Unusual, out of the ordinary? To say the least. Yet we stake our lives and our eternity on it. But none of us were there. None of us witnessed the resurrection and none of us has seen the risen Lord, how can we be so sure? For some answers let’s go to Luke’s account of what happened early that Sunday morning. Our text is found in the opening verses of Luke 24.

Text: Luke 24:1-12

Late Friday afternoon, following three hours of darkness there came a cry from the center cross on Golgotha, “Papa, into your hands I commit my spirit.” With that, Jesus of Nazareth breathed His last breath. The darkness that covered the land seemed to now cover the hearts and souls of those who loved Him. They believed He was the Messiah, the Son of God. But as they looked upon His now lifeless body on that blood-soaked cross, all hope was gone. Slowly they all walked away. That is all but a group of women who had followed Him from Galilee. They stood at a distance and watched as a wealthy man removed the nails from His flesh and carefully lowered Him to the ground. He wrapped His body in a linen shroud and they followed as He was carried to a nearby tomb. After the stone was rolled in place they sorrowfully walked away. They were going to prepare spices and oils to further anoint His body. After observing the Sabbath, these women returned to that garden tomb…

Philip Graham Ryken says of this passage, “Why is it Jesus is absent from this text? Luke is writing to give his friend Theophilus an accurate and orderly account of the life and ministry of Jesus. Thus Jesus is the focus of the whole book. He is center stage throughout. Now, at this most critical moment - He is absent. Why?”

I think that’s a good question. In the other Gospel accounts He makes an appearance to Mary and the others. We see Him in Matthew, Mark and John, why not here in Luke? The Gospels are selective history with a purpose. The writers have an agenda. I don’t mean they distort the truth in order to make a point, I mean they tell the story to emphasize different truths. If you look carefully at Luke’s account I think there is an important truth highlighted.

I think this text serves to teach us that…

Thesis: Bold proclamation of the resurrection demands physical evidence confirmed by the prophetic Word.

Let’s think about what happens in this text. I want you to note three things as we walk through it.

Sometimes biblical truth overwhelms leaving you dazed and confused. (24:1-4)

When staggered by biblical truth it is essential to remember and affirm the truth of God’s Word. (24:5-8)

Truth confirmed empowers an emboldened witness. (24:9-12)

Conclusion:
I’ll admit it is an extraordinary thing. It is something you must wrestle with and come to your own conclusion. Is Jesus alive or dead? I think there is every reason to believe He is alive.
There is the empty tomb.
There is witness of the apostles.
There is the eye-witness accounts given in Scripture.
There is the lives of the apostles - why would they give their lives for a lie?
There is the witness of the church for 2000 years.

But really it all comes back t this. Are the words of Jesus to be accepted or not?
What say you?

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The Dark Night of the Soul: Selected Psalms (2/15/2018)

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This is an exposition of Psalm 88. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, February 14, 2018.
The Believer’s Response to Suffering: Lamentations #5 (2/13/2018)
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This is an exposition of Lamentations 5:1-22. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, February 11, 2018.

Intro:

Given the fact we live in a sin-cursed world it would be easy to be a cynic. Life is hard. Bad things happen. The nightly news is a daily reminder.

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World unrest, financial instability, murders, robberies, racial tensions, political divisions are all commonplace. Of course you don’t need a television to point out the problems just look at your own life. Struggling to pay bills, tensions within your family, worries about your children and grandchildren, sickness it can be depressing. Then some well-meaning soul comes along and tells you to, “Look on the bright side” or they tell you to, “Trust the Lord and everything will be alright.” It’s all you can do to keep from punching them right in the nose! I’m being a bit dramatic as I overstate the case but you get the idea, life in this world is not a leisurely stroll in the park. It is a life of peaks and valleys, of good days and bad days. A life in which joy and sorrow travel the same path. In this life it is not a matter of “if” you will experience heartache but rather “when” you experience heartache. Faith in Christ does not give you immunity. There is no, “Get out of sorrow free” card accompanying salvation. So, the questions is, “How do you, as a believer, respond to suffering?” Your faith is to impact your life. It is to make a difference in how you live, how you react to life’s struggles and grow in christlikeness. For the last four weeks we have been exploring the words of the “weeping prophet” as he laments God’s devastating judgment against the city of Jerusalem. The prophet graphically portrays the pain and sorrow brought on by Babylon’s destruction of the holy city yet through it all he makes it painfully clear that God is the great actor in this drama. Babylon, though responsible for her actions, is in fact, carrying out the will and purpose of God. Babylon is an instrument in the hand of the Sovereign One. This evening we come to the fifth and final lament. This one, though 22 verses like 1, 2, and 4 is not an acrostic. It is not so much a poem or song as it is a prayer. There is a spontaneity about it that just would not fit in neatly arranged verse. Our text is the fifth chapter of Lamentations.

Text: Lamentations 5:1-22

Jeremiah is writing soon after the destruction of Jerusalem.
Judah’s best and brightest have been carried away into exile.
Jeremiah is left to daily look upon the devastation.
It is not easy reading because it speaks uneasy truth.
Yet, its central message, found in chapter 3, is the faithfulness of God.
Even though God has brought this judgment He is still faithful to His promise.
Further, He is still sovereign ruling over nations.
As we conclude our study of this book we are reminded that…

Thesis: The believer responds to suffering with honesty and confession trusting that the Sovereign One providential works in all things to accomplish His will and purpose.

When suffering comes, you may not understand why it has come or how it can be part of God’s design but, as a child of God, you trust the Judge of all the earth always does what is right. As Spurgeon put it, “God is too wise to make a mistake; He is too kind to be cruel; so when I cannot trace His hand, I’ll trust His heart.”

As we work through this final lament I want to point out 3 things about how we are to respond to suffering.

The believer responds to suffering by honestly acknowledging the hurt and devastation experienced in this life. (5:1-13)

The believer rightly confesses the emotional impact of such devastation and accurately diagnoses its root cause. (5:14-18)

The believer humbly bows before God’s sovereignty and confesses that God alone can restore and renew the broken. (5:19-22)

Conclusion:
As it is written Lamentations ends with unrealized anguish. It ends with uncertainty. But Lamentations is not the last word!

We are often left with questions. Has the LORD abandoned me? Can I be saved? Is there any hope? Will my suffering ever end? How does this accomplish God’s will? What purpose is fulfilled in my suffering? But we must do more than ask such questions. We must trust the answer Did has provided through the atoning death of the Lord Jesus. Who made us this promise, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4)

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More Than a Placeholder: Gospel of Luke #94 (2/13/2018)
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This is an exposition of Luke 23:50-56. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 11, 2018.

Intro:

None of the Gospel accounts of the life of Jesus begin with the words, “Once upon a time.” They do not begin with those words because it is no fairytale.

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Our faith does not rest on a fictional tale in some other world but on historical facts played out in this world. Our hope is anchored in the fact that God so loved this world that He gave his one and only Son to save us from our sin. It is the fact that God became flesh and dwelt among us. That God, in human flesh, pitched his tent in our neighborhood. That Christ walked this earth and was like us in every way except that He was without sin. Our peace is in knowing that the sinless One laid down His life for ours. The apostle Paul writing to the believers at Corinth said, Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures… (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

Paul said, “I delivered to you as of first importance,” that is, this is the primary thing:
That Christ died for our sins
That He was buried
That He rose on the third day
And all of this was according to Scripture.

At the heart of the Christian gospel is the fact that Christ died and was buried. We tend to rush past that. We spend a good deal of time on the crucifixion, rightfully so and we focus on the resurrection, which is proper but we also need to stop and give thought to His dying. It is true, we do not worship a dead Savior on a cross - that was not the end of the story but it is essential to the story. Praise God the tomb is empty but He was in that tomb. Christ died, and that is no small thing. Our text this morning is found in the 23rd chapter of Luke’s Gospel.

Text: Luke 23:50-56

There were some glorious moments on the way to and included in those six agonizing hours on the cross. Simon of Cyrene was graciously drawn into the story and into the kingdom; the Saviors plea for the Father to be merciful to those who carried out the wicked deed, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” That moment when a repentant thief was promised paradise, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. Today, you will be with Me in paradise.” The declaration of redemption accomplished, “It is finished!” That precious moment when our Lord cried out, “Papa, into your hands I commit my spirit.” But now, as His lifeless body slumped, unconscious on that blood soaked cross there was only darkness for those who loved Him. None of His followers had even the slightest glimmer of hope.

Luke picks up the story…verse 50 [Read Text]

This passage reads like “filler.” It is there to get us from the crucifixion to the resurrection. We tend to think of it as the transition statement or stage direction moving from one scene to another. But I want us to understand that…

Thesis: The death and burial of our Savior is far more than “filler” bridging the gap between the crucifixion and the resurrection, it is loaded with gospel truth and radiates with gospel challenge.

There are three things I want to note…

The death and burial of Jesus is a gospel fact that must not be ignored. (23:46, 52, 53)
The death of Jesus is a gospel fact with doctrinal implication.
First, the death of Jesus is proof of His incarnation.
Second, the death of Jesus is the payment for our redemption.
Finally, the death of Jesus is the prerequisite for the resurrection.

The noble courage of Joseph of Arimathea challenges us to consider the cost of following Jesus. (23:50-53)

The gentle compassion of the women from Galilee calls us to live lives of simple, loving obedience. (23:54-56)

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The Glory of The Gospel: Luke #93 (2/4/2018)
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This is an exposition of Luke 23:44-49. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, February 4, 2018.

Intro:

It doesn’t make sense. Why would an instrument of death become the object of devotion? It sounds macabre doesn’t it?

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If you were to see someone with a dainty electric chair crafted from gold and hung around their neck - wouldn’t you think that strange? If someone excitedly showed you a gold hangman’s noose wouldn’t you ask, “What’s wrong with you?” If you went to a meeting and the people stood and sang a song about cherishing the old lethal injection, wouldn’t you look for an exit? What is glorious or praise worthy about the death of a human being? Yet, here we are. Here we are glorying in the death of Jesus of Nazareth with a cross prominently displayed. What kind of people are we? We are a Gospel people. We don’t glory in death. We do not celebrate the indiscriminate taking of a life. We glory in that one death. That one, utterly unique willing sacrifice. Thousands suffered and died by way of crucifixion. We glory in that one, particular crucifixion because it is there the glory of the Gospel is on full display. Our text this morning is found in the 23rd chapter of Luke.

Text: Luke 23:44-49

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. He did so by His word. He spoke and it was. The crowning moment of creation was the creation of man, made in the image and likeness of God. That is made to be in relationship with the Creator. Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden, a perfect place. They were naked and unafraid. There was perfect harmony between Adam and Eve and between the human couple and their Creator. Adam and Eve were told the Garden was for their pleasure and enjoyment. Just one thing, don’t eat from the tree in the midst of the Garden. On the day you eat from it, you will die. You know the story. Through the temptation of the Evil One, Adam rebelled and sin and death entered the world. Now fear reigned. Harmony was shattered. Relationship was broken. Yet, even in the pronouncement of judgment there was the promise of hope. The seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent. Fast-forward several thousand years to a hill just outside the walled city of Jerusalem and God is about to “make good” on that promise.

The Bible says, “There is none righteous, not a single one.” In fact, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” We are not what God created us to be. Further, “The wages of sin is death.” We are all deserving of death and God’s judgment. But, because God loves, He sent His son the Lord Jesus to redeem us from the curse. Jesus came to do for us what we could never do for ourselves.

I’ve said before and I’ll must say it again here, everything in us wants to look away from the cross. We do not want to look upon our precious Lord beaten, bloodied, disfigured and writhing in pain but we must look. And we must look because…

Thesis: The glory of the Gospel is dramatically portrayed in our Lord’s agony on the cross.

In our text we encounter 2 great miracles and an astonishing prayer revealing three great truths.

The Miracle of Darkness: As Christ is made sin for us. (23:44-45)

The miracle of The Curtain: As Christ secured direct, unlimited access to the Father. (23:45)

An astonishing Prayer: As Christ, the Sovereign One lays down His life. (23:46)

Conclusion:
Again our Lord is no victim here. This is not a mistake, not a tragic turn of events, not a mission gone wrong but rather the eternal plan and purpose of God to secure for himself a people.

Come to the cross this morning and behold Christ, your sin bearer.
Look to Christ who secured for you direct, unlimited access to the Father.
See the One who willingly laid down his life for you.

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Resting in God’s Mercy: Selected Psalms (2/4/2018)

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This is an exposition of Psalm 86. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, January 31, 2018.
A Sobering, Yet Comforting Truth: Lamentations #4 (1/30/2018)
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This is an exposition of Lamentations 4:1-22. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, January 28, 2018.

Intro:

Rheadon lives by a proverb. If you are in the hospital or a doctor’s office and someone says, “Take a deep breath” it means this is going to hurt! We’ve all had that debate, that moment of decision - “Do I pull the bandage slowly or yank it off?” I’m a yanker, I want to get it over with. All that to say as we work our way through Lamentations I feel the need to say, before every message, “Take a deep breath.”

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I’m trying to move through as quickly as possible but there are some very valuable lessons in this book. I’ve avoided it for years. I had never preached from Lamentations before this series. It is difficult reading. As you read you keep thinking, “Same song next verse.” The weeping prophet goes over the same ground again and again. Why is that? It is a lament! It is a mourning song. What do you do when you are in mourning? What do you do when you are overwhelmed with grief? You are like a broken recorded. You go over it and over it. The book is filled with heart-wrenching images and yet there is the underlying theme of God’s goodness, His sovereignty and His faithfulness.

It is easy to forget at times that biblical truths are often a two-edged sword. The same truth can be both frightening and encouraging. It can be comforting and disturbing at the same time. The third chapter of the book is the central message. In the midst of great distress and heartache the prophet affirms the goodness and faithfulness of God. “The steadfast love (remember love is plural) of the Lord never ceases, his mercies (again plural) never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” The believer’s great hope is the faithfulness of God. He can be trusted and relied upon because He is faithful. He will do as He said. Yet, that same faithfulness is the basis of a terrifying reality. When it comes to judgment, He is faithful. He will do as He said. Our text this evening is found in the 4th chapter of Lamentations.

Text: Lamentations 4:1-22

The 3rd lamentation ended with a cry of vengeance:

“You will repay them, O LORD,
according to the work of their hands.
You will give them dullness of heart;
your curse will be on them.
You will pursue them in anger and destroy them
from under your heavens, O LORD.

Yes, what has happened to Judah is the result of God’s judgment. The writer has made it clear that God is the central actor in this drama, Babylon is His instrument. That does not mean Babylon is guiltless in this. They are fully accountable for what they have done. They were not forced into this against their will - Babylon for their own selfish desires and purposes invaded Judah and brought this devastation but God allowed it for His purpose. The biblical writer rightly calls for God to move against Judah’s aggressor.

Now the focus switches back to Jerusalem and her misery.

[Read Text] - you might want to take a deep breath…

As we work our way through this mourning song I want you to note…

Thesis: The righteous respond to suffering by looking to the sobering, frightening and yet comforting truth of God’s faithfulness.

Lamentation is a work of Hebrew poetry as such the structure informs us that the focus of the book, its central message is in the 3rd chapter. Central or essential to surviving overwhelming sorrow and suffering is to cling to the truth of God’s faithfulness. This is what it means to live by faith and not by sight. This is what it means to live trusting God and not what you can see or accomplish. But this truth is a two-edged sword. That is made clear in this chapter.

There are three things I want to point out on our journey through this chapter.

Because God is faithful to His holy character there are devastating consequences to turning a deaf ear to the pleas and warnings of His Word. (4:1-12)

Because God is faithful to perform His word, believers ought to pray they are spared the curse of ungodly, and unfaithful leaders. (4:13-20)

Because God is faithful to His divine purpose His sovereign grace assures the deliverance of His people and the destruction of His enemies. (4:21-22)

Conclusion:
The next time sorrow and suffering overwhelm you remember, The righteous respond to suffering by looking to the sobering, frightening and yet comforting truth of God’s faithfulness.

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The Wonder of Salvation: Luke #92 (1/28/2018)
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This is an exposition of Luke 23:33-43. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 28, 2018.

Intro:

I was standing on a front porch in Hazen, North Dakota when I ask a man what it took to go to heaven. He gave me his pedigree! “Well son, I’m a Lutheran. My daddy was a Lutheran and my daddy’s daddy and on down the line as far back as anyone knows.” I thought, “Well, for your sake, I hope Martin Luther is manning the gate when you get there.”

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I asked a Jehovah Witness what was required to enter heaven and was told that she knew that only those faithful to Jehovah would make it and she was working as hard as she could. I was talking to a man I worked with one summer and he said, “Well no one’s perfect. Jesus Christ was the best man that ever lived and even he wasn’t perfect. You live a good life, try to do the right thing and I just believe things will work out.” A man in rural Kay County said to me, “Well sir, you just do your best. Pay your bills. Be good to your family. Don’t drink too much and it probably wouldn’t hurt to go to church.” When you ask, “What does it take for a person to go to heaven,” most people are going to respond with some reference to how good they are or how hard they work. They are going to try and provide some proof of how much they deserve to enter heaven. The problem is that none of us are good enough or ever can be good enough to enter into glory!

Romans 3:10 says, “There are none who are righteous, not a single one.”
Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”
That pretty well shoots the “being good enough” argument in the foot doesn’t it?
God is perfect.
Those who enter into His presence must be perfect as well.
That’s a problem because none of us are perfect.

So, how do we get to heaven? How is it sinful people enter the presence of a sinless God? The answer is pretty amazing. And we find it dramatically portrayed for us in Luke 23:33-43.

Text: Luke 23:33-43

It had been a roller coaster ride.
Just five days before a jubilant crowd shouted, “Hosanna!”
But just hours ago and angry mob cried, “Crucify him!”
The bloody, tortured body of the Lord Jesus hung in agony on the cross.
The religious establishment celebrated by mocking and ridiculing him.
Two angry thieves hung on either side of him.
This hardly seems the time or place for the joyous news of heaven but look again.

A dying thief found the path to paradise and if we look closely we can learn a few things along the way.

Thesis: The glory of the road to salvation is that it offers life and hope to even the most unlikely candidates.

There are three glorious facts about heaven revealed to us in this passage.
Three facts that wonderfully display God’s amazing grace.

Heaven is a place for dirty, rotten scoundrels. (23:33,39; Mt. 27:44)

Heaven is a place for repentant sinners. (23:40-42)

Heaven is a place for dying saints. (23:43)

Conclusion:
What did he do to deserve such a thing? NOTHING!

The glory of the road to salvation is that it offers life and hope to even the most unlikely candidates – folks like you and me.

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Longing for Church?: Selected Psalms (1/24/2018)

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This is an exposition of Psalm 84. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, January 24, 2018.
Great Is Thy Faithfulness: Lamentations #3 (1/21/2018)
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This is an exposition of Lamentations 3. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, January 21, 2018.

Intro:

The psalmist asked, “How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land?” That’s a very good question. In fact the psalmist said:

By the waters of Babylon,
there we sat down and wept,
when we remembered Zion.
On the willows there
we hung up our lyres.
For there our captors
required of us songs,
and our tormentors, mirth, saying,
“Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
How shall we sing the Lord’s song
in a foreign land?

Meanwhile of course the weeping prophet seemed to be saying, “How can we sing the Lord’s song in Jerusalem?” It was a time for wailing rather than singing. I time for mourning rather than rejoicing. Everywhere he looked he saw devastation. Verse after verse recounts the horrors of the Babylonian reign of terror yet the prophet is quick to point to the fact it is God who is the chief actor in this drama. It is the Lord who has come against His people with such fury. After years of warning, by numerous prophets, God’s judgment has come and it is terrifying. The end of the second Lament contains cannibalism, sacrilege and the streets of the city littered with bodies. Against the backdrop of this apocalyptic scene is the distant cry of a starving child and the wail of a broken-hearted mother. Yet amid such pain and devastation, through tears the prophet cries, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Our text this evening is found in Lamentations chapter 3.

Text: Lamenations 3:1-66

Thus far there have been two heart-wrenching laments.
Each highlighting the devastating wrath of God.
Yet acknowledging that God is good and right in bringing such judgment.
It is not pleasant/easy reading (or preaching!).
Chapter 3 is a change in direction.
It is almost as if the writer says, “I can’t take any more of this, I need a break.”

Chapter 3 is the heart of the book. It is the central message of the prophet. This is a work of Hebrew poetry and the structure tells us this is the climax, this is the point of the book. This lament is another acrostic. It is a triple acrostic with 3 verses for each letter. As we work through the song we discover that…

Thesis: The believer finds his way through the valley of suffering by fixing his gaze on the unwavering character of our loving, faithful God.

Hope is expressed in the midst of weeping. How is that possible? It is possible because Jeremiah understood that God is good and that God is faithful. We do not survive suffering by finally understanding our circumstance. We do not rise about our heartache and pain because figured it out - we look to and trust in the character of our God. Jeremiah does not make this joyous announcement in verse 22 because his circumstance has changed, nothing has changed, but because he remembered God is good and God is faithful.

There are 4 things I want us to note in this text…

Extended suffering overwhelms even the stoutest heart leaving it destitute and broken. (3:1-18)

A life thus broken finds hope in God’s love and faithfulness. (3:19-33)

Newly restored hope continues to affirm God’s sovereignty and righteousness through tears. (3:34-51)

The wounded saint clings to the fact that God has graciously taken up his cause and redeemed his life. (3:52-66)

Conclusion:
Ultimately our hope rests in the One who came and bore upon himself the sins of His people. The One who took up our cause and redeemed our lives. Our hope is in Christ, faithful and true. Redeemer, Savior, Comforter and Friend.

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Surprised by Grace: Luke #91 (1/21/2018)
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This is an exposition of Luke 23:26-31. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 21, 2018.

Intro:

The time had come for the Savior to die. The betrayer had given his fatal kiss. The religious establishment had conducted their mock trial. Pilate had yielded to the demands of a murderous mob. Our Lord had already endured the emotional strain of the Garden of Gethsemane as he began to be made sin for us.

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He had suffered the indignity of being the object of sport for a gang of unruly soldiers. He had suffered the contemptuous abuse of Herod, and the brutality of scourging. Now, His near lifeless body, straining under the weight of His cross trudged along the Via Dolorosa, the road of sorrow. His life ebbing away, with each trembling step. Along the road was the noise of the crowd. Some cheering, some laughing, some mocking while still others wept. I can’t get the image out of my mind. Our precious Lord, beaten, bloodied, marred, disfigured by acts of hatred and hostility. That is what makes it so remarkable that this “road of sorrow” became the scene of unspeakable and amazing grace. Our text is found in Luke chapter 23.

Text: Luke 23:26-31

We are entering the holy of holies in Luke’s Gospel.
This has been the focus all along but in the last few chapters Luke has zeroed in on his target.
His desire is that his friend, and all who read it, be brought to repentance and faith.

He set out to present an accurate and orderly account of the life of Jesus so that the reader can know who Jesus was and what He accomplished. And having seen, the reader might believe. His purpose is unapologetically evangelistic. The crucifixion is no tragic turn of events. It is not a plan gone horribly wrong. It is the eternal plan and purpose of a loving, sovereign God deterred to purchase of people for His own glory. It is a sovereign, loving act of redemption. Our Lord is no victim here and that becomes abundantly clear in our text.

[Read Text]

This scene, quite naturally, elicits our pity.
You cannot look on this scene with dry eyes.
But look beyond the obvious pain and brutality and witness His sovereign grace in action.

This text serves to teach us that…
Thesis: The suffering of our Lord is not an occasion for your pity but a gracious call to repentance and faith.

Everything in us looks at this scene and weeps because of the pain, the brutality, the injustice of it all. We cannot help but to be horrified that the Lord of glory, the second person of the Trinity could be treated this way. We look upon the man Jesus and pity Him but wait, there is something glorious going on here.

There are two things I want to call to your attention.

Watch as an unwitting and unwilling participant becomes the object of sovereign grace. (23:26)

Notice a group of caring, compassionate women mercifully rebuked by sovereign grace. (23:27-31)

You might expect our Lord to thank them for their kindness.
To express appreciation for their pity.
Instead he mildly rebukes them!

Why should we weep for ourselves?
He answers with a prophecy and a proverb.

The Prophecy - 23:29-30

The Proverb - 23:31.

Conclusion:
In love and grace He is calling on these women and us to consider our sin, repent and believe. On the way to the cross his focus was not on himself but on those destined for the judgment. This “rebuke” is an act of amazing grace.

Behold our Lord on “the road of sorrow” and witness the work of sovereign grace and remember, The suffering of our Lord is not an occasion for your pity but a gracious call to repentance and faith.

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Insights from a Weeping Prophet: Lamentations #2 (1/14/2018)
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This is an exposition of Lamentations 2:1-22. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, January 14, 2018.

Intro:

No one enjoys suffering, if you do I need to see you immediately after the service and we will see if we can get you some help! No one enjoys it, seeks it out or courts it, yet it is universal. Life in the sin-sick, fallen world is a life of heartache and suffering.

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It is not a matter of “if” but rather of “when.” Suffering is a fruit of the fall. Once Adam rebelled sin and suffering entered the world. While it is not sought after it is not wasted on the people of God. In the hand of a loving, sovereign God suffering becomes a refining fire. Suffering in the Hand of Providence becomes a means of purifying. Fundamental to our understanding of God is that He makes all things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. This is not a matter of blaming God for suffering but rather recognizing that God often uses evil as an instrument for accomplishing His good purpose. If you doubt that look at the cross.

Consider Acts 4:27-28 - for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

Or Hebrews 12:2 - looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God…

Judas, the religious establishment in Jerusalem, Herod, Pilate and all those involved in death of Jesus acted according to their own conscience and yet did exactly as God had determined in eternity past. They were not “forced” or coerced into acting in this way but rather each did according to his own will. There is no greater evil than that the eternal Lord of glory was abused, tormented, mocked and brutally executed and yet it was the Father’s will. It was, in the words of the writer of Hebrews, “the joy set before him.” My point is, when suffering comes we, the people of God, know that God always has both a plan and a purpose in it.

The year was 586 BC, the city of Jerusalem lay in ruins. Jeremiah wept. He also composed a lament and that lament proves to be invaluable as we consider how we are to respond to suffering. Our text this evening is the second chapter of the book of Lamentations.

Text: Lamentations 2:1-22

Chapter 2 is another funeral dirge or funeral song.
The prophet continues to grieve over the devastation brought at the hand of Babylon.
But like the first chapter he is quick to acknowledge the true source of this sorrow.
God has come in judgement of the nation.

Babylon is the instrument but the devastation has come because God has withdrawn His hand of protection.

[Read: 2:1-10]

As we work through chapter 2 we learn that…

Thesis: The godly respond to suffering with understanding, sorrow, repentance and faith.

In this song we find 4 godly responses to suffering.

A godly response to suffering understands the devastating consequences to sin and rebellion. (2:1-10)

A godly response to suffering weeps over the heartache and brokenness of those who suffer even when such suffering is deserved. (2:11-13)

A godly response to suffering highlights the Hand of Providence in all things. (2:14-17)

A godly response to suffering urges godly sorrow and genuine repentance. (2:18-22)

Conclusion:
Suffering is inevitable, how are we to respond? The godly respond to suffering with understanding, sorrow, repentance and faith.

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Causes of Truth-Blindness: Gospel of Luke #90 (1/14/2018)
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This is an exposition of Luke 23:1-25. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 14, 2018.

Intro:

In 32 years of pastoral ministry I’ve seen all the responses. I’ve seen those who marveled at hearing the Gospel. Those who with wide-eyed joy and enthusiasm jumped at the opportunity to embrace Christ. I’ve witness hostility and bitterness expressed toward that same Gospel. I’ve seen indifference. And I’ve seen those who treat the whole message of God’s love and grace with absolute contempt. I’ve heard the Gospel ridiculed and mocked.

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Why such varied responses? Theologically, I know that the difference is the working of the Holy Spirit. But I also know there are other factors at work. It is also important to acknowledge that this is not a new phenomenon. This is not the result of “secular humanism,” modern philosophical thought or our scientific age. These are factors but the problem is less technical. The problem is within the heart of man. At the heart of the matter are issues that have been around since the beginning. In fact the responses I’ve witnessed can all be found in the Gospels themselves. This morning I want us to continue our look at the events leading up to the crucifixion of our Lord and we’ll note some of these same responses.

Text: Luke 23:1-25

Luke’s purpose is to bring his friend Theophilus to faith. Luke trusts that once confronted with the truth of who Christ is and what Christ has done, his friend will embrace the Lord Jesus as Savior.

Luke is now dealing with the events surrounding the crucifixion.
We’ve been witnessing the events of that final week.

We’ve seen the adoration of the multitude on Sunday.
We’ve seen his wisdom silence his critics.
We’ve seen his authority in pronouncing judgement on Jerusalem.
We’ve seen his tenderness and compassion.

We’ve also witnessed his betrayal by one of his own.
We’ve witnessed that sham of a trial before the Supreme Court of the Jews.

And now, in keeping with his own words, he is being delivered into the hands of the Gentiles.

The events described in Luke 23:1-25 provide us insight into understanding why some respond to the Lord Jesus as they do.

Thesis: This passage reveals three common conditions that cause one to miss the true beauty and significance of the Lord Jesus.

Here we find three attitudes that blind men to the truth.
Three attitudes that, in the hand of the enemy, effectively cloud the beauty of Christ.
These attitudes are reflected in the lives of the Sanhedrin, Pilate and Herod.

In the Sanhedrin we discover that open hostility refuses to recognize the truth.

In examining Herod’s response to the Lord Jesus we discover that a seared conscience treats the holy with utter contempt.

Then there is Pilate from whom we learn that callused indifference shamefully yields to the expedient.

Conclusion:
As we survey the events surrounding the death of our Lord we can find many reasons for why men reject the Gospel. But the truth is that in the end the only issue that really matters is what have you done with the Gospel?

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Surrounded by Enemies: Selected Psalms (1/12/2018)
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This is an exposition of Psalm 83. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, January 10, 2018.

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Do you ever feel like it's you against the world, like everyone is swimming in the other direction? What do we do when God doesn't step in and prevent something bad?

In times like these we need to remember two things:

That the life of the righteous is a life of constant struggle (vs. 1-8).

That the righteous faithfully and constantly call upon the lord, seeking deliverance, and the glory and honor of God (vs. 9-18).

In this psalm the primary motivation of the psalmist is not deliverance or revenge, but God's glory.

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Suffocating Grief and Overwhelming Despair: Lamentations #1 (1/7/2018)
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This is an exposition of Lamentations 1:1-22. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, January 7, 2018.

Intro:

At 8:46 on the morning of September 11, 2001 American Airlines flight 11 struck the North Tower of the World Trade City.

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News quickly spread about this terrible accident in the heart of New York City. The plane struck between floors 99 and 93 killing 76 passengers and 11 crew members instantly. As local and national news outlets covering the story were trying to determine how such an accident could happen American Airline flight 175 struck the South Tower at 9:03 killing 51 passengers and 9 crew members. Panic set in. This was no accident. At 9:37 flight 77 struck the Pentagon. At 9:59 the South Tower collapsed more than 800 civilians and first responders perished. 10:03 flight 93 went down in Shanksville, Pennsylvania killing 33 passengers and 7 crew members. 10:28 the North Tower collapsed more than 1,600 died. In just 1 hour and 42 minutes 2,996 died; lower Manhattan was in rubble and a nation was shaken. A month later I was walking through ground zero midst the sounds of cranes and large equipment filling tractor trailers with debris. Everywhere you look there was devastation. The fires still burning under the 7 stories of debris that remained. It had been a month. Everyday, around the clock workers worked to clear the rubble. Trucks were lined up in every direction, waiting their turn. Drivers delivered their loads to the waste site and got back inline for the next load. 24/7 for a solid month and it look as if nothing had been done. First responders still search for the remains of victims. I spoke to one firefighter and asked how long he had been at ground zero. “Everyday sense the day it happened. I’ve got a brother, 2 cousins and an uncle buried in there and I’m not leaving until they are found.” The nation mourned, wept and expressed its anger. “We want those responsible to be brought to justice.” Those responsible. Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell dared to suggest that perhaps this was a judgment from God. Both were ridiculed and shamed until they withdrew their remarks. Is it such a far-fetched notion? Is it unthinkable that a sovereign, holy and righteous God would allow such devastation? Is it unthinkable that a nation would be held accountable for moral decay and failure to live according to the standards it confesses?

His name was Jeremiah. A man called to serve as a prophet to the nation of Judah. For decades he had warned that God would not be mocked, that nations reap what they sow. He pleaded with the nation to return to God. Turn away from their idols, live and govern according to truth and righteousness. The nation refused. Judgment came at the hands of the Babylonian Empire. The city of Jerusalem was under siege from 588-587. In 586 the Babylonians broke through the city walls and left the city in ruins. The temple was destroyed. The palace ransacked. Judah’s best and brightest were exiled to a distant land. Those who remained were ravished by hunger and loss. The prophet wept. Our text this evening is found in the book of Lamentations, chapter 1.

Text: Lamentations 1:1-22

This book is often referred to as, “the forgotten book.” It’s not an easy book to read. It’s awfully depressing. So, naturally I thought, “What better way to begin a new year than with a series of funeral messages?” The book has 5 chapters. Three of which are funeral dirges or songs. The last chapter is a prayer and chapter 3, the climax of the book is a message of hope. The book is a work of Hebrew poetry. Chapters 1, 2 and 4 are written as an acrostic. Each verse begins with a succeeding letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Thus each contains 22 verses. You might say it expresses grief from A to Z. Chapter 3 is a triple acrostic. The first 3 verses all begin with he first letter of the alphabet, verse 4-6 with the second letter and so on, thus 66 verses. While verse 3 also records lament it also stresses the goodness and faithfulness of God in the midst of such suffering and devastation.

Lamentations is written to express grief over loss but also to help God’s people to cope with that loss and deliver them from despair as the prophet reminds them of God’s presence and His rule over them and over all things. It is a work of theodicy expressing God’s goodness and power amid pain and suffering.

There are at least 5 theological themes ruing through the pages of this lament.

God is sovereign.

Sin shatters the relationship between God and man.

Cherished institutions are not exempt from God’s judgment.

Suffering is real.

Hope is found in God alone.

Suffering, heartache and pain are inevitable in this fallen, broken world. How are we to respond? How are we to navigate these troubled waters? For some answers we turn to the weeping prophet.

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Thesis: Weathering the storm of crushing loss and profound suffering demands an honest assessment of what is lost; the acknowledgment of the root cause of such devastation; and a genuine affirmation of God’s goodness and righteousness.

It is natural to note some similarities between the suffering of Judah and that of Job. Both certain are forced to deal with crushing loss. Both affirm that God has allowed/brought this sorrow. However there are major differences. This is national suffering whereas Job’s was personal. Job was innocent, he didn’t deserve it - Judah brought this on herself. But certain themes overlap.

There are three things I want us to note as we work through this first chapter.

Suffering’s Suffocating Presence. (1:1-11)

Confession of National Sin and Pride. (1:5, 8, 18)
There is a third thing that is connected to and ought to accompany this second point…

A Genuine Affirmation of God’s Goodness and Righteousness. (1:18, 20)

Conclusion:
The prophet is reminding the people as hard as this is, God was right to bring judgment. That doesn’t mean the people must “like” it. It doesn’t mean this is pleasant or enjoyable but we must acknowledge God is holy and righteous in all He does. This is why the NT calls us to rejoice in all things and to give thanks for all things. Because we know that God is able to work all things together for the good of those who love him and are called according to His purpose.

We are to respond to suffering with humility and patience, quick to confess any sin. Your sufferings are a message to you - do not despise or waste them. Take them as a work of refining grace.

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Who Am I?: 2016 Gospel of Luke #89 (1/7/2018)

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This is an exposition of Luke 22:66-71. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 7, 2018.

Intro:

It’s inconceivable to me. How could that happen? The Lord of glory spit upon, mocked and ridiculed? The creator, the Sovereign of the universe the prisoner of puny, wicked, petty tyrants? He spent his days doing good. He healed the sick. He bound the wounds of the broken hearted. He gave hope to the hopeless. And this is his reward? This is how it ends? Abandoned by his followers, the prisoner of his enemies. Everything in me wants to scream, “No, it isn’t right!”

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But it was right. Look at him. Look closely at the Lord Jesus. He is not crying out in protest. He is not resisting. In humility and grace he is enduring. Things are not as they seem. On the surface it appears that corrupt religious officials in Jerusalem have won the upper hand. It appears that they have orchestrated a diabolical plan that has, at last, brought an end to this trouble-making rabbi from Galilee. But in reality they are merely players in a much larger drama. A drama that began in eternity past. God’s eternal plan of redemption was about to reach its climax. But just before it does there is another revelation.

Text: Luke 22:66-71

It was quite a week.
Herbert Lockyer refers to it as “the week that changed the world.”
It was a week of revelations.
It began on that Sunday as our Lord entered the city in dramatic fashion.
There was no mistaking his message – “I am the Messiah.”
His wisdom was revealed in his dealings with his accusers, the religious establishment.

His authority was reflected in his pronouncement of judgement on the Temple and the city of Jerusalem, “Not one stone will be left on another.”

His love and grace was revealed in his tenderness toward his disciples.
His obedience – “Father not my will but thy will be done.”

Following the supper in the upper room Jesus and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane. There our Lord spent those final moments in prayer before the Father agonizing over what was to come. Then came the arrest, the mocking, and the ridicule.

Our text picks up with what happened early Friday morning.

I want you to picture this scene.
Here we find the high court of the Jews.
The Sanhedrin – the Supreme Court dressed in their finest.
70 of them along with the Chief Priest.
According to Jewish law the procedures of the Sanhedrin were design for mercy.
All charges must be supported by the evidence of 2 witnesses independently examined.
Volumes have been written detailing the legal failures of this so-called “trial.”
This was nothing more than a Kangaroo Court.
They began with a verdict and sought any excuse to justify it.

But there is something I want you to see in all of this.

Thesis: Our Lord’s confrontation with the Sanhedrin undeniably reveals that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

What is the purpose of Luke’s Gospel? To give his friend, Theophilus, an understanding of who Jesus is and what he has accomplished. This revelation is at the heart of that purpose.

So we find the full council gathered in an official capacity dressed in their finest.
In this exchange, Jesus is asked two questions.
Each of the questions is put to him in legal language, in essence putting him under oath.

Now these questions are extremely important.
Your answers to them will reveal your attitude toward the Christian faith.

Question 1 – “Are you the Christ?”

Question 2 – “Are you the Son of God?”

So What?
What is the significance of that – what difference does it make?
Give us something practical, something we can use.

Matthew 16:13-18 - Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, Who do people say that the Son of Man is? 14 And they said, Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets. 15 He said to them, But who do you say that I am? 16 Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered him, Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

This is the confession of the Christian church.
This is the essence, the heart and soul of the Gospel.

Your understanding and response to these important questions determine your eternal destiny.

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The Real Social Gospel: Selected Psalms (1/3/2018)

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This is an exposition of Psalm 82. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, January 3, 2018.
Arresting Revelations: Gospel of Luke #88 (12/31/2017)
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Arresting Revelations: 2016 Gospel of Luke #88
This is an exposition of Luke 22:47-65. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 31, 2017.

Introduction:

H.G. Wells once said that the world is like a great stage production, directed and managed by God. As the curtain rises, the set is perfect, a treat to every eye. The characters are resplendent. Everything goes well until the leading man steps on the hem of the leading lady’s gown, causing her to trip over a chair, which knocks over a lamp, which pushes a table into the wall, which in turn knocks over the scenery, which brings everything down on the heads of the actors.

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Meanwhile, behind the scenes God, the Producer is running around, shouting orders, pulling strings, trying desperately to restore order from chaos. But, alas, he is unable to do so! Poor God…he is a very little, limited God. Wells’ sentiment is shared by an increasing number of folks in our culture. While a great number of people profess belief in God – I’m afraid most of them believe in the little, limited God described by Wells.

To be fair, I can understand why some would view God with such skepticism. Who hasn’t experienced hurt and confusion at the hands of a world that seems out of control? Who hasn’t, in a time of sever crisis, cried out, “God why is this happening to me? God why don’t you do something?” At times it seems as if the world is out of control and no one is at the wheel. That is certainly what it felt like that night in Jerusalem 2000 years ago. A night of feasting and celebrating. A night of remembrance and promise. What a high and holy moment it was when our Lord declared, “This is my body given for you. This is the new covenant in my blood.” The beauty of that moment was overshadowed by talk of betrayal, denial and death. The sweet sound of new life and hope was silenced by the petty claims of greatness and importance by self diluted and glory-hungry followers. In the Garden as our Lord faced the final test before the cross, in the hour of his greatest need, as he cried out in agony and great distress – his friends, a stone throw away – slept. Emerging victorious from the struggle, having been strengthened by an angel, our Lord awakened his drowsy followers and said, “My betrayer has arrived.” Our text this morning is found in the 22nd chapter of Luke’s Gospel.

Text: Luke 22:47-65

It’s been an amazing week.
Just days before, our Lord entered Jerusalem to shouts of “Hosanna!”
In a matter of hours an angry mob will cry, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”
The events of the week leave your head spinning in an attempt to make sense of them. Words of power and authority from our Lord as he silenced his critics, confusion and questions in the hearts of his disciples with talk of the temple’s destruction.

Acts of hatred and hostility as the religious establishment plotted his death.
The black-hearted betrayal by one of his own.
An act of love and tenderness as our Lord washed the feet of his disciples.
It was a week of revelation.

Our Lord began the week with an unmistakable revelation of his person.
“I am the Messiah.”
His wisdom was revealed in his handling of his critics.
His authority was revealed in his pronouncement of judgement upon Jerusalem.
The extent of our depravity was revealed in Judas’ betrayal.
Our Lord’s tenderness and compassion was revealed in the upper room.
His beauty and love for his own made abundantly clear in the Garden of Gethsemane.

And now another revelation as we come to the arrest.

Wells my think him a little, limited God. Albert Schweitzer may consider him a well-meaning, diluted visionary but they have failed to grasp the whole picture. He is not the victim in all of this – he is the victor! This is not a sudden turn of events. This began weeks before when our Lord boldly declared, “We must go to Jerusalem” and then set his face as a flint for the holy city. His disciples protested. “Lord not now. It is too dangerous.” “Now is the time,” he replied. But it actually began long before that.

In withstanding the temptation of Satan in the wilderness prior to his public ministry – he said yes to the cross. But even that was a reaffirmation of his determination. It began in eternity past. When, in covenant with the Father our Lord agreed to redeem sinful, fallen humanity. You see he is the lamb slain before the foundation of the world! This is not an unforeseen glitch in the plan. This is the eternal will of God. Look closely at these verses and stand in awe of the glory of our Savior.

Thesis: The arrest of our Lord serves as the perfect backdrop for revealing the essence of his being.

Crises have a way of revealing just what a person is made of. One of the reasons for that is that pretense cracks under pressure. Our Lord is under incredible pressure in these moments and rather than cracking – he radiates with glory. There are three things I want us to note in our text.

First of all, note his sovereignty in the face of betrayal. (22:47-52)

Second, note his love in response to weakness and failure. (22:54-62)

Finally I want us to note his majesty in response to hatred and ridicule. (22:63-65)

Conclusion:
“For the joy set before him he endured the cross despising the shame.”
This is our Savior.
This is no mere man.

This is the Sovereign, loving, majestic Son of the Living God!

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Isn’t it Absurd? from Colossians 1:13-20 (12/26/2017)
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Isn’t it Absurd? from Colossians 1:13-20. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 24, 2017

Introduction:

You have to agree…it sounds strange. In fact you might go so far as to say it sounds absurd. Absurd refers to something that is “unreasonable” or “incongruous.” When we consider the birth of the Lord Jesus there are aspects that “seem” unreasonable. There are things that just don’t seem to fit.

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Who would dream that the story, of the high, holy, exalted moment when God came to earth, would center around an unwed mother? To say nothing about angels visiting shepherds, strange and mysterious visitors “from the East” and the birth of God in a stable! Is that any way for God to make an entrance?

Because we’ve heard the story so often, because the story seems so “far fetched” many look at the Christmas story the same way they look at Dickens’s Christmas Carol or It’s a Wonderful Life. It is a nice sentimental, feel-good story. It’s part of our Christmas tradition and nothing more. But it is something more, something much more. Christmas is the story of God’s invasion of our world. It is the story of God’s great act of liberation. It is the story of how God in love and grace restores broken lives.

Text: Colossians 1:13-20

Christmas is not just the story of an “unusual” birth.
We do not worship a baby born under unfortunate circumstances in an obscure village.
Apart from his life, death and resurrection, his birth is without meaning.

The reason we sing, celebrate and remember is because of who he is and what he came to do. Christmas is about the Gospel. For that reason our text is an appropriate Christmas text.

From it we are reminded that:

Thesis: Christmas marks the arrival of the incomparable Lord of Glory.

This is one of my favorite texts and there are three things I want to note from this text related to the meaning of Christmas.

The child born in Bethlehem is our conqueror and King. (1:13-14)

This child in the manger is the sovereign creator of all that is. (1:15-17)

The one worshiped is our redeemer and Lord. (1:18-20)

Conclusion:
Tomorrow is Christmas. We will gather with family and friends. We will exchange gifts and feast. All of that is well and good but meaningless apart from the wonderful, absurd story of a God who so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son so that whoever believes would not perish but would have everlasting life.

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A Call to Worship: Selected Psalms (12/21/2017)
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This is an exposition of Psalm 81. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, December 20, 2017.

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Psalm 81 can be divided into three stanzas:

Genuine worship is marked by a spirit of rejoicing (vs. 1-5). Worship is God-centered. This Asaph guy is no Baptist!

Genuine worship demands we solemnly remember all God has graciously done for his people (vs. 6-10).

Genuine worship requires honest examination and humble repentance (vs. 11-16).

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In the Garden: Gospel of Luke #87 (12/17/2017)
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This is an exposition of Luke 22:39-46. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 17, 2017.

Intro:

Exhausted, they held one another in unbelief. The last 9 months are a blur. They were engaged. They had entered into that formal period known as the betrothal. Plans were well underway for the wedding. Then an angel appeared to Mary. He came bearing extraordinary news. He was to have a child, a boy. But no ordinary boy, she was to be the mother of the Messiah. This would not be the result of relations with her husband in the normal course of things. This would be the work of God. This child would be conceived supernaturally. She would give birth to the Son of God.

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As you can imagine things didn’t go well when she told Joseph the news. He sought to quietly get out of the marriage and do so with as little harm to Mary as possible. Then he had his own encounter with God. It was all true! It hadn’t been easy. The whispers every time they walked down the street. The distance they now experienced from family and friends. Then today. After that long journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, Mary gave birth to her precious child in a stable amidst the stench and filth. Then those shepherds arrived with that story of an Angelic visitor and a heavenly chorus. Their heads were spinning. What does it all mean?

Fast forward 33 years. That child, now a man is in a garden just outside the city of Jerusalem. For most of the last few years he’s seldom be able to elude the crowds. Everywhere he went he was surrounded. The believers, the skeptics, the critics all wanting a piece of him. It’s Passover. Jerusalem is crowded with people but he is alone. He is laying prostrate on the ground in a pool of blood in agony crying, “Father if at all possible, let this cup pass from me.” On the night before our Lord’s greatest triumph, at the threshold of history’s pivotal moment, that moment anticipated by our Lord for all eternity, fear grip his heart. This Jesus who with such command and authority silenced the storm and calmed the sea. This Jesus who, with a word, caused demons to flee. This Jesus who, by his touch, opened the eyes of the blind, comforted the afflicted and even raise the dead. This Jesus who repeatedly silenced his critics with his profound wisdom, who consistently amazed the multitudes with his authority – this Jesus now cried out in terror from a lonely spot in the garden of Gethsemane. Our text this morning is found in Luke 22:39-46.

Text: Luke 22:39-46

After his birth, when the time of purification had passed, Mary and Joseph took the child to Jerusalem as required by the law of God. While there they met a man named Simeon who had been promised by the Lord that he would not die until he saw the Lord’s Christ. After seeing the child, he pronounced a blessing and then said to Mary, “This child is appointed for the rising and falling of many in Israel. And a sword will pierce your soul as well.” Again, what did that mean? Mary would soon know.

After the Passover meal and the institution of the new memorial meal Jesus and his disciples walked the familiar path to the Garden of Gethsemane. As they approached the Garden our Lord became strangely silent. As they crossed they Kidron brook he had a strange look in his eye as he stared down at the water now red with the blood of the Passover lambs. Upon reaching the Garden he told his disciples to watch and pray. Taking Peter, James and John a bit further he went on beyond them and threw himself on the ground. Such agony. Such pain. Everything in me wants to look away from this scene. But to do so would be to miss a precious and wonderful revelation. For:

Thesis: Our Lord’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane powerfully reveals the majesty and the beauty of our Savior.

Three things are revealed to us in this experience. Three truths that call us to worship and adore our Savior.

Our Lord’s experience in the Garden reveals the absolute horror of the cross.

Our Lord’s experience in the Garden reveals the tender compassion of the Savior for his own.

Our Lord’s experience in the Garden reveals the iron-willed determination of our blessed redeemer.

Conclusion:
Our Lord’s experience in the Garden is a powerful revelation of the majesty and the beauty of our Savior.

It reveals the absolute horror of the cross.
It reveals the tender compassion of the Savior toward his own.
It reveals the iron-willed determination of our blessed redeemer.

The angel said to Joseph, “You are to name him Jesus because he will save his people.”

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The Sinner’s Savior: Gospel of Luke #86 (12/12/2017)
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This is an exposition of Luke 22:31-38. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 10, 2017.

Intro:

Happiness is an elusive thing. The harder you chase it the further away it seems. That’s why C.S. Lewis said, “Happiness is like a cat. If you pursue it, it runs away. If you call to it, it ignores you. If you ignore it, it hops in your lap!” Lewis’ point being, you don’t pursue happiness. You live your life, go about your business seeking to live in obedience to God and happiness will find you.

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Of course our real desire is not happiness but joy. Deep, profound and abiding joy. Happiness demands everything is as it should be. Everything must line up. Joy, on the other hand is constant no matter the circumstance. Where does one find joy? Joy is found in Christ.

Our Lord was gathered in the upper room celebrating the last Passover and the first communion with his disciples. During that meal he broke bread and said, “This is my body, given for you.” He took the cup and declared, “This is the new covenant in my blood.” While they were trying to wrap their minds around what he had just said, our Lord stunned them with the announcement, “Behold, the hand of him who betrays me is on the table with me.” Betray him? One of us? Never! Accusations flew around the room as each in turn presented the case for how they could never do such a thing. Then the unthinkable, there talked turned to which of them was the greatest. With sorrow and disappointment our Lord said, “You’re acting like Gentiles.” You’re behaving like those who know nothing of the things of God. They worry about such things. They lord it over others. To them greatness has to do with power, position and prestige, not so with you. Things are different in the kingdom of God. Greatness is a matter of humility and service. Humbled and more than a little embarrassed the talk quieted down. But he wasn’t finished. His next words are both frightening and encouraging. Our text is found in Luke 22 beginning with verse 31.

Text: Luke 22:31-38

It was a very revealing night. Our Lord is revealed as a humble servant as he dons a towel and washes the feet of his disciples. He is revealed as the Passover lamb as he instituted a new memorial meal. He then reminded them of God’s sovereignty, the necessity of a godly perspective and the wonder of his grace. Now, in our text, he is revealed as the sinner’s Savior.

It is in this text we learn that…

Thesis: Our hope, our joy, our peace rests in the atoning sacrifice and on-going prayers of our gracious Savior.

There are two things I want to note as we work our way through this text.

We are kept safe by our Savior’s effectual prayers. (22:31-34)

We are ultimately delivered by our Savior’s atoning sacrifice. (22:35-38)

Conclusion:
In his saving work, the Savior of sinners took the guilt of our sin upon himself, and once he did that, he was obligated to pay the death penalty that all our sins deserved. He did this for all the sins of all of his people, all of our idolatry, our adultery, our thieving and dishonesty. Whatever kind of sinner we are, Jesus was counted as that kind of sinner on the cross. He of course was not a sinner but he was dying in the place of sinners, therefore he was counted a sinner on the cross. In terms of God’s justice, he died as a lying, lazy, thieving sinner. He did that to pay the debt of your sin. That is the wonder of the Gospel.

He died so that you could live.

Joy, lasting, sustained and abiding joy is to be found in Christ and in Christ alone. Why is that? Because we are ultimately delivered by his atoning sacrifice and we are kept safe by his continual, effective prayers.

Take heart troubled believer Jesus died for you.
Take heart beleaguered saint he is praying for you.

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Hope in Times of Trouble: Selected Psalms (12/8/2017)
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This is an exposition of Psalm 80. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, December 6, 2017.

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This psalm has a recurring chorus, found in verses 3, 7, and 19, which is the theme of the Psalm: A plea for God's favor.

Three stanzas make up Psalm 80. In times of uncertainty:

believers find comfort in a strong shepherding God (vs. 1-3).

believers are forced to deal with the reality of their sin and its devastating consequences (vs. 4-7).

believers come to rely on God's tencer, compassionate care (vs. 8-19).

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Faithfulness: The God-honoring Option, from Daniel 1:1-21 (12/3/2017)
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This is an exposition of Daniel 1:1-21. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, December 3, 2017.

Intro:

They were asked how they had stayed married all those years. After all it is rare to find folks staying together these days. The husband said, “The main thing is that I make all the major decisions and leave the other things to her.” After a brief pause he said, “Funny thing, in 45 years of marriage we haven’t had to make a single major decision!”

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Whether a decision is major or minor depends on your point of view. Now we all make decisions every day. A decision is a choice. I remember being in a group of pastors one Monday morning and listening to the “glorious” reports from the day before. “Brother we had church yesterday. The Spirit moved and we had many decisions.” Pastor after pastor spreading their feathers. After a while they looked at me. You know that look that says, “Top that.” I said, “The truth is fellas I lost track of decisions a long time ago. You want to talk about decisions. We have 1200 members. On any given Sunday at least 1000 of those “decide” not to even come to church!” It is a matter of perspective.

How big or how important a decision might be is not always easy to detect. Some are easy. If the doctor comes in and says, “I’m sorry we’ve done all we can do. You have to decide. Do you want to pull the plug or not?” That is a big decision. When that young man looks lovingly into the eyes of that young girl and says, “Will you marry me?” That’s a big decision with long term consequences. In the morning when I decided whether it will be Cocoa Puffs or Fruity Pebbles – not so much. But in between these two kinds of decisions is a large gray area. Some seem big but, in the long run, are not that significant. Others seem to matter very little but prove to be major.

That is why the Scripture puts such and emphasis on our being conformed to the image and likeness of the Lord Jesus and maturing in the faith. That is why we are to be sober minded in all we do and seek to honor God with the choices we make. Because you never know, what seems a “minor adjustment” may prove to be a major correction. What may seem a little compromise might be a total sell out. On the other hand, what might seem to be a nit-picking adherence to detail may prove to be the most important decision you ever made. At least that is the way things worked out for Daniel and his three friends.

Text: Daniel 1:1-21

Daniel’s life could be described as a series of Choices. In the 605 BC king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated Egypt at the battle of Charcemish making Babylon the dominant world power. Shortly after that victory Nebuchadnezzar’s army marched on Judah. Following the fall of Jerusalem, the Babylonians took captive the brightest and most promising of Judah’s young men. Daniel and his three friends were included in that first group of exiles. Daniel was taken to Babylon where he spent the next 7 decades. As we explore the first chapter of Daniel we learn a valuable principle related to our choices.

Thesis: Faithfulness is the only God-honoring option for the people of God.

When we are faithful to God, when we walk in obedience to His commands we have His smile and that is enough.

Background: 1:1-4

Three things we must note.

The Dilemma. (1:5-7)

A Difficult but God-honoring Choice. (1:8-14)

God Granted them Unusual Favor. (1:15-21)

Conclusion:
Everyday we are faced with choices.
Everyday our choices affect our lives for good or bad.
Solomon warns, “The little foxes spoil the vineyard.” (Song of Songs 2:15)

A compromise here.
Looking the other way there.

Over time it’s the small and insignificant that can destroy a life, a testimony or undermine your faith. Faithfulness, it’s the only God-honoring option for the people of God.

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Response to Treachery: Gospel of Luke #85 (12/3/2017)
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This is an exposition of Luke 22:21-30. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, December 3, 2017.

Intro:

There is nothing worse. There is nothing that compares with the awkward, tense, impassioned silence of a holiday meal gone bad. Now, by “gone bad” I don’t mean the undercooked turkey infected everyone with salmonella. I mean something was said that touched off deeply held hostility and that hostility just exploded! Accusations are flying. Nursed grudges have fought their way to the surface. The evening has become a free-for-all.

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It was supposed to be a night of solemn remembrance; an evening of celebration and thanksgiving, a time for praising God for his gracious salvation. Instead it was a pathetic display of petty bickering and self-serving delusion. If you have ever doubted that those first followers of Jesus were Baptists - doubt it no more. I present exhibit A, the “Last Supper.” It’s hard to look at but look at it we must for there is much to be learned. The grace, beauty and grandeur of our Lord shines bright against the foolishness of those gathered with him than night. For months he has told them that he must go to Jerusalem to be rejected, to be handed over to his enemies, to suffer and die. That time has come. He had already been betrayed by one of those in the room. Soon they all will abandon him. He has shown great love and humility as he has served them and they want to argue about which of them is the greatest. How could he possibly love this bunch? It is so disappointing, so discouraging to witness such ignorance. But honesty forces me to say, “How could he love me?” I’m every bit as petty as those gathered that night. I am often filled with my own importance and just as delusional about the honor due me. So the question is really, “How could he possibly love us?” The answer is, the Gospel. The answer is that he, out of the goodness of his own heart and not in any way dependent upon us, chose to love us. God proved his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Come with me to the upper room and witness the grace and wonder of our Savior.

Text: Luke 22:21-30

It is Passover.
The night of our Lord’s betrayal.
He is at table, celebrating the Passover meal with the 12.
We are on holy ground.
All of history has been focused on this moment in time.
Salvation has come.
Redemption is about to be paid.
The Passover is at hand.
He has just instituted the new memorial meal.
The meal commemorating the new covenant.
This is my body…this is the new covenant in my blood…

What happened next is both tragic and glorious…

[Read the Text]

Thesis: In response to treachery and bitter disappointment our Lord reminds us of God’s unquestioned sovereignty, the necessity of a godly perspective and the wonder of God’s grace.

There are three things I want us to note as we work through this text.

A troubling, yet remarkable word about betrayal. (22:21-23)

A disappointing display of selfishness and a new definition of greatness. (22:24-27)

An astonishing promise of future greatness and glory. (22:28-30)

Conclusion:
Yes, it was quite an evening as our Lord in response to treachery and bitter disappointment reminds us of God’s unquestioned sovereignty, the necessity of a godly perspective and the wonder of God’s grace.

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Finding Peace in God’s Strong Presence: Selected Psalms (11/29/2017)

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This is an exposition of Psalm 76. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, November 29, 2017.
The Upper Room: Gospel of Luke #84 (11/26/2017)
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This is an exposition of Luke 22:7-20. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 26, 2017.

Intro:

It was a time for feasting and celebrating. It was a time for remembering the deliverance of God. A time for families to gather about the table as the head of the family retold the old, old story of God’s deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage.

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Special foods had been prepared and arranged for the celebration. A thick paste of dates, raisins and apples reminded them of the mortar and bricks of Egypt. Bitter herbs reminded them of the bitterness of slavery. The Paschal Lamb was the symbol of the blood that caused the death angel to “passover.” Yes, this was a night of solemn remembrance and a night of rejoicing.

A small group of men gathered with their master in an upper room to celebrate the Passover meal. For the past three years they have traveled with this rabbi. They have been amazed at the power and the beauty of his message. They stood in awe of his authority to command the winds and the waves. Through wet eyes they watched as he opened the eyes of the blind, made the lame to walk and even raised the dead. Now with troubled hearts and minds they are trying to make sense of the events of the past week. Increasingly he has talked of his coming death. Excited and frightened, thrilled and horrified they gathered. They gathered to partake of the Passover ritual. The centuries old tradition of recounting God’s deliverance of his people. From their earliest days they have gathered on this night to remember. Year after year recounting the same story. Each of them knew, instinctively, that this night was different – yet they were unprepared for what was to follow.

Our text this morning is found in Luke’s gospel chapter 22 beginning at verse 14.

Text: Luke 22:7-27

These are sacred moments.
Our Lord is in the Holy Place fast approaching the Holy of Holies.
God’s eternal plan of the ages is approaching its climax.
There is a sense in which I feel the urge to speak in hushed tones.
I get the sense that I am intruding on a sacred spot.
Yet by God’s design these events are recorded for us and given as a sacred treasure.
A treasure revealing the breadth and the depth of our Savior’s love.
Our problem is that we are too familiar with this passages and yet, at the same time, we seem to know very little of their beauty and value.

We can tell the story and repeat every detail. We glibly recount the story and go through the motions when celebrating the Lord’s Table but do we stop and meditate? Do we take the time to contemplate the significance of that table? Do we consider the ramifications of the events in that room 2000 years ago?

Do me a favor, do yourself a favor, and look at this passage with new eyes. See it as if you have never seen it before. Experience what these men experienced that night.

If you do then I think you will discover that:

Thesis: That night in the upper room reveals the depth, the wonder, and the glory of our gracious Savior and His great work.

As our text unfolds it falls into three parts.

A loving act. (22:14-16)

A precious gift. (22:17-20)
The Bread of Remembrance
The Cup of the New Covenant

A personal attachment.

This is for you.
It is to be apprehended by faith.
You must come to Christ and trust in him alone!

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Why Should I Attend the Ordinances of the Church? (11/19/2017)
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This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 19, 2017.

Intro:

If you hear on Sunday morning that Sunday evening there will be a baptism or we will be observing the Lord’s Supper, does that make any difference to you? If you had not planned on coming Sunday evening would that cause you to change your plans? How important is it to attend the ordinances of the church?

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Would it make a difference if you knew the person being baptized? You see I think there is a danger in Baptist life. Because we do not view baptism and the Lord’s Supper as sacraments we tend to view them as optional or not that important. A sacrament dispenses grace. We do not hold that grace is dispensed but rather that they are symbols or memorials of God’s gracious acts in Christ. It is a mistake however to think of them as “mere” symbol. As if that is all they are. Yes, they are symbols but not merely symbols.

We, as Baptist, refer to baptism and Lord’s Supper as ordinances. What are ordinances and how many are there?

A Christian ordinance is a ceremony that the Lord Jesus has commanded to be permanently practiced by the church. In the New Testament we find two ordinances given to the church, baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These were ordained by the Lord himself, they are not the result of a church council or traditions handed down through the history of the church.

Ordinances are distinct ceremonies not just general actions or attitudes. Christ commands us to love. Love in fact is to be a hallmark of the church but love is not an ordinance.

Some groups add “foot washing” as an ordinance based on what happened on the night when our Lord instituted the Supper. However we do not find it indicated as a practice in the New Testament and there are no direct commands to practice it.

It is also important to recognize that the ordinances are given to the church not to individual Christians. That is why we don’t encourage people to baptize their children in the bathtub or to take the Lord’s Supper in small groups apart from the rest of the church.

Why should I attend the ordinances of the church?

I. Why should I attend the ordinance of baptism?

Let me give you some reasons for why you should make it a point to be present every time there is a baptism.

By being present at baptism you demonstrate your commitment to the Great Commission.

By being present at baptism you show commitment to the importance of baptism.

By being present at baptism you accept a new member into the family.

II. Why should I attend the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper?

Why should you make an extra effort to be present at the table of the Lord?

You should be present at the Lord’s Supper because it is commanded by Jesus.

You should be present at the Lord’s Supper because it is loved by Jesus.

You should be present at the Lord’s Supper because it is a spiritual participation in the body and blood of Jesus.

You should be present at the Lord’s Supper because it is a memorial to Jesus.

You should be present at the Lord’s Supper because it is a proclamation of the death of Jesus.

Conclusion:
Both baptism and Lord’s Supper are treasured ordinances of the church. Both proclaim the gospel. Both celebrate the saving work of our gracious God. Both are necessary for our spiritual growth and development. Whenever given opportunity we ought to joyfully participate.

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Betrayal: Gospel of Luke #83 (11/19/2017)
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This is an exposition of Luke 22:1-6. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 19, 2017.

Intro:

It was a quiet evening. They visited, laughed and enjoyed one another’s company. There was even a bit of a festive mood around the table. It was a welcome relief from the hectic events of the week. Little did they know that murder and betrayal were on the menu that night.

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Most of them had no idea that in the midst of their love, fellowship and comradery lurked the dark, twisted heart of a betrayer. In a matter of hours the fruit of this betrayal would lead to the horrifying murder of their leader. The laughter and noise of the dinner was silenced as their master declared, “One of you will betray me.”

“Betrayal” is there an uglier word? The very word conjures up images of treachery, seduction and deception. Betrayal is the ultimate violation of trust. And is there any greater betrayal than the betrayal of love? Our text this morning is found in Luke chapter 22.

Text: Luke 22:1-6

As we approach this section of Luke’s Gospel we are entering into the Holy Place.
On Sunday he entered the city in Triumph – “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” The next morning he cleansed the temple and established himself as Lord of the Temple. He met with the people daily in the temple – the temple’s last and greatest glory. He silenced his critics and walked away from their traps unscathed.

While his critics were silenced, they were not finished.
Their hatred and hostility raged.
They continued to meet together determined to see to his demise.

Jesus withdrew from the multitudes and began to prepare his followers for what was to come.

He warned of the judgement to come upon Jerusalem for their rejection of the Messiah.
And he spoke with them about the coming of the kingdom and of his return.

From this point on in Luke’s account we are dealing with our Lord’s final hours.
He is entering in behind the veil to secure our redemption.
These are holy moments.
This has been the focus of history from eternity past.
This has been the focal point of Luke’s Gospel.

Now, our problem with this text is that we know what’s coming.
We know the story.
We know that Judas betrayed the Lord.
We’ve rehearsed the story year after year at Easter.
But try to set it in its context.
Try to imagine the impact of such a thing on those gathered that night in the upper room.

A careful analysis of the text reveals that:

Thesis: Judas’ betrayal of the Lord Jesus vividly reminds us of the depth of our depravity and the extent of God’s mercy and grace.

There are two things I want us to note in connection with this text.

The heart that is hardened by sin utterly despises the Lord Jesus. (Luke 22:1-6)

The Lord Jesus graciously returns kindness and compassion for hostility and hatred.

Conclusion:
Pastor, I’m no Judas. How does this apply to me? Consider the words of the apostle Paul:

Romans 1:18-21
Romans 3:10-18
Ephesians 2:1-3
Colossians 1:21

That sums it all up. Every man, woman boy and girl outside of Christ, in their natural state: “…alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds.”

And yet, “…God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

That’s the gospel and it is for you!

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God’s Sovereignty: The Basis of Genuine Worship: Selected Psalms (11/15/2017)

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This is an exposition of Psalm 75. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, November 15, 2017.
Does Baptism Matter? (11/12/2017)
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“Does Baptism Matter?” by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 12, 2017.

Intro:

I have to confess I don’t get it. You’re watching a football game on TV and the camera pans the crowd. Here is a group of guys, in freezing weather, with no shirts on, their bodies painted purple to match the team’s colors – their faces painted, strange things on their heads, screaming at the top of their lungs – and we respond with a sense of admiration – “There’s a real fan.”

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Or how about the case of Giles Pellerin. An avid fan of the University of Southern California football. “Avid” is not a strong enough word. He didn’t miss a USC football game – home or away – for 73 years! He made it to 797 consecutive games before he died at age 91. One year he had an emergency appendectomy just 5 days before a game. Still in the hospital on Saturday, he told the nurses he was going for a walk and instead went to the stadium! When asked about his fanaticism, he responded – “It’s just all part of being a fan.”

Here is what I really don’t get. In light of such commitment to an athletic event – why is it some Christians hesitate to boldly, publicly identify themselves as followers of Jesus Christ through Christian baptism? There are people who claim to honestly, legitimately love Christ who consider baptism insignificant or at best something to think about “tomorrow.” How important is baptism? Why should anyone seek baptism in a local church?

There is a real danger in Baptist life of cheapening baptism. This is strange given that many of our forefathers died for their convictions concerning this ordinance of the church. But I’m afraid that our insistence that baptism is a symbol has been interpreted, as baptism is not important. In our insistence that salvation does not, in any way, depend upon our baptism, we have implied that baptism is optional.

I was reminded of this a few years back when I received a phone call one afternoon from a man who taught a high school Sunday School class at a local Church of Christ. He asked if I would consent to a telephone interview on a Sunday morning with his class. They were studying what other groups believed and taught and would I agree to give the Baptist perspective on baptism. In the course of the interview I was asked if I believed Christ commanded us to be baptized. I said, “Of course the scripture leaves no doubt about that.” The response was – “So is it your position that Christ’s commands are insignificant or unnecessary?”

I would expect such a response from a person whose perspective differs so dramatically from mine. What concerns me is that so many Baptist seem to justify such a false portrayal.

Baptism is very significant. I believe baptism is necessary – not for salvation but for obedience.

If one refuses to be baptized, I want to know why? Why does a lover of Christ not want to be publicly identified with Christ? Why is one who is not ashamed of Christ embarrassed to participate in such a public demonstration? Why refuse to perform this act of obedience?

Let me give you three biblical reasons for why baptism is necessary for the genuine believer.

Baptism openly identifies you as a follower of Christ.
Matthew 28:19-20 - Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Although baptism is never equated with faith or salvation it is closely associated with both.

For instance. Acts 2:41, Acts 9:18, Acts 16:30-33

Baptism was – and should be – the first public expression of faith by those who confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Baptism openly obeys the command of Christ.
Baptism is not a ritual created by the ancient church and passed down through the ages. Baptism is a practice ordained by Christ Himself.

Note again – Matthew 28:19-20.

The King of the universe – the Eternal One – the Judge of us all has commanded it. What do you think? Is it optional?

Baptism openly expresses your faith in many truths.
Baptism is symbolic of many things. To submit to baptism says that you believe what baptism represents.

Baptism expresses your faith in the doctrine of the Trinity.

Baptism expresses the fact that your sins have been washed away.

Baptism declares that you have been united with Christ in His death and resurrection.

Through baptism you declare that through Christ God has given you new life.

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Answers that Raise More Questions: Luke #82 (11/12/2017)
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This is an exposition of Luke 21:5-36. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 12, 2017.

Intro:

I’m one of those people who likes things simple. I like things to be yes or no. I like certainty – uncertainty drives me crazy. That’s why I hate going to a doctor and he says, “Well the test show things are clear.” I respond, “Good so there’s nothing wrong.” “Well I wouldn’t say that.” Or you’re setting in a classroom and the teacher asks a question.

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One of the class answers and the teacher says, “That’s a very good answer.” You make sure you write that answer down since it is the “right” answer and then the teacher says, “Would someone else like to try and answer the question.” What do you mean? You just said that was a very good answer! What’s with this try another answer bit? Either it is the answer or it is not.

It is my dislike for uncertainty that makes me uncomfortable in dealing with certain passages of Scripture. One of the reasons I preach through books is that it forces me to deal with passages I wouldn’t deal with if I had the choice. One area of difficulty in biblical interpretation is the area of eschatology or last things. There are some things that are absolutely certain. Jesus is coming again. He is coming visibly, physically to this earth. Of that there is no question. The details and events surrounding that return are not so clear. I think one point of confusion is that we think of “last things” only in terms of the return of Christ. Actually the “last days” began with the ascension of Christ. From the time he was received into the cloud the church has anticipated his return. We are living in the last days…and we have been for the past 2000 years!

Contrary to some popular preachers and writers, the interpretation of prophecy is not an exact science. The Scriptures are infallible, interpreters are not. We are all influenced by various biases and prejudices as we approach any given text. Any time we approach a text we bring to it certain assumptions and it is extremely difficult to hold those assumptions at arm’s length and allow the text to stand on its own. I have done a lot of reading through the years as I’ve tried to sort out my views. At various times I’ve found myself in agreement with most of the major millennial views. I’m still, to this day, not certain as to which pigeonhole I should be put in. I’m not as concerned about which view I hold, as I am about whether I properly understand whatever text I’m working with. I’m not interested in defending a particular view or proving one over the other. I am interested in hearing from God on the subject.

I think it just might be possible that in our zeal to understand the details surrounding the return of Christ we’ve lost sight of the message. After all if a passage is dealing with the return of Jesus does that mean it has nothing to say to those believers who lived and died before his return?

As we are walking through Luke’s Gospel we come this morning to Luke’s account of the Olivet Discourse. The Olivet discourse is found in Luke 21, Mark 13 and in Matthew 24-25. This passage is one of the most talked about and disputed passages in all the Gospels. When seeking to unravel the message of this passage one has to deal with events reaching from the first century to the end of time. Did the disciples ask one question? Two? Or perhaps even three questions? Is Luke 21 Luke’s version of the Olivet Discourse or is it simply related material? What is meant by “this generation” in this passage? These are but a few of the questions scholars have debated through the centuries. With all that in mind let’s turn to John 3:16 and deal with something less controversial! I’m kidding our text this morning is found in Luke 21:5-36.

Text: Luke 21:5-36

Luke is dealing with the events of the Passion Week.
That final week in the earthly life and ministry of our Lord.
He entered the city in triumph.
He cleansed the temple and assumed his rightful place as Lord of the temple.
He was teaching the people (the temple’s greatest glory).
He met his enemies face to face in the temple as they sought to trap him.
He silenced them with his great wisdom.

Now Jesus and his disciples are leaving the city of Jerusalem and his disciples look back at the temple and marvel at its beauty. Jesus’ simple, direct statement shook them to the very core of their being. And prompted them to ask him a question that serves as the backdrop of our text.

Note 21:5-7
I’m convinced this is central to understanding what Jesus is saying in this text.
The question is specific.
There are two parts but they are dealing with the same thing.
Mark 13 records the question the same way Luke does.
Matthew’s version is slightly different.
He adds, “…and what will be the sign of the end of the age or the end of the world?”

One of the difficulties in interpreting this passage is its use of apocalyptic language.
Apocalyptic language is cartoon or figurative language.

There are images in this text that mirror certain OT passages dealing with the “day of the Lord.”

Jesus is predicting the future in this passage. He is declaring in advance certain things that are going to take place in the future. While I believe this prophecy deals specifically with the destruction of Jerusalem, I also believe aspects of it speak to the return of Christ at the end of world history.

There is a “telescoping” of ideas in the passage. Language that speaks specifically to a certain event but also to an event beyond that time. Here is my concern. It is possible to get so involved in arguing the details you miss the message. In seeking to catalogue the individual trees you fail to notice the forest. Let’s back off just a bit and see if we can take a wider view and grasp a principle to live by. If we take that approach I think we can see that:

Thesis: In the midst of tumultuous times believers are made sober by the terror of God’s judgement, while at the same time, they are comforted by the tenderness of Christ’s loving concern.

I’m convinced these two elements are essential to understanding our Lord’s intent.
Both aspects are true; there is coming a judgement and Christ lovingly warns of the dangers to come.

There are two things I want to call your attention to out of our text.

As the righteous judge, the Lord Jesus sovereignly declares the coming judgement.

As the gracious Savior, the Lord Jesus prepares his followers for the horrors to come.

Conclusion:
Are we living in the last days? Yes!
When will Christ return? I have no idea.
What about all the unrest in the world – changing weather, disasters – are they signs of his coming? Yeah just as they have been for 2000 years.

It closer today then it was back then!
It may be tonight or it may be 1000 years away.
The message of the Scripture is clear – “No man knows the day or hour – therefore live each day in anticipation of his return.”

Wake up and realize that judgement is coming.
Be encourage by the fact that Christ has prepared us for his return.

How are we to live? 21:34-36.
“Take heed, watch and pray.”

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A Prayer from the Devastation: Selected Psalms (11/10/2017)
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This is an exposition of Psalm 74. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, November 8, 2017.

Even when we are devastated we turn to God to plead our case. Note the honesty of the psalmist.

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Note in this psalm:

A painful lament (vs. 1-2).

A passionate plea (vs. 3-8).

A pregnant pause (vs. 9-11).

The turning point (vs. 12-17).

Coming round full circle: God is Faithful to his promise (vs. 18-23).

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Delay, Denial and Certainty: 2017 2 Peter #04 (11/5/2017)
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This is an exposition of 2 Peter 3:1-18. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, November 5, 2017.

Intro:

Are you any good at waiting? How are you at handling “delayed gratification?” I’m not good at it. I don’t handle it well at all. When I want something – I want it yesterday. When I have to wait I can get ugly. I get cynical. I moan, whine and complain.

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Oh, and if I’m going somewhere I can’t stand to be late. If I’m not there 15-20 minutes early I think I’m late. I got that from my dad. When I’m waiting in the car for Rheadon…I find myself saying, “She’s never coming. We should already be on the road. I told her what time we were leaving. She’s not ready. She’s not here. We’re late!” They say confession is good for the soul but I’ve got to tell you I’m getting upset just thinking about this!

Imagine what it was like for those early followers of Jesus who just knew he was coming back any day. Who were just certain that at any moment he was coming in power and glory. With the each passing day – their hope burned a little less bright. It had now been some 30 years since he said he would be back. Some were saying he would never come. Others were suggesting that they had misunderstood everything Jesus said. They were calling for a new kind of faith. Peter wrote to that struggling bunch of believers and said, “There are some things you need to be certain about. Make sure you are a Christian. Make your calling and election sure. Examine your life for the evidence of ever increasing holiness. Mark it down, there will be false teachers. Be sober. Be on your guard. Stand against those who seek personal gain through ministry. Beware the arrogant and over confident. Stay clear of those blatantly carnal teachers of the word and rest assured God will bring his enemies to justice. God’s judgment is certain. Now there is one other certainty – our Lord is coming and when he comes there will be a reckoning.”

Our text this evening is found in the 3rd chapter of Peter’s second letter.

Text: 2 Peter 3:1-18

We said in our first study you can outline the book Holiness (1) Heresy (2) and Hope (3) or Cultivation of a genuinely Christian Character, Condemnation of False Teachers and Confidence in the Return of the Lord. Tonight we deal with that 3rd category.

In exploring this final chapter we will discover two over-arching concerns that drive, motivate and guide the Christian in living in light of the Lord’s return. I’m more convinced than ever that Bible study is to be practical. That it is not a matter of storing up knowledge for knowledge’s sake. There must be a practical working out of the truth learned. It impacts us in some practical way. This book is given to us that we might know God. It reveals God to us and gives us insight into how we are to relate to him and live in a manner pleasing to him. So, any time we study this book and we walk away failing to understand him better or how we are to live – we’ve misread it. We’ve misunderstood its message.

Doctrine must have its practical side.
And the doctrine of last things isn’t just a matter of learning to set dates.

It is not about putting a chart together so that we can know what’s going to happen out there someday that really doesn’t apply to us in anyway! Rather it is to give us hope, it is to inspire us to faithfulness, it is to motivate us in service – it is to cause us to be the people he has called us to be.

Two things I want us to note.

Believers cling tenaciously to the promise of our Lord’s return in spite of delay and denials. (3:1-10)

The thought of the Lord’s return motivates the believer toward holiness. (3:11-18)

Conclusion:
Will you be at peace with God?
Peter never asks, “Do you remember the time you believed?”
His question was always, “Are you believing now?”

Be certain you are in Christ.
Be certain false teachers and false teaching abound.
Be certain he is coming and judgment comes with him.

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Gifted Giving: 2016 Gospel of Luke #81 (11/5/2017)
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This is an exposition of Luke 21:1-4. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, November 5, 2017.

Intro:

The star of the circus astonished the crowd with his feats of strength. He concluded his act by squeezing an orange dry. Then he would challenge the audience to produce anyone who could extract even one drop of juice from the squeezed fruit. Night after night local strongmen where humiliated before the hometown crowd.

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One night a little old man with wire frame glasses stepped up to accept the challenge. The crowd roared with laughter at the thought of this little old man attempting the impossible. The old man grasped the orange in his right hand and began to squeeze. His concentration was great. Every eye was on him. Electricity filled the air. After a few seconds, a tiny drip formed on the edge of the orange and then dropped to the floor. The crowd exploded! Astonished at the strength of the old man, the circus performer asked him how he had managed to develop such strength. “There’s nothing to it,” said the old man. “I just happen to be the treasurer of the local Baptist church!”

I know, it is one of those touchy subjects that the preacher has no business getting into. Why is it that when E.F. Hutton talks about money people listen and the preacher talks about money and folks get mad? It may surprise you if you haven’t considered it or studied it – but God has a lot to say about money and our giving. The fact is the Scripture is consistent in talking about our “stewardship.” Everything we have, we have because of His grace. We are His servants – it belongs to Him, we merely manage it. If that indeed is true, then He can take whatever He wants, whenever He wants. It also means that every spending decision is a spiritual decision. With that in mind we are going to learn some timeless lessons about giving as we explore Luke 21:1-4.

Text: Luke 21:1-4

Luke is nearing the end of his account of Jesus’ life and ministry.
We are in the final days.
Jesus has made his dramatic entrance into the city.
He has cleansed the Temple.
He has been teaching in the Temple – its last, greatest glory.
We’ve witnessed several attempts to trap him.
Traps set by the Scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees and the Herodians.
Jesus has handled them with wisdom, grace and strength.
His critics have been silenced – for the time being.
It is against the backdrop of these intense encounters that our Lord takes a break.
He situates himself across from the treasury and watches as the people come by and drop in their gifts.

I want you to picture this as a miniature drama that plays out before you.
The drama consists of two acts and then I want to add an epilogue.

Act 1: “An everyday act.” (Luke 21:1)

Act 2: “A surprising response.” (Luke 21:3-4)

An Epilogue: some timeless lessons on giving.

What are we to make of this?
What are we to take away from this account?

I think there are at least 3 timeless principles we can take from this passage.

When it comes to giving to God, motivation makes or breaks the gift.

When it comes to giving to God, the value of the gift is nothing while the cost of the gift is everything.

When it comes to giving to God, little becomes much in His hand.

It all comes down to this…

Thesis: Giving that honors God is motivated by love, sacrificial in nature and trusts God with the return.

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Lessons from a Doubting Believer: Selected Psalms (11/4/2017)
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This is an exposition of Psalm 73. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, November 1, 2017.

This Psalm has four stanzas:

Faith Questioning (v. 1-15)

Awakened Faith (v. 16-17)

Faith Rebuilding (v. 18-26)

Reaffirmation of Faith (27-28)
Some Thoughts on Reformation Day (10/29/2017)
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This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 29, 2017.

Intro:

Growing up in a Baptist church in the heart of the “Bible Belt” I hadn’t thought much about it. I went to school with, played ball with, ran the neighborhood with kids who were Catholic, Methodist, Church of Christ, Assembly of God and other normal kids - you know, Baptists.

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I don’t remember why or where but I remember the first time I saw a form that asked for religious preference and listed was Catholic, Protestant, Jew or other. I remember thinking, “Is that it? Am I other or should I write in Baptist?” Later, in college, I remember coming across the little book by J.M. Carroll, “The Trail of Blood.” Carroll claimed that we Baptist were not Protestants we were part of a heritage that went back to Christ himself and were not tainted by the Catholic church. I kind of liked that idea. It seemed so pure. The more I studied and looked into the matter, I came to the conclusion I’d rather be identified with the Catholics then some of the folks referenced in Carroll’s book! Later in college I came across some writings that were very anti-Catholic. Some written by people I greatly admired and respected for their theological knowledge and insight who spoke of the pope as the antichrist. This sounds serious. I guess I really need to understand what the differences are and why they matter.

This year marks the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. In fact it was 500 years ago this coming Tuesday, October 31 that Martin Luther struck the match that ignited the Reformation. The groundwork for the Reformation was laid by the various reform movements of late medieval Christianity, by the increased interest in learning that marked the renaissance, and by the printing press. Europe was ripe for Reformation. All it needed was a spark. That came when Luther, a German monk, nailed his 95 thesis to the door of Wittenberg’s Castle Church. The door was a public bulletin board. The thesis were written in Latin. It was a call for scholarly debate within the church. The 95 thesis were not focused on great doctrinal issues as much as some of the errant practices within the church. Front and center was the selling of “indulgences.” Johann Tetzel was touring Germany at the time, collecting money in return for the promise that the pope would release dead relatives from purgatory. Indulgences are a release from temporary punishments that the Roman Catholic Church said that people receive for sins they commit, sins which were not bad enough to send people to hell. Martin Luther argued that the pope had no such power, and if he did, then he ought to use it—without monetary return and as an act of love—to remit all temporal punishment.

The pope got word of the thesis, he sent a representative to debate Luther in the hopes of silencing this “wild boar loose in the vineyard of Christ.” The hope was to get Luther to deny the authority of the pope thus Luther would be discredited and excommunicated. Luther obliged. The pope sent the paper declaring Luther was a heretic and was excluded from Christ’s church. Luther burned the announcement and the Reformation was on. That is a very condensed version of the story. The whole tale is fascinating, full of intrigue, political wrangling, kidnapping, charges and counter charges and is worth your time in studying.

Frequently the Reformation is described as a movement that revolved around two pivotal issues. The so-called “material” cause was the debate over sola fide (“justification by faith alone”). The “formal” cause, sola Scriptura, that the Bible and the Bible alone has the authority to bind the conscience of the believer. Luther had no desire to start another church - he sought to reform the church from within. From Luther and later Calvin and the other reformers, at issue was the gospel. How are we saved?

Out of the debate came the 5 solas of the Reformation:

Sola Scriptura - Scripture alone

Sola gratia - grace alone

Sola fide - faith alone

Sola Christo - Christ alone

Soli Deo gloria - glory of God alone

The Roman Catholic Church taught that the Bible was the Word of God and that the Church was its interpreter. Church tradition, the teaching of the church was thus, in practical terms, on equal par with the Scripture. They also taught that salvation was by grace but not grace alone. This is where the issue of justification comes in.

The Roman Catholic Church taught then and still does today that righteousness is infused - we become righteous through faith and the sacraments of the church. Luther and the reformers taught that righteousness is imputed to us. Abraham believed God and it was counted or credited to him as righteousness. We need an alien righteousness, a righteousness outside of ourselves. The word “justification” in Scripture is a forensic term. We are declared righteous. We are declared justified in the sight of God because of Christ.

You may think this is a matter of theological hair splitting - it is not! Rome understood that and at the council of Trent 1545-1563 declared the teaching heretical and anathematized it - damned it. To this day, according to Rome, we who believe in salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone are outside of the Church and believe a damnable doctrine.

What we see in the Reformation is a recovery of the biblical gospel. What Rome sees is the abandonment of the biblical gospel. We believe a different gospel. We can’t both be right. If we are to take Paul seriously in Galatians 1:6-9 this matters!

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.

The question is not sincerity. It is not simply - really believe what your believe, be genuine in it. What you believe matters. What is your authority? The Word of God or the Church? There are other differences but this is the core, the heart of the matter.

I’m a Baptist by conviction. I’m convinced that as a Baptist I’m a child of the Reformation, I’m a Protestant. I believe Baptist have our roots in English Separatism that grew out of Anglicanism that grew out of Catholicism through the Reformation. The other stream into Baptist life are the Anabaptist or the “Radical Reformers.” They thought the Reformers didn’t go far enough.

I’m convinced by Scripture that salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone to the glory of God alone. And I’m grateful for Luther, Calvin, Zwingli, Knox and their heirs. I’m grateful for the recovery of the biblical gospel and I believe the church must be always reforming in that we are to constantly bring our lives inline with Scripture. Further, I’m convinced that the church, the visible church, the local assembly will always be a mixed people this side of eternity. The tares will grow alongside the wheat. The “perfect church” does not exist. Thus in humility and grace we strive to live godly lives. We strive to order the church according to the Word of God.

What is to be our attitude toward the Church of Rome? How are we to think of our Roman Catholic friends? I think the Church of Rome is a false church because, as a church, it denies the biblical gospel. I believe there are genuine Christians who are members of the Roman Church and they are genuine believers in spite of what their church teaches not because of what their church teaches. By the way, I don’t believe all Baptist are genuine believers. I think there are many false professors in the Baptist church. There will be some Baptists among that crowd saying, “But Lord we did all these things in your name” and He will say, “Depart from me, I never knew you.”

As we approach the 500th anniversary of the Reformation we should pray as we do every day, "Lord be merciful to me, the sinner.” We are saved by the grace of God and to him alone belongs the glory.

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A Question of Resurrection: Gospel of Luke #80 (10/29/2017)
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This is an exposition of Luke 20:27-41. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 29, 2017.

Intro:

They were relentless in their pursuit. For months they planned and schemed. Now they had him in their midst. They could not let him escape. It is now or never. There was only one problem – they needed a reason to get rid of him! They couldn’t very well go to the authorities and say, “We don’t like him – kill him for us.”

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For months they have dogged his trail seeking to find something – anything. They were left with nothing. They could build a case for blasphemy but that would not interest the Romans. They would most likely laugh at such a charge and send them packing. No, they would have to claim some threat to Rome. If they could just cause a disturbance in the city and pin it on him. If they could just get him to say something that could, in any way, be taken as anti-Rome. Nothing. But they were persistent. They were united. And it was an interesting coalition. Hate has an incredible ability to unite. Hatred brought together the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Herodians a most unlikely trio. Each group took their best shot. Each failed.

We are in the final days of the earthly life and ministry of the Lord Jesus. Throughout his ministry he has been careful about what he has revealed and when he revealed it. It was obvious, from the beginning, that he was moving according to a predetermined schedule. He moved at his own pace and acted according to his own agenda. Now the time had come to make himself known. Now was the time for the unveiling. There had been glimpses here and there – now the time had come for the full unveiling. Thus he entered Jerusalem in dramatic fashion just days before – openly declaring himself to be the Messiah. He cleansed the Temple and assumed his role as Lord of the Temple. This hardly seems appropriate for a man with a price on his head! Some might goes as far as saying it is foolish. No, it is not foolish; the time for redemption has come. The kingdom of God is now arriving. Our text this morning is found in Luke chapter 20 beginning with verse 27.

Text: Luke 20:27-47

Herbert Lockyer calls it the week that changed the world and that it is. On Sunday the miracle-working rabbi from Galilee rode into town on a donkey declaring himself king. Claiming that he is in fact the long awaited Messiah of the Jews. He entered to shouts of “Hosanna” – “Save Us.” The next morning he caused a major disturbance in the Temple. For the next couple of days he moved about the Temple teaching. His teaching amazed the multitudes and enraged the establishment. By Thursday evening he was gathered with his disciples and at the Passover meal instituted a new memorial meal that would mark the beginning of a new age. Thursday night, late, he was arrested on fabricated charges. Through a series of illegal hearings and trials he was condemned and by Friday morning an angry mob was crying, “Crucify him! Crucify Him!” He was taken just outside the city wall and nailed to a cross where he bled and died. The shout of “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord” had barely died down before his lifeless body was placed in a borrowed grave. A lot had happened in six days but it wasn’t over yet. Early Sunday morning – just 1 week after his entrance into the city – his followers arrived at an open grave. They were the first to learn – He has risen! No, it was no ordinary week.

Thesis: Our Lord’s encounter with the Sadducees underscores the certainty and significance of the resurrection.

There are three things I want us to note in the passage that is before us.

The Question Raised. (20:27-33)

A Thorough and Authoritative Answer. (20:34-38)
The theological response (34-36)
The exegetical response – 37-38

Silence! (20:39-40)

Conclusion:
Yes, there is an after life. Yes, the dead will be raised. This has been the plan of God all along. Sown corruptible and raised incorruptible. Sown in weakness raised in glory. Raised to be like the angels - immortal, obedient, constantly engage in the worship of God; sons of God (both male and female sons in that both share in the inheritance); sons of the resurrection.

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Christ Our Hope: Selected Psalms (10/29/2017)

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This is an exposition of Psalm 72. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, October 25, 2017. We are sorry but the last third of this message failed to record.
Beware!: 2 Peter #3 (10/22/2017)
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This is an exposition of 2 Peter 2:1-22. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 22, 2017.

Intro:

How discerning are you when reading or listening to preachers? How careful are you about the Bible teachers you put confidence in?

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What criteria do you use when judging? Are there some doctrines more important than others? How “right” does a teacher need to be before you “trust” them? I think these are important questions, questions deserving of your attention. We suffer an embarrassment of riches today when it comes to Bible teaching. Anyone with a computer and access to the internet has access to thousands teachers 24 hours a day 7 days a week. When you add to that the availability of whole libraries and special study tools – the possibilities are without limit. That is both wonderful and frightening. Here is why it is frightening – to a large degree we’ve lost the ability to be discerning. Because we’ve accepted modern notions of truth we are slow to say someone is wrong or that some teaching is heretical. “Oh well I don’t think I agree with you but if it works for you…” seems to be the normal approach when discussing theological differences. We have a very caviler approach to truth and that stands in direct conflict with the attitude of the apostle Peter. Our text this evening is found in 2 Peter chapter 2.

Text: 2 Peter 2:1-22

Peter says there are some things you need to be certain about – at the top of the list should be that you are certain that you are “in the faith.” Be certain you are a Christian. “Be diligent to make your calling and election sure.” He went on to say that you need to make sure you understand that salvation is the work of God, and then you need to search your life for evidence of increasing holiness. Make sure that virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, brotherly affection and love are ever increasing. Not that you are perfect, none of us are or ever will be this side of glory but you are growing. You are not what you used to be.

And don’t beat yourself up over what you are not supposed to be!
A shrub can’t be an oak.
You need to consider growth in your character etc.

Recognize that assurance is not determined merely by experience.
Experiences lie!
Rather our assurance is based on historical fact and the word of God.

1:19-21 – …we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

This emphasis makes perfect sense when you reach chapter 2.

Another thing you can be certain of is the presence of false teachers.
And that has always been the case.

Paul warned the folks at Ephesus to be on guard against false teaching - Acts 20:29-30: I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; [30] and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.

Within 4 years of his founding the church false teachers were leading!

It happened in Galatia – 1:6 – “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel…”

Peter is addressing the same concern in this passage.
And he does so in plain, strong and direct language.
Why so strongly worded?
Why such passion?
Because the Gospel is at stake and the souls of men hang in the balance.

This passage serves to remind us that…

Thesis: The integrity of the Gospel demands a sober and watchful church.

We must ever be on our guard against false teaching and false teachers.
I’m not suggesting that our faith is a dead, lifeless, static accumulation of facts. Of course we grow in our knowledge and understanding and at times the church has been wrong on some issues – there are times we adjust our thinking but we must guard and maintain the faith once and for all delivered to the saints.

Watchfulness demands an awareness of the characteristics of a false teacher. (2:10-22)
Let me point out the two chief characteristics according to Peter.
First, they are Spiritually Confident. (2:10-13)
But also note they are Blatantly Carnal. (2:14-16, 18-22)
Like the recipients of this letter we must learn to detect false teaching. We must be ever on our guard for these two warning signs – false teachers despise the authority of God and his Word, and they live according to their own carnal desires. If you see a teacher who looks like this, you can assume you are looking at a false prophet.
There is one other thing I want us to note before we finish.

Watchfulness demands we be unmistaken about God’s sure and certain judgment. (2:3-6, 9)

The destruction of these false teachers is as certain as three past acts of judgment. God will judge them just as he judged sinning angels, the ancient world of Noah’s day, and the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Sinning angels – 2:4, Jude 6, Genesis 6:2, Rev 12:7
The Flood – 2:5, Genesis
The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah – 2:6
Peter says to the church – be certain of your calling and election.
Be certain of the truths I’ve given to you.
Be certain false teachers will come.
Be certain they will be destroyed.

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Good Answer! Good Answer!: Gospel of Luke #79 (10/22/2017)
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This is an exposition of Luke 20:20-26. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 22, 2017.

Intro:

I hate being put on the spot. I don’t mind answering questions but I hate the feeling of being on trial. That is the thing I dreaded about my ordination service.

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I knew there would be a questioning – a “trial.” I had handled the question and answer time when I came to Masham in view of a call. No problem. That went smoothly. I wasn’t really nervous about that questioning – but ordination was different. I had been around preachers enough, even at that age, to know you can’t trust them! One of them was bound to try and make a name for himself at my expense. “He’s the one that made that Harris kid cry at his ordination.” I just didn’t know who it would be. Would it be the old man who makes it clear at the associational meeting he doesn’t trust anyone born after 1930? Or will it be one of the young guys trying to make a name for himself as a tough-nosed conservative?

It was an uncomfortable feeling as a 25 year-old kid being “examined” by the ordination council. The congregation, family and friends watching as you are put on the hot seat. It is that experience that causes me to have a profound appreciation for what happened to the Lord Jesus during the last days of his earthly life and ministry. On Sunday he entered the city of Jerusalem to shouts of “Hosanna” – “save us, save us!” The next morning he assumed his role as Lord of the Temple when he drove out the money changers and the animals. He began meeting with the people and teaching in the Temple. The religious establishment was furious and was determined to kill him. They had to find something. Something that could be used to bring him before the Roman authorities. The Jews did not have the power to execute. That remained in the hands of the Romans. So they had to find something that would be sufficient grounds for the Romans to execute. They came up with a plan. And that is were our text begins.

Text: Luke 20:20-26

There is nothing like the power of love to bring folks together except of course the power of hate! The religious establishment hated the Lord Jesus so much they were willing to join forces with anyone who shared their passion. Politics makes strange bedfellows. In their efforts to get rid of the Lord Jesus the Pharisees joined forces with the Herodians. You could not find two groups who had less in common than these two. The Pharisees were the religious right. The Herodians were the political left. The only thing they had in common was that they despised the Lord Jesus. Thus they joined forces to bring him down. Luke records their encounter with our Lord in our text.

As the drama unfolds before us I want us to notice three things.

An ingenious plan. (20:20-22)

An amazing reversal. (20:23-26)

An abiding principle. (20:25)

Conclusion:

Thus we are left with an abiding principle:

The child of God owes his respect to the state and his allegiance to God.

Ancient coins were actually understood to be the property of the person whose picture and inscription were on them. By carrying the coin and using it in commerce you reveal an indebtedness to that government or that power. You are obligated to that government. They provide peace and protection. They provide law and other support. You are responsible before God to live in obedience to that authority. Give them their due. It bears Caesar’s image – give Caesar what already belongs to him.

In the same way – you “bear” the image of God. Give to God what is rightfully his. The state is deserving of respect and obedience – God is deserving of your very being!

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The Prayer of a Seasoned Saint: Selected Psalms (10/20/2017)

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This is an exposition of Psalm 71. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, October 18, 2017.
Be Certain: 2 Peter #2 (10/15/2017)
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This is an exposition of 2 Peter 1:12-21. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 15, 2017

Intro:

How important is assurance? We sing, “Blessed assurance Jesus is mine, o what a foretaste of glory divine…” But how important is assurance in the Christian life?

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By assurance I mean knowledge or certainty of salvation. How important is knowing that you are a Christian? Apparently the apostle Peter thought it was very important. That is the thrust of the opening chapter of his second epistle. 2 Peter chapter 1 is all about assurance. “See to it you make your calling and election sure,” he said to the scattered church. The word translated “sure” in 1:10 means stable, steadfast or certain. He makes it very clear that this matter of assurance is foundational to the Christian life. This is vital in our “decisionistic” culture. It is crucial that we wrestle with the issues of salvation. That we struggle and work through what it means to believe. A hallmark of our Baptist faith is assurance of salvation. But here is the danger – there is such a thing as “false assurance.” I’ve met people who are absolutely sure they are saved. You would never convince them otherwise. They can show you the certificate they got when they were baptized. They remember with vivid detail the service when they “got saved.” But they haven’t set foot in a church in years except to attend a wedding or funeral. They have no interest in spiritual things. They care nothing about the Scripture or joining with the people of God in worship. They have no interest in the church. They do not contribute financially to the church or the work of the Gospel. But they know they are saved – just ask them.
How do you know that your assurance is genuine assurance?

As we saw last time – you start with understanding that salvation is God’s work not yours. It is the work of his grace. Then you make certain your calling and election by wrestling with spiritual matters and looking for evidence of genuine faith and spiritual life within.

1:5-8

Where is the evidence for an increasing holiness?

Virtue

Knowledge

Self-control

Steadfastness

godliness

Brotherly affection

Love

Now, we can’t put it on a grid. There is no worksheet, but there must be growth. There must be change – when there is no change – there is no life.

This evening we pick up with verse 12 and follow along until the end of the chapter.

In this section we are reminded of a very important truth…

Thesis: Biblical assurance is based not on experience alone but on the sure and certain word given by a holy, righteous and always faithful God.

Notice – experience alone is not the determining factor.
I’m not saying “experience” does not enter the equation.
I am saying it is not the determining factor.
Experience often lies!

Let’s look at three things as we walk through this text.

Given our human frailty and tendency to judge everything by our emotions or our perspective, we must be reminded again and again of the centrality of the gospel itself. (1:12-15)

Biblical assurance rests securely in historical fact. (1:16-18)

Biblical assurance is anchored by the sure and certain word of God. (1:19-21)

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A Question of Authority: Luke #78 (10/15/2017)
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This is an exposition of Luke 20:1-19. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 15, 2017.

Intro:

You can’t argue with it. We all know that it is true. We have more information available to us today than ever before.

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Information about every subject under the sun. Newspapers, books, magazines, newsletters, special reports, television, radio, the Internet all bringing us “vital information” that we must have. You name it – we probably have a cable channel specifically dedicated to that very subject! This explosion of information has opened a whole new industry – “expert analysts.” Suddenly we are inundated with these so called “leading authorities” on every subject telling us what we ought to be thinking and how we ought to be responding to what’s happening around us. You can’t turn around without running into one of these authorities and their expert analysis. Of course the experts don’t always agree – if fact most of the time they contradict each other. One group produces conclusive scientific evidence that we are the victims of global warming. Another group emerges from a 15-year study in the Antarctic and informs us we are well into another Ice Age! “Well, my authority says this.” “Well, my authority says that.” Back and forth we go with this voice shouting at that voice and that voice contradicting this voice and to borrow a line from William Shakespeare, “They are full of sound and fury signifying nothing!” For all the increase in our knowledge we are, sadly, none the wiser.

In the midst of all the noise and confusion don’t you wish there was a clear and distinct voice? An authority that could really be trusted? One who’s words have the unmistakable ring of authenticity? There is such an authority and he speaks to the deepest needs of life. He deals in truth that relates to meaning and purpose. To life and death issues. Not everyone agrees with him. In fact some violently disagree. But he is endorsed by the Leading Authority.

I want you to see him in action. So come with me to Luke chapter 20 and verse 1.

Text: Luke 20:1-19

It was the week that changed the world, “The Passion Week.” During the Passover season – the time for celebrating God’s deliverance of the nation of Israel from Egyptian bondage – the Lamb of God came to secure the ultimate deliverance. Attitudes toward the Lord Jesus were mixed. He was loved by the multitudes and yet despised by the establishment. One thing was certain, you could not remain neutral about Jesus of Nazareth.

For years the religious establishment sought his death. Hostility mounted with each passing day. Even in the joy and celebration of the Passover the tension was obvious.
The crowd who shouted, “Hosanna,” as he entered the city on Sunday never dreamed of what would happen on Friday. But he knew.

His time had come, the time determined by his Father in eternity past. The time had come for the fulfillment of the promise made to Adam & Eve in the garden, portrayed in the events of the Passover, rehearsed in every sacrifice ever made, sung about by the psalmist and boldly proclaimed by the prophets.

And so he came to the holy city to reveal himself as the Messiah. There was no mistaking the meaning of his entrance on that Sunday. It was no subtle message he declared the next day upon his entrance to the Temple. “I am here. I am the Messiah, the Great King – the Lord of the Temple.”

His actions raised the question of his authority – a question dealt with in our text.

Thesis: The events of Luke 20 unquestionably demonstrate the sovereign authority of the Lord Jesus, an authority that demands a response.

The authority of the Lord Jesus is demonstrated three ways in our text.

The authority of Jesus is reflected in the fact that he cannot be intimidated. (20:1-8)

The authority of Jesus is made manifest in his stern rebuke of the religious establishment. (20:9-16)

The authority of the Lord Jesus is solidly based on his role in redemption. (20:17-20)

Conclusion:
Where does he get his authority?
On the basis of who he is and what he has accomplished.
And that authority is reflected by the fact he cannot be intimidated and his rebuke of those who are supposedly in authority.

So, what is your response to this Jesus?
Will you fall on him in brokenness and humility and experience peace and blessing?
Or will he fall on you in crushing judgment?
Eternity hangs in the balance.

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Be Certain You’re In: 2 Peter #1 (10/14/2017)
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This is an exposition of 2 Peter 1:1-11. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, October 8, 2017.

Intro:
I’m not sure what all has led up to it but I’ve been overwhelmed lately with the fact that I’m aging. I guess it was that notice an email recently announcing my 35th class reunion from OBU! With that came the realization that as of this next spring I’ve been out of high school 40 years. Natalie Narrin asked me not long ago about a certain church in Shawnee. I said, “Natalie I don’t know, I lived in Shawnee about 1000 years ago.”

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That’s the other thing, I’ve turned into one of those “cranky old men.” I’ve even found myself, on occasion saying, “Well in my day…” It’s official get me my walker and my bottle of Metamucil.

But really, things have change through the years. For instance have you noticed we are no longer certain about what we used to be certain of and yet we are confident of what we used to be unsure of? People used to wrestle with the question of God’s acceptance. “Would God accept me? With my sin and my track record? What does the Bible say about God’s love for sinners?” Now, when you ask someone if they are a sinner they will laugh and say, “Yeah, but hey nobody’s perfect.” Today, it never enters their mind that they would not be accepted by God. That’s His job. He is supposed to forgive and forget.

In academics today we debate whether or not we can “know” anything. We are not sure that truth even exists. The same attitudes have even found their way into the church. We don’t want to be dogmatic because after all, can we really know anything? Some are even questioning God’s ability to know things. God doesn’t know the future. He can’t – the future hasn’t happened. He can predict, He is very smart but He cannot possibly know what’s going to happen because it hasn’t happened. We live in a different world. To get our bearings we need to return to the Scripture and allow God’s sure and certain Word guide us. Our text this evening is found in the opening verses of 2 Peter.

Text: 2 Peter 1:1-11

We are going to spend a few weeks walking through Peter’s second letter to the believers of Asia Minor. Written by the apostle Peter, probably from Rome sometime between A.D. 64 and 66. It is just three chapters long and if you wanted to outline it in three big chunks it could be Holiness, Heresy and Hope. Chapter one calls for the cultivation of a genuinely Christian character. Chapter two condemns false teachers. And chapter three expresses confidence in the return of the Lord.

This evening I want to us to consider the first 11 verses of chapter 1.
In this passage the apostle calls on every believer to make his calling and election sure.
From this we learn that:

Thesis: It is foundational to the Christian life for every child of God to wrestle with the question of salvation and come to the settled conviction that you are, in fact, in the faith.

The key to this section of 2 Peter is found in verse 10: …Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.

Peter is saying the same thing Paul said when he wrote, “Work out your own salvation in fear and trembling.” (Philippians 2:2)

Make sure you are a Christian.
Give careful attention as to whether or not you are in the faith.
Now that sounds so strange to us.

We are children of a “decisionistic” faith.
You walk an aisle.
You say a prayer.
You shake a hand.
There is a pronouncement.
It is a done deal.

But the truth is you can do all of that plus be baptized by immersion, attend services faithfully, give to Lottie Moon and Annie Armstrong and still be lost as a goose! Why do you suppose that there are 17 million Southern Baptist and we can only find about half of them? The truth is that group missing in action is inching towards 2/3.

Now, stay with me and hear what I’m saying.
My desire is not to create doubt.
My desire is to lead toward assurance.
But here is the thing – I can’t give anyone assurance.
Only God can grant assurance.

I know a lot of Southern Baptist preachers who think they are Roman Catholic priests. For they love to absolved people. They love to pronounce salvation. I’ve come to understand I can’t do that. But while I can’t – God can and does! And when he does – it sticks. When I used to do it – it wore off.

How do we find assurance?
Understand this is not an easy thing and there are no shortcuts.
Notice the wording of verse 10: Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure…

Diligent = labor earnestly, strive

I want to share three (3) things with you from this text.

Assurance begins with understanding that salvation is the gracious work of God. (1:1-4)

Assurance is bolstered by the presence of Christ-like virtues. (1:5-7)

Assurance is confirmed by a fruitful, godly life. (1:8-11)

Conclusion:
1:9 - those who do not have these qualities - nearsighted or blind
May indicate they are lost.
Is it possible to be saved and fall into great sin and be ineffective and unfruitful? Yes.
But such a person cannot be given assurance.

Thus the call of verses 10 and 11.

Therefore it is foundational to the Christian life for every child of God to wrestle with the question of salvation and come to a settled conviction that you are, in fact, in the faith.

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Seeker Sensitive? How About God Sensitive?: Luke #77 (10/9/2017)
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This is an exposition of Luke 19:45-48. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 8, 2017.

Intro:

Have you ever gone to church and been disappointed in what you experienced? I mean that church was less than what you hoped it would be or less than what you needed? Let’s take it a step further. You weren’t disappointed, you were angry! You were fed up. You had had it! Well, you’re not alone.

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This morning we are going to see what happened one morning when the Lord Jesus went to “church.” What happened that morning may surprise you. In fact it may shock you! But there is a valuable lesson to be learned from what happened that morning in the Temple at Jerusalem. Our text is found at the end of Luke chapter 19.

Text: Luke 19:45-48

We are dealing with the events of the last week in the earthly life and ministry of Jesus.
The Passion Week, the week that Herbert Lockyer described as, “the week that changed the world.” Luke is nearing the end of his labor of love. He set out to write to a dear friend to set the record straight regarding Jesus’ life & work. His purpose was evangelistic – his aim was the heart and not just the head. He hoped his friend, and all who would read his account, would trust in Christ and Christ alone for salvation.

Luke has been careful to show that Jesus was the Messiah of the Jews and the Savior of the world. Throughout Luke’s account we’ve seen the crowds hanging on Jesus’ every word and the religious establishment bent on destroying him. The early rumblings have now gathered into a raging storm. Last time we looked at an extraordinary event. During the Passover season, at a time when the Roman authorities where already on edge. When the religious establishment was expecting some kind of move on Jesus’ part or that of his followers Jesus seemingly played right into their hands.

With his bold, public entrance into Jerusalem he was declaring to all the world, “I am the Messiah. I am the Great King!” The result was pandemonium. People singing, shouting, dancing and celebrating. One thing is certain everyone knew he was in town! If that entrance was any indication this was going to be an interesting Passover. If you needed further proof you didn’t have to wait long because early the next morning Jesus made his way to the Temple.
The Passover season was the busiest season of the year. Passover was one of the three mandatory feast. People from all over the world would gather in Jerusalem for the celebration of God’s deliverance of his people. It is estimated that the population of Jerusalem swelled to over 2.5 million during the Passover celebration. During that time, the Temple was the center of activity. As Jesus approached the Temple that morning righteous anger began to consume him. As he walked into the Temple instead of the quiet reverence of prayer he found the noise and confusion of a busy market along with the stench of a feed lot and all of this in the Temple!

As we consider what Jesus did and why we discover that:

Thesis: Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple reveals both the passion and the purpose of His life and ministry.

A careful reading of Scripture reveals this is not the first time Jesus is angered by this activity in the Temple. John 2 informs us that Jesus cleansed the Temple at the beginning of his ministry as well. It is important to see this event as a further revelation of who he is and what he has come to do. Throughout Jesus’ ministry we have noted a keen awareness of timing. Jesus instructed some of those healed to tell no one for his time had not come. When angry mobs tried to harm him they were unable, for his time had not come. Now, his time had come. Now was the time for the Father’s plan to reach its climax and the table is set by this bold, sweeping display of Jesus’ power, position and authority.

What we have in the text before us is nothing short of the coming of the Lord to his Temple describe in Malachi 3:1 - Behold, I send my messenger and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts.

The Sovereign has come demonstrating that he is Lord of the Temple. As the story unfolds I want us to note three things.

A violent act. (19:45)

A stunning rebuke. (19:46)

A mixed review. (19:47-48)

Conclusion:
Jesus the Messiah and our Savior, is everything the temple with its gorgeous imagery and ascending sacrifices ever was or signified.

He is the presence of God.
He is the only access to God.
He is the atoning sacrifice.
He is our mediator.

His cleansing of the temple reveals both the passion and the purpose of his life and ministry. He was consumed with a passion for the glory of God and he came to seek and save the lost.

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Quickly, Lord!: Selected Psalms (10/4/2017)
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This is an exposition of Psalm 70. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, October 4th, 2017.

Timing is everything:

The Righteous prayerfully seek God's intervention in times of trouble (vs. 1-4).

The Righteous base their hope on their own weakness and God's great provision (v. 5).
Thriving in a Hostile Enviornment: 1 Peter #16 (10/1/2017)
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This is an exposition of 1 Peter 5:5-11. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening October 1, 2017.

Intro:

Unless you’ve been living under a rock or hiding in a cave somewhere far from civilization you are aware that we are a very divided country. Perhaps not as divided as some in the media and various special interest groups would have us believe but we are divided. Go back, not that long ago, and most Americans looked at the world from a shared perspective.

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I’m not saying we have always been united about everything but we had shared values, we held to the same basic understanding of the world and they way things were. Sure we came from different nations and different backgrounds but America was the great melting pot where we blended and we were un-hyphenated. That is no longer the case. The melting pot has been replaced by the salad bowl. We now retain our individual tastes and distinctives. That, in itself, is not necessarily a bad thing. Diversity can be a wonderful and beautiful thing. It does mean however that there are multiple worldviews. There are varied belief systems. Add to this the cultural shift away from faith-based to an increasingly secular world and you the makings of a world far different from the one most of us grew up in. Different is not necessarily a problem except that different in this case also means hostile.

If you look up “hostile” in a dictionary here is what you find:
adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of an enemy

opposed in feeling, action, or character; antagonistic:

characterized by antagonism.

not friendly, warm, or generous; not hospitable.

An honest assessment of today’s culture would have to admit that is an accurate description of society’s general attitude toward traditional, orthodox Christian faith. To stand today for biblical truth of topics such as the sexual revolution (including all of the related LGBTQ issues), marriage, family, salvation and a host of others is to be labeled bigoted, hateful and dangerous. It seems we are the problem. We are divisive. We must be silenced.

How are we to respond? First, don’t be so surprised! The apostle Peter told marginalized believers 2 millennia ago, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.”

Don’t be surprised and don’t play the victim. This is not a time to go sulk in the corner and whine because “they don’t like us.” Rather we are called to boldly live out our faith. We are called to love our enemies, love our neighbors, preach the gospel and build up the body of Christ until He comes to take us home!

Persecution drove the church out of the land of its birth to the corners of the known world. Rather than put out the fire, persecution fanned the flame and spread it far and wide. Within 3 centuries Rome was gone but the church marched on. Here we are 2000 years later and despite what you might think - the church is still thriving. Our Lord meant what He said when He said, “I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.”

Hear me…

Thesis: The goal of the Christian life is not merely to survive this sin-cursed world while we long for heavenly glory but to thrive in our faith as we confidently march on to victory.

This is not wishful thinking. This is not “pie in the sky” optimism this is biblical faith. Read the book - we know how this is going to end! Our text this evening is found in the 5th chapter of 1 Peter.

Text: 1 Peter 5:5-11

Peter is writing to those saints who have been scattered.
He writes to remind them their great salvation.
In the face of hardship, trial and heartache he reminded them of great doctrinal truths.
He reminded them that fiery trials are inevitable in this fallen world.
Yes, this world is opposed to Christ and His kingdom so be prepared.
Live for Christ, bring glory to His name.
Grow in your faith.
Chapter 5 begins with that all important word…“so” or “therefore.”
Chapter 5 is about how to live in this hostile environment.

I want to focus this evening on three demands for thriving in a hostile environment.

Thriving in a hostile environment demands a life of humble submission and confident faith. (5:5-7)

Thriving in a hostile environment demands a life of careful vigilance and active resistance. (5:8-9)

Thriving in a hostile environment demands a life of enduring hope. (5:10-11)

Conclusion:
But here is the point - after you have suffered for a little while - suffering will end.
Suffering will not last forever but glory will!

After you have suffered…God himself will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
Suffering last the night but joy comes in the morning.
These light, momentary afflictions do not even begin to compare withe the glory that awaits us.

Child of God be encouraged. Live a life of enduring hope because He that began the good work in you will, himself bring it to completion.

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I Love a Parade: Luke #76 (10/1/2017)
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This is an exposition of Luke 19:28-44. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, October 1, 2017.

Intro:

“It just didn’t make sense. It was not in keeping with what had been going on for the past three years. And it was dangerous. This was a time for laying low. This was a time to play it safe. Why take the risk? Why now? You know they are going to be looking for something like this. It’s suicide.”

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That must have been the confused reasoning of the disciples as our Lord made his approach to Jerusalem on the first day of that infamous week.

Weeks before, he had “set his face as a flint for Jerusalem.” He resolutely determined to go there. Nothing could stop him – nothing would stand in his way. The time had come. That time established, by the Father, in eternity past, had now come. God’s eternal plan of redemption was now reaching its climax. For weeks Jesus has been preparing his disciples by focusing on the Kingdom. He has talked about its requirements – you must have the faith of a child, a simple, dependent faith. You must be willing to lose everything in order to obtain it. Jesus taught them that such a thing is impossible with man but possible with God. He taught them to look up for the Kingdom of God was near. That they would see it come and yet it is still coming. The Kingdom is here now and coming later. He’s taught them about living in the “not yet” of the Kingdom. History’s greatest drama is about to be played out as the Sovereign Creator of the universe mounts a donkey colt and makes his way toward Jerusalem. Our text this morning is found in Luke chapter 19.

Text: Luke 19:28-44

Luke, the careful historian, has crafted his story to reveal Jesus as the Messiah of the Jews and the Savior of the world. His desire is that those who hear his Gospel might come to place their faith and trust in Jesus and Jesus alone for salvation. Throughout his Gospel he has made it clear that the people responded favorably toward Jesus while the establishment despised him. Nowhere is that any clearer than in this passage.

Remember the context. Hostility has been mounting for years by this time. The more popular Jesus became with the crowd – the more threatened the establishment felt. He had to be silenced. They had to get rid of him – but how? Numerous meetings have been held. Various plots had been developed but none of them seemed to get off the ground. If only they could get him to come to Jerusalem. If they could just have him on their home turf. A few weeks earlier they tried to get him to come to Jerusalem (Luke 13:31). It didn’t work.

That’s why it didn’t make sense to his followers. Why go to Jerusalem? Why now? He would be playing right into the hands of his enemies. And it appears as if he did. Albert Schweitzer the 19th century theologian described the Passion Week in terms of the Lord Jesus being “crushed in the wheels of history.” What Schweitzer failed to realize was that it was the Lord Jesus, himself, who was turning the wheel! To Schweitzer the death of the Lord Jesus was the tragic end of a noble man who died before completing his great work. The fact is that his death was his great work!

As we explore this incredible story we will discover that:

Thesis: Luke’s account of the Triumphal Entry dramatically reveals the ultimate significance of Jesus’ life and ministry.

There are three things I want us to note in our text.

A surprising revelation. (19:28-36)

A prophetic celebration. (19:37-40)

A shocking declaration. (19:41-44)

Conclusion:
I don’t believe it is possible to overestimate the significance of what happened that day in Jerusalem. The Triumphal Entry dramatically revealed the ultimate significance of Jesus’ life and ministry.

He is reveled as the Great Servant King.
He is seen as the Great Priest reconciling the world to God.
He is seen as the Great Prophet lamenting the coming judgment.

Behold the Lord Jesus – Prophet, Priest and King.

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Righteously Responding to Tribulation: Selected Psalms (9/29/2017)
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This is an exposition of Psalm 69. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, September 27, 2017.

Outline:

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The righteous seek God's strength in times of trouble.

The righteous freely acknowledge their sin and failure.

The righteous bare shame for doing right.

The righteous trust themselves to God.

The righteous commit their enemies to God

The righteous praise God in the midst of trial.

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Meditations for the Lord’s Table: “The Garden” (9/24/2017)
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This is an exposition of Matthew 26:36-46. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, September 24, 2017.

Intro:

There are many things about the Passion of our Lord that are difficult to look at. The scene of his being mock, spit upon and struck repeatedly in the face; the thought of the scourging and his back ripped to pieces. Finally his being nailed to the cross and publicly exposed to humility and shame.

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It is unthinkable that the eternal Lord of glory should endure such pain and humiliation and for what purpose? To redeem sinful, fallen wicked folks like you and me. But in my own mind there is a more terrifying scene. A scene that unnerves me. It is that scene of our Lord laying prostrate on the ground in a pool of blood crying, “Father if at all possible, let this cup pass from me.”

On the night before our Lord’s greatest triumph, at the threshold of history’s pivotal moment, that moment anticipated by our Lord for all eternity, fear grip his heart. This Jesus who with such command and authority silenced the storm and calmed the sea. This Jesus who, with a word, caused demons to flee. This Jesus who, by his touch, opened the eyes of the blind, comforted the afflicted and even raise the dead. This Jesus who repeatedly silenced his critics with his profound wisdom, who consistently amazed the multitudes with his authority – this Jesus now cried out in terror from a lonely spot in the garden of Gethsemane. Our text this morning is found in the 26th chapter of Matthew.

Text: Matthew 26:36-46

It has been quite an evening. Our Lord met with his disciples in an upper room to celebrate the Passover. As they gathered our Lord assumed the role of servant and washed the feet of his disciples. During the supper he introduced a new memorial meal, one that would look back to the cross. “This is my body given for you. This is my blood poured out for you.” He spoke of betrayal, denial, death and resurrection. After singing a hymn they went out into the night. They walked the familiar path to the Garden of Gethsemane. As they approached the Garden our Lord became strangely silent. As they crossed they Kidron brook he had a strange look in his eye as he stared down at the water now red with the blood of the Passover lambs. Upon reaching the Garden he told his disciples to watch and pray. Taking Peter, James and John a bit further he went on beyond them and threw himself on the ground. Such agony. Such pain. Everything in me wants to look away from this scene. But to do so would be to miss a precious and wonderful revelation.

Thesis: Our Lord’s agony in the Garden of Gethsemane reveals the majesty and the beauty of our Savior.

This is the heart of Christian worship. Christian worship, I don’t want to lose you on this, is about Christ! It is about the beauty of his character, and the glory of his work on the cross.

Three things are revealed to us in this experience. Three truths that call us to worship and adore our Savior.

Our Lord’s experience in the Garden reveals the absolute horror of the cross.

Our Lord’s experience in the Garden reveals the tender compassion of the Savior for his own.

Our Lord’s experience in the Garden reveals the iron-willed determination of our blessed redeemer.

Conclusion:
Our Lord’s experience in the Garden is a powerful revelation of the majesty and the beauty of our Savior.

It reveals the absolute horror of the cross.
It reveals the tender compassion of the Savior toward his own.
It reveals the iron-willed determination of our blessed redeemer.

This is the One we love.
This is what he has done for us.
This is the essence of the Gospel.

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Kingdom Investment: Luke #75 (9/24/2017)
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This is an exposition of Luke 19:11-27. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, September 24, 2017.

Intro:

They had waited so long. Generation after generation, for thousands of years, had anticipated the arrival of the great King. For centuries they had been dominated by foreign powers. Myths, legends and songs had grown up around the mysterious figure of the Messiah.

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No doubt when he came the yoke of bondage would be broken. The people of God would take center stage and the whole world would acknowledge the greatness of Israel’s God. The crowd was ecstatic. Jesus was “the Son of David” thus he could reestablish David’s throne. He was calling himself “the Son of Man,” that awesome, divine being of Daniel chapter 7. They saw him open the eyes of the blind. Unstop the ears of the deaf, loose the tongues of the dumb and even raise the dead! Messianic expectation had reached a fevered pitch among his followers. Jerusalem was only seventeen miles away, and the Passover was at hand, the setting was perfect for the arrival of the kingdom of God.

Jesus, knowing their thoughts, told them a parable reminding them once again that the kingdom of God is here now and coming later. This is a common theme in Luke’s account – “the Kingdom Now and Not Yet.” We are about to enter the events in the last week of the life and ministry of Jesus. Jesus has just opened the eyes of a blind beggar and brought salvation to the home of a reprobate tax collector. He’s on his way to Jerusalem for a divine appointment. The battle of the ages is about to be waged on a rocky hillside just outside the walls of Jerusalem. Yes, the kingdom is being ushered in but the kingdom in its ultimate fulfillment is in the distant future. It is here now and not yet.

Text: Luke 19:11-27

Luke’s purpose is that his readers might come to see Jesus as he really is - the Messiah of the Jews and the Savior of the world. That seeing who he really is - they might put their faith and trust in him. Thus his purpose is evangelistic. It is a proclamation of the “evangel” the gospel. This is what Jesus is about to accomplished on our behalf. Yes, he came to bring a kingdom but first he must establish that kingdom through his death, burial and resurrection.

Throughout the latter half of Luke’s Gospel Jesus has talked more and more about the kingdom. He has talked about the qualifications for entering the kingdom. He has talked about the necessity of childlike faith as a condition for entering the kingdom.

Now in our text the unfolding of the kingdom of God takes a surprising turn.
From this parable we discover that…

Thesis: Life in the “not yet” of the kingdom demands that believers actively engage in the task assigned living out the gospel graciously granted to them by their great king.

This parable must be put in context. Luke’s focus in the last few chapters has been on the kingdom. Our Lord’s earthly life and ministry is coming to a close. He is about to enter Jerusalem for the last time. The significance of that was laid out in chapter 18:31-34.

The immediate context is found in 19:11. Our Lord, because they were convinced that the kingdom of God was going to immediately appear, and because he knew that they had a mistaken idea of what the kingdom was all about, told the parable recorded in our text.

A careful study of the parable reveals an entrusted treasure, a definite reckoning and a rude awakening.

An entrusted treasure. (19:11-13)

There is coming a definite reckoning. (19:15-26)

A rude awakening. (19:14,27)

Conclusion:
The Lord Jesus will one day return. When he does those who have invested well will receive great reward. Those who have not invest will experience great shame. Those who have rejected him will receive death.

We are at the final hour. He is coming. How are your investments?

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A Missionary Psalm: Selected Psalms (9/20/2017)
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This is an exposition of Psalm 67. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, September 20, 2017.

Why are we so passionate about missions? We desire to display the glory of our God to the world. In this message we are going to take a look at a great missionary text from the Old Testament. Psalm 67 shows us the undeniable link between worship and missions. There are three stanzas to this short Psalm:

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The people of God seek his blessing in order to bless the peoples of the earth (vs. 1-2).

The people of God long to see others come to a saving knowledge of Christ (vs. 3-5).
How do the lost come to Christ?
a. by seeing the power of God in His people.
b. in God's Word working in the lives of His people.

The people of God desire God's glory above all else.

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Shepherding the Flock of God: 1 Peter #15 (9/17/2017)
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This is an exposition of 1 Peter 5:1-5. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, September 17, 2017.

Intro:

It is something of an acquired taste. But is a favorite of many. Most often it is served up on Sunday afternoons but it’s a treat anytime. Roast preacher. It’s a particular favorite on those rare occasions of a preacher going overtime with his sermon. Churchgoers have enjoyed healthy helpings of roast preacher for a long time now.

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Spurgeon wrote about it over a century ago: “Dinner is over. Bring the walnuts, and let us crack the reputations of a preacher or two. It is a pious exercise for the Sabbath.” I’m not upset about that, for after all, I’ve been known to partake of it myself on occasion. Besides, you ought to hear what preachers say about church members. I was setting in a meeting of preachers a few years ago and we were discussing church life and ministry in general. I heard a pastor make a comment that broke my heart. He said, “I grew up in churches that hated their pastor and with pastors that hated their churches.” My heart sank when I heard that. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and yet I knew those words were too often true.

One of the fastest growing movements within Christendom today is a movement aimed at ministering to people who have been abused by churches and church leaders. Websites are dedicated to healing “wounded sheep.” Good people whose lives have been wrecked by church leaders who thought the biblical model was to rule with an iron fist. At the same time record numbers of pastors and staff are fired every year. The vast majority of seminary graduates today will be completely out of the ministry within ten years. Certainly some of them need to leave the ministry. Some where not qualified to serve having been called by someone other than the Sovereign Lord of the church. But others were the victims of a hostile takeover. Some were run out of town for refusing to “play ball” with influential members of the church or community. My purpose this evening is not to point fingers or to choose sides. As far as I’m concerned there is plenty of blame to go around.

My concern has to do with the fact that there is a great work to be done. We have been called by God to take the glorious Gospel of Christ to a dying world. We have been called to declare and to live the truth of the Gospel in a hostile environment. As aliens and strangers in a foreign land we need each other if we are to accomplish the task. If our message is to have any validity – we must be able to demonstrate the truth of its power through our love and devotion to Christ and to one another. Beloved, we are co-laborers together. We are called to walk arm in arm - to work shoulder to shoulder for the sake of the kingdom of God.

What is to mark or characterize our ministry? How are we to work together? For some answers we turn to 1 Peter chapter 5.

Text: 1 Peter 5:1-6

Peter is writing to the scattered church.
Those victims of intense persecution.
He has reminded them of the glorious truths of their salvation.
In the face of hardship, trial and heartache he reminded them of great doctrinal truths.
In the immediate context he said, “Don’t be surprised when life stinks.”

That of course is my paraphrase!

Peter said, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” 1 Peter 4:12-13

Fiery trials are inevitable in this fallen world.
The world system is opposed to Christ & His kingdom – therefore life will often be hard.
Don’t be socked or caught off guard – be prepared.
See in it the opportunity to glorify God and to mature in your faith.

There is a very important word at the beginning of chapter 5 – ESV – “So…”
NASB – “Therefore…”
In light of the fact that you’ve entrusted yourselves to God in the midst of suffering…

“I exhort the elders among you…”

The ministry Peter describes is ministry conducted in a hostile environment. It is ministry in light of the fact we need one another to survive. It is ministry conducted by those who are a “holy nation” and a “royal priesthood.” Fundamentally we are all sheep. On one level we are all equal in the sight of God – sheep dependent upon Him for our very existence. On another level we are all priest before God – responsible and accountable to God. On yet another level God has established order within the church and there are those who have, by God’s grace, been placed into positions of leadership. Peter gives us some insight in this passage concerning how all that comes together.

As we explore this text I think we’ll find that:

Thesis: Authentic ministry in the midst of an alien environment demands pastor and people understand God’s pattern for ministry and purpose in their hearts to live lives of genuine humility.

There are two (2) things I want to point out from our text.

I want you to notice first, God’s pattern for ministry. (5:1-4)
Peter then proceeds to tell these pastors how they are to exercise oversight.
Their ministry is to be driven by devotion rather than duty – 5:2b
“Not under compulsion but willingly…”
Their ministry is to be motivated by delight rather than personal profit – 5:2b
“Not for shameful gain, but eagerly…” - love your workTheir ministry is to be accomplished by character rather than command – 5:3
“Not domineering over those in your charge but rather being examples to the flock…”
This is God’s pattern for ministry – not a CEO but a loving shepherd. Not a professional, but a servant. A servant whose ministry is characterized by devotion, delight and character.

Now let’s consider – the need for humble submission. (5:5-6)

What do we “do” with all this?

Conclusion:

Powerful, authentic ministry in our hostile culture is going to demand our best. Together we must seek to follow the biblical pattern. We’ve both got our work cut out for us. I have no desire to be your CEO. I do long to shepherd you, laying before you as faithfully as I can to the truth of God’s Word. Doing my best to model for you the Christian life. Seeking to curb my arrogance and my pride. As you have seen this evening God’s pattern for ministry – pray for your pastor. I can tell you he needs it!

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Of Camels and Needle Eyes: Luke #74 (9/17/2017)
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This is an exposition of Luke 19:1-10. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, September 17, 2017.

Intro:

“Shocking. Just shocking.” “Why I couldn’t believe it. If I hadn’t been there and seen it and heard it myself – I never would have believed it. The nerve!” “Well, something is going to have to be done. This cannot go on. He’s gone too far.” That was the talk around town the night of the big scandal.

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Now he had irritated them before. But this was just the final straw. They were enraged. Even the people of the city were shocked at this display. It was so public. So blatant. Even his supporters were scratching their heads over this one. Imagine, making himself at home in the house of that lying, thieving Zacchaeus. That was the reaction of the crowd in Jericho the day the Savior met the tax collector. The story is found in the 19th chapter of Luke’s Gospel.

Text: Luke 19:1-10

Luke, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, builds a compelling case to prove that Jesus is indeed the Messiah of the Jews and the Savior of the world. He has demonstrated his wisdom, power and compassion. For no man ever taught like this man. No man ever performed the kinds of miracles this man performed. And yet Luke is careful to give insight into the love and compassion of the Savior. This is another of those insights.

Zacchaeus was a despised man. We are told that he was the chief tax collector.
There were three tax regions in Palestine: Capernaum, Caesarea and Jericho. Jericho was a wealthiest tax region due to the major trade routes that came through. Jericho was at the heart and center of a vast trade network. Jericho was famous for the balm derived from the balsam tree. A balm noted for its fragrance and its healing qualities. All of this combined for a lucrative tax business. Zacchaeus was the kingpin of a large tax cartel. He no doubt had the scruples of a modern-day crack dealer. This hardly seems like a candidate for the loving touch of God. No wonder he was despised. But this hated and despised reprobate is about to be transformed as salvation comes to his house.

Luke 19:1-7

This story serves as a contrast to the preceding story.
At the end of chapter 18 a blind beggar is transformed by the Savior.
Now a rich and powerful official is transformed by the touch of this same Savior.

Set this story in its context – Luke 18:24-27 how hard it is for the rich to be saved.
Like a camel going through the eye of a needle.
It’s impossible!
What is happening here in Luke 19?
A camel is about to pass through the needle’s eye!
The impossible is about to become the possible.

Thesis: The story of Zacchaeus provides us with marvelous insight into the nature of our great salvation.

There are three things I want us to note about Zacchaeus and his encounter with the Savior that shed light on our salvation.

Salvation is marked by a radical transformation of a person’s essential nature. (Luke 19:8)

Salvation redirects a person’s passion and interest. (Luke 19:8)

Salvation begins with God. (Luke 19:9-10)

Conclusion:
God orchestrated their meeting that day on the road through Jericho.
Is God seeking you?

If so you will know it by the unease you are feeling. Nothing satisfies. You’re never really comfortable. You lack wholeness. You lack a clear conscience. You lack peace. Christ is seeking you – he is calling you to come down.

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A God Worthy of Praise: Selected Psalms (9/13/2017)
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This is an exposition of Psalm 66. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, September 13, 2017.

Q: What is the chief end of man? A: To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Greatness must be praised. Worship is the response of who God is. That is why we are a singing people.

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This Psalm has two movements:

From the great, big picture to the individual.

From declaring praises to calling on others to do likewise.

This Psalm has three stanzas:

"Come and see"– Our God is worthy of the praise of the entire world (vs. 1-7).

Our God is worthy of the praise of his people (vs. 8-12).

Our God is worthy of your praise (vs. 13-20).

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A Bible Study on the Humanity and Impeccability of Christ (9/13/2017)

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This message by guest preacher Jesse Johnson was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, September 10, 2017.
Blind Sight: Luke #73 (9/10/2017)
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This is an exposition of Luke 18:31-43. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, September 10, 2017.

Intro:

It was a day like any other. He got up before dawn, as was his custom. It takes him a little longer to get moving these days – he’s not as young as he used to be. Sleeping on the sidewalk is difficult for a man his age. Wrapping his dirty, greasy robe around himself and running his fingers through his matted hair he picks up his cane and starts tapping his way down the familiar streets on his way to the city gate. He’s well known in Jericho.

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Oh, they don’t know his name they just know he’s the blind beggar that sets at the North gate of the city. Along the way he begs a few pieces of bread from a couple of venders. The city is beginning to wake up. The sound of donkey hooves striking the stones, of carts moving along streets. The sounds of various street venders setting up shop. It’s Passover season – so today maybe a good day for a beggar. There will be large crowds passing through on their way to Jerusalem.

When he reaches the gate he settles into his normal spot. He knows the routine. It’s a day just like the hundreds of days that preceded it. Little did he know that it was not just another day. Today he would meet a man who would dramatically and eternally alter his life. His story is found in the 18th chapter of the Gospel of Luke.

Text: Luke 18:31-43

The storm clouds are swirling.
Murderous plots are being hatched in Jerusalem.
Jesus is more determined than ever.
The disciples feel the intensity but still do not understand.
History’s pivotal moment is here.
Redemption is nigh.
The door to the Kingdom is about to open.

Our Lord pulled the twelve aside and talked to them about what was about to unfold (31-34). He has been discussing these things for months now. As the time approaches he gets very specific. Note the details. “Everything written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” The apostles are stunned and confused. Luke says they did not understand any of this. What’s not to understand?

The problem is that their system had no room for a suffering and dying Messiah! How is the Son of God – the Messiah – spit upon, flogged and killed? They just could not accept it. For the last three and a half years they have walked with him. They have set at his feet. They have seen his miracles. They themselves did miracles in his name. Yet they did not see.

As we explore his story we learn a valuable spiritual lesson.

Thesis: The heart of the Savior graciously responds to the desperate cry of the needy.

What is Luke’s purpose in writing?
Luke wanted his friend to understand who Jesus was and to believe/trust in him.
He wants Theophilus to understand Jesus is the holy one of God and the gentle, loving savior.

There are three things I want us to note in this text.

Genuine faith is born out of desperation. (18:35-37)

Genuine faith refuses to be silenced. (18:38-39)

Genuine faith touches the heart of the Savior. (18:40-42)

Conclusion:

This is the heart of the Savior responding to the heartfelt cry of the hurting.
This is the heart of the Gospel.
This man was not deserving of this great miracle.
He had no right to expect or demand anything from the master.
He cried out for mercy and his faith touched the heart of the Savior.

Regardless of what you stand in need of this morning – I want to encourage you to call out to the Savior. Call in faith, believing, trusting in the mercy and grace of the Lord Jesus. Call out in faith – confident that the Savior can be trusted to do what is right and good and perfect. Trust in Him for the Heart of the Savior graciously responds to the desperate cry of the needy. [/section] [/sections]
Peace in the Storm: Selected Psalms (9/6/2017)

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"Peace in the Storm" from Selected Psalms.This is an exposition of Psalm 64. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, September 6, 2017.
Poor Little Rich Man: Luke #72 (9/3/2017)
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This is an exposition of Luke 18:18-30. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, September 3, 2017.

Intro:

It is a difficult sight. It is hard to watch regardless of the circumstances. No one likes to witness it. Only the most perverted wants to see another human being’s spirit crushed. He was young, promising, the kind of young man who had the world by the tail. He wasn’t arrogant – on the contrary he was humble.

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Unlike so many of his contemporaries he exhibited genuine compassion and great concern for those around him. He is the kind of guy everyone wanted to see succeed. That’s what made it so difficult to watch. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t have to; you could see it in his eyes. Those dark, penetrating eyes said it all. That face that seconds before was bright with excitement now revealed the pain and sorrow of his heart. He didn’t say a word. He simply turned and walked away. A deafening silence fell across the crowd. And the Master declared, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” Our text this morning is found in the 18th chapter of Luke’s Gospel beginning with the 18th verse.

Text: Luke 18:18-30

The cross is within sight.
Storm clouds are gathering on the horizon as the hostility mounts.
In a matter of days an angry mob will be shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”
History’s pivotal moment is about to arrive.
Galilee’s rebel rousing rabbi and his “blue collar” disciples are making their way toward Jerusalem.

This is a moment of high drama.
The focus of the Lord Jesus in these last days, before the cross, is the Kingdom of God.
The fact that it is a present reality and a future hope.
He has talked about life in the “not yet” of the Kingdom.
As we live in the “not yet” we are to live lives of confident, persistent prayer.
He has made it clear that a man is made right with God by throwing himself on the mercy of God.

A man is justified in the eyes of God when he cries out from the depth of his being, “God, have mercy on me the sinner.”

As he held those infants in his arms he said to those gathered, “The kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” You either enter the kingdom of God as a helpless dependent or you do not enter it at all.

That great truth is amplified by what happened next.
What follows is Luke’s account of the “Rich Young Ruler.”
This is an encounter that is found in all the synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke.
Matthew lets us know he was young.
Luke informs us that he was a ruler.
All three make it plain that he was rich.

I’m convinced that a careful reading of the text serves to remind us that:

Thesis: Receiving eternal life demands that you abandon self-effort and confidently trust in Christ.

There are two things I want us to note as we explore this passage.

Receiving eternal life demands an honest acknowledgement of your helpless state. (18:23)

Receiving eternal life demands absolute confidence in Christ and Christ alone. (18:24-30)

Conclusion:
The point is everyone’s salvation is a miracle.
Hebrews 7 makes it clear:
7:25 - Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
7:27 - He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

Complete, absolute, total, eternal salvation is ours because of the miraculous work of Christ and Christ alone.

10:27 = salvation is the work of God and not a work of man.
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Portrait of a Worshipful Heart: Selected Psalms (8/30/2017)
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This is an exposition of Psalm 63. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, August 30, 2017.

From the passage we find four marks of a worshipful heart:

A passionate dsire to know God's presence. vs. 1-2

Praise to God for his abundant grace. vs.3-5

Rejoicing in God's constant care. vs. 6-8

Resting in the assurance of God's deliverance. vs. 9-11

To have a worshipful heart in the first place one must:

have a personal relationship with God.

must earnestly pursue God.
Entrance into the Kingdom: Luke #71 (8/27/2017)
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This is an exposition of Luke 18:15-17. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, August 27, 2017.

Intro:

It is a legitimate question. How much does a person have to know in order to be saved? What information is necessary in order to have saving faith? Is there a test? If so what is the passing grade? What if you do really well on the sin section but struggle with the theology portion?

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Or is the test more like a driving test? Sure there is a basic written test but the real issue is the driving portion – how well you handle the car. Is that the way salvation works? Is it a matter of living a certain way or avoiding certain things? There are some interesting answers to these questions if you go by what you can hear on the television, the radio or even from some pulpits. But ultimately we must come to the Word of God for our answer. Who is a proper candidate for salvation? What is required for entrance into the Kingdom of God? That is the focus of our text found in Luke chapter 18 verses 15-17.

Text: Luke 18:15-17

Hostility is mounting.
The cross is on the horizon.
The disciples are confused, while Jesus is determined.
These are interesting days in the life and ministry of our Lord.

18:15 – Here we find that great crowds of people are bringing their small children to Jesus in order for them to be blessed. This was a common thing in Jewish culture. When a famous rabbi was in the area parents often brought their children for a blessing. It is obvious from the Gospels that our Lord loved children. Frequently he is pictured holding them in his arms and using them as illustrations.

The disciples are a little miffed at the crowd for their intrusion.
It is easy to rag on the disciples at this point but remember the circumstance.
They are on their way to Jerusalem.
They don’t want Jesus to go.
He keeps saying he has to go.
They are sure that the end result will be disastrous.
He keeps talking about death and going away.

They don’t know what is going to happen but they are certain he doesn’t need to be bothered by a bunch of nagging parents and screaming children. So they rebuke these parents for their actions. “Leave the rabbi alone.” “Get that snotty-nosed kid out of here. The rabbi has important things to take care off he doesn’t have time for this now.” They were trying to protect him. They know that crowds regularly take advantage of his kindness.

“But Jesus called the children to him and said, ‘ let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them.’” Now Luke leaves out something that Mark says about Jesus’ response. In Mark 10:14 we learn that Jesus was “indignant” with his disciples. He was furious with them because of their actions. It is interesting to note when Jesus gets angry and what sets him off. “How dare you hinder their coming to me” – that was our Lord’s response.

Then he seized upon the opportunity to instruct them about life in the Kingdom.

Thesis: “Entrance into the Kingdom of God demands simple, childlike faith.”

Now be careful, we are talking about childlike faith not childish faith and there is a vast difference. Childish is a simplistic, silly immature believing. Childlike suggests attractive and admirable qualities of childhood such as innocence and trust.

In fact I think there are two characteristics of childlike faith reflected in our text.

Childlike faith is a helpless, dependent faith. (18:16)

Childlike faith is an unpretentious, accepting faith. (18:17)

Pastor Kent Hughes suggests four characteristics of childlike receiving.

Such receiving is one of unbelievable trust.
Second there is genuine humility.
Then there is a ready receptivity.
Finally there is unabashed love.

Conclusion:
What does it require to enter the Kingdom of God?

“I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the Kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).

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The Joy of Jesus (8/24/2017)
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This message from John 15:4-11, by guest preacher Jim Hatcher of Greater Europe Mission was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday evening, August 20, 2017.
See You This Sunday (3/25/2013)
Their world was as dark as it could possibly be. As they made their way toward the tomb grief overwhelmed them. They were inconsolable as they walked the garden path. What where they to do now? How could life have any meaning? They were certain he was the Lord’s Christ. Messiah had come to establish the kingdom of God…but Messiah’s don’t die. They had witnessed his humiliation. They saw his lifeless body taken down from the cross. They watched as he was hastily prepared for burial and then placed in a borrowed grave. It seemed meaningless now but they came with spices to further treat his body. It seemed the least they could do. Perhaps they were mistaken. Maybe he was not the Messiah. They still loved him. Mary would never forget how he had changed her life. It was like being delivered from death. It was like walking out of the darkest night into the light of the noonday sun.

Upon arrival at the grave they suffered yet another blow. The stone had been rolled away. His body was gone. Grave robbery on top of everything else? Mary saw the gardener and plead with him, “Please, just tell me where did they put his body?” “Mary.” Everything changed with that one word. He was alive! He had risen from the dead. Suddenly her mind was filled with things she heard him say over the last year. He is alive. Sin, death and the grave had been conquered. He is alive. Nothing would ever be the same.

Join us this coming Lord’s Day as we celebrate Resurrection Sunday!

Rod
Thanks! (7/15/2012)
Thanks to Stacy Narrin for her leadership in VBS this year and to all those workers! We had a great group of workers and youth assistance this year. Also thanks to Marie Taylor and Suzan Hatcher for overseeing the kitchen and those who help. We had great food every night and things ran like clockwork. I’m very proud of all of you. Thanks to the kids! We had a good group of kids who were respectful and listened carefully each evening. It was a very good week.

Next week (July 23-26) our children will head to Kid’s Kamp at Tulakogee. Pray for our kids and their sponsors. The following week (July 30-Aug 4) our youth will be at camp. It is a busy couple of weeks and then school starts! Where did the summer go? Also pray for Taylor Dix who leaves this week (Friday July 20) for her mission trip. Pray for her safety and that the Lord will use her for His glory.

It is also time to sign-up if you are going to be able to help with Good News Club this fall. This is a very important outreach/ministry and we want to keep it strong. If you can help please sign-up on the bulletin board outside the church office for call Katrenia. If you need more information talk to Jerry Deason. We need to know ASAP if you can help so that we can make plans.

I look forward to seeing you and your family as we gather for worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
The Search Beginnings (4/16/2012)
I want to thank those who responded to our music survey on Sunday. We received 95 surveys and this will give our committee a good sense of where we are musically and what we need to focus on. I would ask that you pray for those who will be seeking God’s direction and leadership in the coming weeks. I am writing this on Monday and we are scheduled to elect our search committee on Wednesday at our business meeting. Pray that our committee will listen to your responses, carefully weigh each of them, and accurately discern God’s will in this matter.

Let me say one other thing about this process we are beginning. Finding God’s will in staffing is of critical importance in the church. Consideration must be given to the needs of the church balanced by outreach and careful attention paid to biblical qualifications. When we are talking about the music of the church we have to add musical taste, generational differences and personal style. Within the church we have all kinds of tastes and styles. No one style suits everyone. Add to the mix the fact that we are in the midst of a “culture shift” and you have an impossible assignment! Yet nothing is impossible for God. All of that to say, “We will all have to make some adjustments.” No one is going to get everything they want. But the nature of family is that we consider others more important than ourselves. What matters most is not that I get what I want but that the church goes on. The kingdom of God advances and new people are reached with the life-giving message of Christ. With that as our motivation we can rejoice in whatever direction God leads.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Resurrection Sunday (4/2/2012)
“He is risen!” “He is risen indeed!” Such has been the greeting of Christians for centuries as they gather on Easter Sunday for worship. The fact is every Sunday is a celebration of resurrected life. Every gathering of the people of God is a celebration of God’s redeeming love in Christ. That God chose to purchase a people for His own glory. That God chose to love a wayward people, deserving of eternal death. “All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God and the wages of sin is death.” Death is what we’ve earn, what we deserve. Yet God loves. God is merciful. He is gracious and He has demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. The debt of sin was paid as Jesus cried out from the cross, “It is finished!” The resurrection is God’s receipt for Calvary’s payment. The grave has been conquered. Sin and death no longer have claim on us. In Christ we have been granted life eternal and abundant. Join us Sunday as we gather in celebration of the Resurrection.

Up from the grave He arose,
With a mighty triumph o’er His foes;
He arose the victor from the dark domain,
And He lives forever with His saints to reign.
He arose! He arose!
Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Rod
A Worthy Investment (12/19/2011)
“Unto us a Son is born. Unto us a Child is given.” The message of Christmas is the message of the Gospel. It is the story of the love and grace of God in providing redemption. Reconciling sinners to a holy and righteous God. It is a message worth telling and we’ve been commanded to take the message to the ends of the earth. The Southern Baptist Convention was born out of a desire to see the nations come to faith in Christ. The heartbeat of our convention has been to spread the name and the fame of our God. Because of the faithful of our churches Southern Baptist have just under 5000 missionaries serving around the world. Hundreds of thousands of people each come to faith in Christ through our efforts. Yet there is more to do. There are those who have never heard.

We are two-thirds toward our goal of $9,500 for our Lottie Moon Offering. You gift can make a world of difference. Did you know your gift of $128 keeps a missionary on the field for one day? $900 takes care of their needs for a week. Of course in addition to paying for personnel your gift goes to supply Bibles in the language of the people; provides hunger relief; hospitals; schools; radio; the list is exhaustive. Your gift is a sound investment in Kingdom work. But don’t just take my word for it. Go to www.imb.org and see what we are doing together through the International Mission Board. Together let’s meet our goal. Together let’s take the Gospel to the world. Together let’s make a difference.

I look forward to seeing you and your family Christmas morning as we worship our Savior.

Rod
The Incarnation (12/12/2011)
One of my prized possessions is a little volume entitled, Gadsby’s Hymns. It is a collection of hymns put together by William Gadsby and first published in 1814. It includes some very familiar hymns by Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley but also many that are virtually unknown to most. I was reading hymns this morning about the incarnation. Here are a few lines from one of Gadsby’s own hymns:

The eternal Word, who built the earth and skies,
Takes on him flesh, and in a manger lies;
In that dear Babe of Bethlehem I see
My God, contracted to a span for me.

Mary’s first-born was God and man in one;
David’s own God, and David’s blessed Son.
Well might the angels wing their way to earth,
To celebrate so glorious a birth.

They sang, with new surprise and fresh delights,
Glory to God, in all the angelic heights;
Surrounded with God’s glory, in a blaze
To heaven they fly, the incarnate God to praise.

Shall angels sing the honours of his name,
And sinners, saved by grace, silent remain?
Good God, forbid! Inflame us with they love,
And set our groveling minds on things above.

This God-like mystery we will gladly sing,
And own the virgin’s Babe our God and King;
Jehovah Jesus, we will thee adore,
And crown thee Lord of all for evermore.

Christmas is a time for us to joyfully proclaim the glory and wonder of the incarnation. God made flesh to redeem sinful, fallen humanity. It is not our responsibility to win an argument, wage a culture war or make sure our traditions remain unchanged. It is our responsibility to declare the wonder of the Gospel. Let’s not lose sight of our objective. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Lottie Moon Offering (11/28/2011)
This past Sunday we began our emphasis on the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions. Our International Mission Board currently has 4,887 field personnel under appointment. We are engage with 763 people groups. That’s exciting and we praise God for what we are doing together through the work of the Southern Baptist Convention. In 2010 we baptized 360,879 and started 29,237 new churches! However, there are 3,629 unreached people groups. These are people who have no meaningful contact with the Gospel. The need is great.

For the first time in our history we have more personnel trained and ready to go then we have money to send. The need is great. How important is the Lottie Moon Offering? 57% of the IMB’s budget is provided by this offering. The need is great.

What can you do? You can pray, you can give and you can go. We are engaged in a spiritual battle for the souls of men. Such a battle demands that we pray. Pray that God will continue to open doors of opportunity. Pray that missionaries will have the courage and boldness to speak. Pray that God will protect those who serve. Pray for the freedom of the Gospel around the world.

You can give. Your gift to the Lottie Moon Offering goes directly to mission efforts around the world. Your gift helps to keep a missionary on the field. Your gift provides much needed supplies. Your gift helps to feed a village. Your gift puts the Bible in the language of the people. Your gift brings light into the darkness.

You can go. God is still calling for laborers to enter the harvest. Perhaps He is calling you. At a time when money is scarce it may be that you can go as a volunteer for a week, 2 weeks, 6 months a year? The need is great.

As you plan your Christmas giving why not make an eternal investment? Give generously to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Frustration (11/13/2011)
To say, “I’m not a good speller” is one tremendous understatement. When spell check says, “I have no idea what you’re trying to spell” you know you’re in trouble. Dictionaries are no help. Honestly, if you can’t spell how do you look up a word in the dictionary? Thus I find word games frustrating. Rheadon loves to play Words with Friends. For those of you who don’t play, you play Scrabble online with your smart phone. It is frustrating to play a game you are not equipped to play. The game is not very forgiving. It expects you to know how to spell. My problem is when it comes to spelling I agree with Mark Twain, “I have no respect for a man who can only spell a word one way.”

I suppose it is this struggle with trying to do what is so unnatural that keeps interfering with my spiritual life. I’m not naturally forgiving. Or understanding. Or patient. Or prayerful. Or compassionate. Or…well you get the idea. Here is the good news – I don’t have to be any of those things naturally. In fact God knows I’m not. Jesus has even said left to myself I never would be any of those things. He said, “Apart from me you can’t do anything.” He went on to say if I learn to “be at home” in him, I would bear much fruit. In other words I’d learn to be all those things and more by his power and through his enabling. G. Campbell Morgan said, “Living the Christian life is not difficult, it is impossible! There is only one who has ever done it successfully and he does it again and again in you and me.” I find great comfort in that. Now, if only he played Words with Friends.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
It Can’t Be November, Can It? (10/31/2011)
November? How can that be it was January just last week. Isn’t it hard to believe the year is almost over? November means a couple of things. First the holidays are upon us. Things get busy from Thanksgiving to Christmas. Pray for our children’s choir and our Celebration Singers as they work on Christmas music. A new wrinkle to the holidays this year is that both Christmas and New Year’s Day fall on Sunday. We will be adjusting our schedule some for those two Sundays we’ll tell you more about that in the days to come.

Second, it means that it is budget time. I would ask you to pray for our finance committee as they begin work on next year’s budget. We do have some challenges. While we’ve been blessed and have no debt, we’ve experienced a significant drop in receipts the last quarter. Pray that we will be good stewards of what has been entrusted to us.

Third, and this is really the most important, guard your heart during the business of the season so that you do not forget what it’s all about. Thanksgiving is not about food, family and football it’s about giving thanks to God for His gracious provision. It is a time to acknowledge every good and perfect gift comes down from above. Christmas is not about jolly old Saint Nick it’s about God’s gift of salvation through His Son. This is the time of year that grants us many opportunities to testify of our faith. Let’s not waste this opportunity. It’s worth thinking about. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Resting in His Love (10/24/2011)
It is ingrained in us from an early age, “Behave in a certain way or you’ll not be loved.” Your worth or value is determined by your performance. Certain people in school are given exceptions and privileges because of how they perform on the football field or the basketball court. Even in church the message is, “Live up to the standard or God won’t love you.” That is why I find the Gospel so appealing. The message of God’s love and grace comforts, encourages and inspires. I’m not loved or valued because of my performance. God does not love me because I make the grade but because of Christ!

Christ fulfilled the law of God perfectly. He satisfied every righteous demand. By my faith in Him I am clothed with His righteousness. I am in Christ and thus loved by the Father. That love is fixed, settled, and unchanging. The Father now loves me just as He has loved Christ. I do not have to earn God’s love it is mine because of Christ. I can rest in that. I am called to dwell, abide, and be at home in the love of God. Now that does not mean I quit striving for holiness. It does not mean that I do not need to obey. It means my motivation is different. I do not obey in order to be loved but I obey because I am loved. I want to demonstrate my love out of profound gratitude. I do not want to betray such love. Love is far more demanding that law. Now that I’m loved I’m driven to even greater obedience.

I hope to see you and your family as we gather for Bible study and worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
The Love of God (10/16/2011)
It is an overwhelming thought, a great motivation and provides amazing comfort to understand the depth of God’s love for His own. Jesus made an extraordinary comment on the night of His betrayal as He spoke to the 11 remaining apostles (Judas had already gone to betray Him). “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Abide in my love.” To the degree that God loved me – I love you. In the way the Father has loved me – I love you. Such a love is fixed, settled and unwavering. Such a love invites your “abiding.” To abide is to relax, make yourself at home, and settle in. You don’t have to impress Him. You do not have to gain His favor. You have it! You have it not because you perform up to standard but because of Christ. Christ’s perfect obedience has secured the Father’s love for the believer, so relax. Get off the treadmill of works and start striving in love. Start living out of gratitude instead of guilt.

It’s not that we do not strive. It is not that we do not struggle. Rather we live knowing love is not given as a reward or removed as punishment. God’s love for the believer is constant and unchanging because of the finished work of Christ laid to our account. We are not driven to obey in order to experience the love of God rather we are driven to obey because of our experience of God’s love. That is Gospel living.

I hope to see you and your family as we gather for worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
It’s Worth Thinking About (10/10/2011)
Do you get depressed watching the news? Drive-by shootings, meth labs, and home invasions those things used to happen in other places now they are commonplace here. Culturally the country is going to pot. Political bickering is wearisome. Everywhere I turn lately there seems to be controversy, trouble, bad news or despair. Is it any wonder I seek relief by visiting Mayberry where the great tragedy is that new lady druggist want sell Emma Watson her miracle pills?

But, alas, that only buys me 30 minutes of comfort and relief. I know that retreating to Mayberry is not a lasting remedy and doesn’t supply any real relief but where are we to turn? Is there a place of safety and rest? Is there a more permanent solution to our troubles? The answer is yes. And the answer is not found in retreating to a “make believe” world. It isn’t found in denying the real dangers that threaten us. It is found in taking refuge in the profound truths of our faith. It is found in taking refuge in our God. Doctrine is practical. Biblical truth is to be embraced and lived. It is to be applied to the real world in which we struggle day by day. Our faith is to impact our lives on a daily basis.

Throughout history God has graciously revealed himself to his people. He has not been silent. He has spoken. He has said, “This is who I am. And this is what I am doing.” This is why we gather for Bible study on Sunday morning. This is why we attend the preaching of the Word. So that we might be equipped for life. So that we are prepared to handle the heartache and struggles that regularly come our way. It’s worth thinking about. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Corporate Worship (10/3/2011)
Psalm 149 declares, “Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!” One of the joys of being part of the church is public worship. Public worship is the opportunity to join our hearts and minds in the praise of our God. I know that we can worship God anywhere. I understand that we are to be in an attitude of worship continually but there is something unique about public worship. Sure we can worship in our prayer closet. We ought to engage in private worship but there is no substitute for corporate worship.

Yes you can be blessed through the ministry of televised worship services. There are some wonderful Bible teachers available both on television and through the Internet. Yet it is not the same as gathering with your church for worship. It is not the same as joining with those with whom you are in covenant to praise and honor God. On Sundays, when I look across the congregation and see those who’ve walked with Christ for years, I’m spurred on toward faithfulness. When I see those who’ve experienced devastating loss sing, with joy the great hymns of our faith, I’m encouraged to persevere through trial. When I see those are locked in battle with sickness and disease or burdened with caring for a loved one, I’m reminded that God’s grace is sufficient and He will supply all my needs. When I see those, one fallen now restored, I know He’s faithful even when I’m not.

I need worship. Further I need you in worship. Worship, indeed our faith, is a corporate effort! I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
It’s On My Mind (9/26/2011)
Making a difference where we live. Impacting the community with the gospel, the love and grace of Christ. That’s our calling. That’s why we are here. We are called to bring the presence of the living Christ to this community. How do we do that? By living our faith day and day in this community. By joining our lives with the lives of our neighbors, coworkers and those we cross paths with everyday. Two of the ways we do that together is the football meals on Fridays and the Good News Club on Tuesdays. These are tangible was of touching and impacting the lives of students, teachers and families. I’m grateful to those who’ve taken leadership in these areas and the large number of volunteers who take part every week. Thank you!

In addition there is the Vision West Block Party we participated in this month. We’ve got Trunk ‘r Treat coming up n a few weeks. These are wonderful opportunities to say to the community we’re here, we care about you and we have something to offer you. But there is another element. Its what makes the others work. Without it, the others are of limited value. Each of us must live out our faith. Share our lives, speak of the gospel with our neighbors, pray for and with the people God puts in our path. When our faith is real and vital to us it impacts those who cross our path.

At the end of the day it’s not about programs, agendas or packaging. It’s about the reality of our faith spilling out onto others. It’s about slowing down and taking the time to talk to others, pray for others and involve ourselves in their lives. I know that’s a foreign concept in today’s culture. But it’s what works. It always has. It always will. It’s called evangelism and it’s personal. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
It’s Great to be Home (9/19/2011)
It was great to be home Sunday. Thanks to all for the welcome home and thanks for noticing we were gone! We had a wonderful trip and I’m sure I’ll be months processing all we saw. In 15 days we traveled 13,845 miles, were in 5 countries, met some incredible people and visited some wonderful places. To walk the ancient streets of Ephesus and visualize the clamoring crowd angered at the teaching of Paul; to stand at the Colosseum considering those who died for their faith as the crowd cheered for blood; to walk through the ruins of Capernaum and wonder “if that was the house where the cripple man was lowered through the roof,” was an incredible experience. To stand on the Mount of Beatitude and walk the road from the Mount of Olives toward Jerusalem and then make our way through the streets of the crowded city was unforgettable. A reminder that our faith is grounded in history. Real time. Real places. For our Sunday evening service, September 25, we’ll be sharing pictures and reflecting on what we learned. I hope you will join us.

In the meantime I want to thank Jerry Deason for taking the leadership of our Good News Club at Robertson Elementary. We’re off to a great start. Several folks have already committed to work but we need more. In addition to those who will be on campus and leading the club we need prayer warriors. Jerry is going to be visiting Sunday School classes and seeking commitments to pray. I hope you will join with us. We’ve also gotten off to a great start with the game day football dinners for Webster. Thanks to those who have committed to serve. We had good participation at the Vision West Block Party last Saturday. Thank you for reaching out to our community.

I look forward to seeing you and your family as we gather for study and worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Trip Itinerary (8/28/2011)
Several have asked about our trip. We leave Tulsa on the afternoon of August 31 and return home the evening of September 15. Below is our itinerary for the next two weeks:
Aug 31 depart Tulsa and fly to Washington D.C. Catch a flight to Rome.

Arrive in Rome on Sept 1 a day to relax.
Sept 2 – full day tour of Rome

Sept 3 – Depart Civitavecchia (Rome)

Sept 4–5 – At sea – Lectures on the early days of the church.

Sept 6 – Haifa arrive 1 pm – tour Caesrea, drive across Mt. Carmel to the ancient city of Acre, dinner in the courtyard of Knight’s Hall.

Sept 7 – Tour Galilee, Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, boat ride on Sea of Galilee. Depart 10 pm

Sept 8 – Arrive Ashdod AM. We will spend the 8th and 9th touring the Jerusalem.

Sept 9 – Depart Ashdod 10 pm

Sept 10 – At sea. Lectures/Bible Study.

Sept 11 – Ephesus. After a reading of the book of Ephesians in St. John’s Basilica we’ll tour the city.

Sept 12 – Mykonos, Greece a day free for sightseeing.

Sept 13 – At sea Lectures/Bible Studies.

Sept 14 – Naples were we’ll tour Capri and Pompeii.

Sept 15 – Arrive Civitavecchia (Rome) start the trip home.

We are so grateful for this unbelievable gift. Thank you is so inadequate! We can’t wait to get back and share with you what we see and hear.

See you on the 18!

Rod
Ministry Opportunities (8/22/2011)
We had a great meeting Sunday afternoon about the Good News Club for Robertson Elementary. We need more volunteers to join our team. You may not be able to make it every Tuesday but you could once a month or a couple of times a semester. We also need members of our prayer team to pray for students, their families’ and for faculty and staff at Robertson. There are several ways for you to be involved. Keep watching for details as they become available.

We’ve also have had good response for the football dinners but we have a few spots to fill. If you are interested in helping you can sign up on Sunday or you can talk to Marie Taylor. This is another great opportunity to serve our community and partner with our local high school.

For years we’ve prayed for opportunities to increase our evangelistic efforts and to impact our community. We’ve faithfully and persistently done what we could to be available to the schools and community and now we’ve reached the point that they are coming to us and asking for help. With the Good News Club we’ve been handed the opportunity to walk into a local elementary school for an after school program and teach a Bible lesson and present the Gospel once a week for 28 weeks during this school year! We must not fail to take this step. We need your involvement. This is your opportunity to love the children of this community and bring the Gospel to them. Will you join us?

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Ministry Opportunities (8/15/2011)
Continue to pray for our nominating committee and our committee on committees as they finish up their work for the new church year. In talking with them Sunday, they are very close to finishing up their work. Speaking of Sunday, I forgot something very important. We had sign-up sheets for helping with the football dinners this fall. They were on the front pews but how were you supposed to know that when I didn’t announce it? I apologize and they will be available next Sunday. Marie Taylor is heading up this ministry. If you would like to help please sign up on the date or dates you can help. We appreciate your faithfulness.

The other big opportunity is the Good News Club at Robertson Elementary. The club will meet on Tuesdays from 2:50-4:30. This is a great opportunity to minister to the children of Robertson, their families and the school staff. We will have an informational meeting on Sunday, August 21, at 4:30 pm in fellowship hall. We’ll see a brief video giving an overview and talk about the program and the ways you can be involved. This is open to youth through senior adult. If you have a desire to minister to children and see them come to faith in Christ, this is an opportunity for you!

I look forward to seeing you and your family in Bible study and worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
A Good Week At Camp (8/8/2011)
We had a great week of camp with the youth! As always I want to thank you for your support of our young people. You have always been very generous with your giving. Your faithful in giving to the budget pays for the cabin, your faithfulness in providing food items enables us to keep cost down for the kids and of course you’ve always been good about providing scholarships for those in need. You are a giving people and I’m so grateful for your generous spirit.

Dan and Tina did their normal outstanding job in putting things together and running a very good camp. I appreciate their leadership, devotion and sacrificial commitment more than I can ever say. Mark Dix and Liana Deason made sure the troops were well fed, and are much appreciated. Thanks as well to Taylor Dix, Nathan Foote and Bob Lowery for serving as sponsors and excellent role models. We are blessed to have such caring and quality people serving Christ by serving our youth. Finally, thanks to our youth. You were a pleasure to be around and I’m proud of you and the way handled yourselves all week. Thanks for letting me hang out for most of the week.

In the weeks to come you will be seeing the fruit from the week. We have several kids who made professions of faith and a few who rededicated their lives. We also have some who are wrestling with issues and are on the verge of making commitments. Pray for Danny and Tina as they work with those who’ve made decisions and those who are working through issues.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Busy, Busy, Busy! (7/25/2011)
We got everyone off this morning for Kid’s Kamp. Relatively uneventful and they left on time! They should be rolling back in Thursday afternoon. This is also prep-week for youth camp. Cooks and sponsors are rushing around getting the final details taken care of. With camps in full swing that can mean only one thing – school is just around the corner. That means some great opportunities for ministry. Our Mission Team met Sunday afternoon and discussed projects for this fall. We will be doing some things for teacher appreciation as school starts up at Clinton (now Webster Jr. High) and possibly Webster High School. We will also provide a game day meal for the Webster football team again this year. This is a great outreach that gives us additional opportunities for ministry on the campus at Webster. We will be looking for a coordinator for this ministry. If you are interested please see me. We are also planning to have a booth again this year at the Community Block Party on September 17. We will need volunteers to man the table stay tuned for details to come in the next month.

In the meantime our nominating committee and committee on committees continues to fill ministry spots for 2011-2012. We also have an opportunity to take over a Good News Club at Robertson Elementary. This evangelistic Bible study was started last March, just after Spring Break, and have averaged 40 kids with 75 enrolled. There were also 17 professions of faith in just the few weeks the program operated before the end of school. The couple that started the club has asked if we would take over the ministry so that a church in the community would be tied to the program. This is an exciting evangelistic opportunity. All of this to say we have much to pray about and much to do. But we cannot do any of it unless you are willing to be a part. Pray about it. Give it careful consideration. Then let us hear from you!

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
A Couple of Things (7/18/2011)
I read the other day that things are getting bad. In fact it is so dry the Baptist have started sprinkling; the Methodist and Presbyterians are using wet wipes while the Catholics are giving rain checks. But the most desperate are the Episcopalians who are praying that the wine turns into water! I guess it is true, desperate times call for desperate measures. I’m not desperate but I think it is time to make coats and ties optional on Sundays. I for one will be a little more casual on Sunday mornings for the remainder of the summer.

I want to encourage you to continue to pray for our nominating committee and our committee on committees as they seek to find those who will be serving this next church year. If you would like an opportunity to serve don’t wait to be asked – seek out the committee and let them know where you would like to serve. If you are approached about serving please understand that they others have been praying and seeking the Lord’s guidance so don’t turn them down without careful consideration. I’m not suggesting that you must do whatever you are approached about doing but I am saying that you are here for a reason. Why is it God brought you to Trinity? Why here? Why now? You are called and gifted by God for service to his body and the church, where are you serving? It’s worth thinking about.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Thank You! (7/11/2011)
If you were not here on Sunday morning than you missed it. A once in a lifetime kind of moment and you missed it – I was speechless. One of our fine deacons said to me, “The only thing wrong with that presentation this morning was that they should have given it to you before the service. I would have preferred that you were speechless during the service!” I would have slapped him but I draw the line at hitting and old man walking with a cane. (Now we’re even John.)

I still don’t know what to say. I am overwhelmed by such an extravagant gift. I’m shocked and yet I’m not. For 20 years we, as a family, have known your love and support. You have always been generous and gracious to us. You have abundantly supplied our needs financially, spiritually and emotionally. I count it a great joy and privilege to be your pastor. I hope and pray that along the journey I have been of help and encouragement to you. I pray that God has used what gifts I have to feed and encourage your soul. Where I have failed you I ask your forgiveness. Where I’ve disappointed you I beg your patience endurance. Knowing my faults and my inabilities I can’t believe you’ve put up with me this long.

Rheadon and I are so grateful for this gift but even more grateful for the gift that you have been to us. I know it is inadequate but, thank you.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
God Bless America (6/27/2011)
We got off to a great start last night with our Big Apple Adventure for Vacation Bible School. We’ve got a great group of kids, fantastic workers and a topnotch kitchen crew! This is going to be a good week. Pray that we will see fruit from our labor this week.

Sunday will be a big day as we gather for worship and recognize God’s grace given to our Nation. I know that many have plans for this holiday weekend but I hope that you will join us for worship on Sunday morning July 3. We’ll not have evening service on the 3rd and encourage you to enjoy time with family and friends.

It is important to recognize God’s grace given to us nationally. We are who we are by God’s grace. We’ve enjoyed a place of prominence in world events but that is not because we are entitled. It is not because we are righteous but because of God’s sovereign will and purpose. I’m grateful for the fact that the church and the teachings of Christ have played a dominate role in our history but only the most naïve among us would fail to recognize the landscape has changed. We are well on our way to being a secularized society (if we are not there already). The church’s influence is waning, attendance is in sharp decline and hostility towards our faith is increasing. I love this country. There’s no place I’d rather live but we need a spiritual rebirth. We need a fresh movement of the Spirit of God in our land. That comes not through arrogance or demanding our seat at the table. It comes through humility and repentance. It comes as a result of our crying out to God to be merciful to us. It comes when we understand that God does not need the USA but we are helpless without Him.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Fathers Day (6/13/2011)
This Sunday is Fathers Day. I was joking the other day with a friend and said, “I didn’t get my dad anything for Fathers Day, he already has everything.” I’m grateful for the knowledge that my dad is in heaven enjoying the presence of the Lord and the glories of eternity and I’m grateful for what he taught me. Billy Sunday is credited with saying, “Give a boy a godly mother and any old stick will do for a dad.” I can appreciate Mr. Sunday’s enthusiasm for mothers but I’m afraid he underestimates dad’s role.

A father sets a standard of manhood for his children. He teaches his sons what it means to be a man and he model’s for his daughter what she should expect from a husband. Dad your role is important and it will have long-term affects on your children and grandchildren. My father was not a perfect man. He was a frail child of dust, broken, flawed yet redeemed. Yes I’ve inherited some of his flaws and added a few of my own. But he taught me unconditional love. He taught me to sacrifice myself for the sake of my family. He taught me the importance of demonstrating, in tangible ways, the value of my children. He taught me the power of “presence,” of love and support. He taught me to stand up for what I believe, even if it is unpopular. He taught me to live by conviction. Most importantly he taught me to love Christ, the Word of God and the church.

I hope and pray that through my own brokenness I’ve been able to pass on those valuable lessons to my own children. Happy Fathers Day. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Affirming God’s Sovereignty, Wisdom and Goodness (5/16/2011)
What does it really mean to affirm the sovereignty of God? What does it mean to affirm God’s wisdom and goodness? It is one thing to verbally affirm or confess these things it is another to live them. If I believe God is sovereign, wise and good how should I respond with things do not go well? That is the problem isn’t it? As long as life is beautiful I have no problem with His sovereign, wise goodness but when all Hell breaks loose, well that’s different. But why should it be different? Is He any less sovereign, wise or good when times are bad? I started thinking about this because of what I read this morning in The Valley of Vision during my morning devotions. The author prayed, “Help me to see how good thy will is in all, and even when it crosses mine teach me to be pleased with it.”

Help me to see and help me to be pleased with it even when it crosses mine. That really is it. That is how I affirm God’s sovereignty, His wisdom and His goodness. I affirm these things when I’m able to be “pleased” in every circumstance. I know I’m making progress in godliness when His sovereign will has crossed my selfish desire and I’m pleased to yield to His command. I’m delighted to abandon my pursuit in favor of His. For that to happen I’m going to have to pray a lot more! If you think about would you pray for me too?

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Annie Armstrong Offering (3/7/2011)
“I understand why we have an offering for foreign missions but why North American missions? I mean there’s a church on every corner here.” It is easy to think that way given the number of churches around Tulsa and the fact that you can hear the gospel hourly on radio and television. Is such an emphasis needed in Christian America? The task assigned to the North American Mission Board is to assist Southern Baptist Churches in reaching the United States and Canada with the Gospel. That’s a mission field of 258 million lost people. That’s 3 out of 4 people living in the United States and Canada. The bottom line is that we are losing ground. The need is great and time is of the essence. Our church goal is $3,500.00, which is not much when you consider the national goal of $70 million but it’s a start.

What can your gift do? A gift of $5 can place a Spanish Bible in the hands of a farmer laborer attending an outreach Bible study. $10 can provide a DVD of the “Jesus” film in the French language to reach the French Quebecois in Canada. $200 provides a case of Navajo Bibles for distribution on a Native American Reservation. A gift of any amount is applied 100% towards mission work throughout the U.S. and Canada. Just as important as your financial contribution is your prayers. Pray for an awakening across our land. Pray that God will open the eyes men and women, boys and girls to the truth of the Gospel. Pray that God would favor us with revival. And remember, it starts here.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Devotional Reading (2/27/2011)
I love church music, I always have. Even as a young person I liked listening to choirs and the music of the church. Don’t miss understand me when I say I love church music. Do not hear me say, “I love the church music of the past exclusively.” I love many of the new hymns and choruses! Granted some of the newer stuff is not very deep. It will not stand the test of time but then not all the music of the past has survived. Of the thousands of hymns Charles Wesley wrote we sing a handful. Not every hymn by Isaac Watts remains a perennial favorite. Music does evolve and that is not wrong nor is it a bad thing. The Gospel must be spoken and sung in the language of the people if it is to reach the masses.

Part of my devotional reading is the reading of hymns. I can’t “read” music and that helps. When I’m reading hymns I’m reading the words, I’m getting the sense of the movement of the message – the tune isn’t stuck in my head (unless I’m reading a familiar hymn). One of my favorite hymnbooks for devotional purposes is Gadsby’s Hymnal first published in England in 1838. While there are hymns by Isaac Watts and John Newton most of the writers are unknown to me. Pastors and poets of past generations whose hymns have not been preserved. In my reading this week I came across this hymn by Gadsby. He speaks of the believer’s rest in Christ. Listen to verses 5 and 6 (there are 7 verses total):

Here’s life, and light, and holiness,
And righteousness divine;
A boundless treasure, all of grace,
And faith says, All is mine.

O what a rest is Christ to me!
How precious and how true!
From guilt and sin he sets me free,
And gives me glory too.

Looking for a good devotional book? Pick up a hymnal and give some serious thought to what we are singing. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Humility (2/21/2011)
Foundational to the life we’ve been called to as the people of God is the virtue of humility. Real humility is a hallmark of new life in Christ. I don’t mean the kind of humility that blushes and says, “You’re so kind to say that” while inwardly thinking, “You have no idea just how right you are to think so highly of me.” I mean the kind of humility born of a true knowledge of self. Humility born of knowing exactly who and what you are.

The most humbling thing in the world is to see yourself as you are rather than, as you want to be. The real you not the one you hope others see. I find the reading of The Valley of Vision (a collection of Puritan prayers) good for my soul. It is good because it is so different from most things you find from contemporary writers. I saw myself this morning in my reading:

Thou art good beyond all thought, but I am vile, wretched, miserable, blind; my lips are ready to confess, but my heart is slow to feel, and my ways reluctant to amend…My faculties have been a weapon of revolt against thee; as a rebel I have misused my strength, and served the foul adversary of thy kingdom…Grant that through the tears of repentance I may see more clearly the brightness and glories of the saving cross.

We tend to read that as self-loathing. That’s not it at all. It’s genuine humility. Recognizing I’m a sinner owing my life to the grace of God. It’s life free from of delusion and grounded in reality. It is a life that glories in the grace of God. Life’s a lot freer when you stop pretending.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Ministry Opportunities (2/14/2011)
Ah sunshine! Isn’t Oklahoma weather wonderful? 70 degrees on Saturday then three days later the worst blizzard in state history. Followed by another 5 inches on snow. Followed, a couple of days later, by 60-degree temperatures. You got to love it.

It was nice to see folks out and about this past Sunday. We had a great time of Bible study and worship. We also had a good and productive meeting with our mission and ministry team. We discussed some ministry projects for the year and we put together a list to help our Sunday School classes develop quarterly projects. You’ll be seeing that list in your Sunday School box this coming Sunday. We want to encourage each of our classes to plan a ministry or mission project each quarter. We want you to be involved with reaching out to our community and touching our world with the Gospel. What you will find is a list of suggestions for the kind of things you might do. This is not an exhaustive list but hopefully it will get you thinking. As you do your projects be sure and take some pictures and give us a report we can share through the newsletter and on the screen before services. We look forward to seeing what you do!

I’ll see you and your family as we gather for worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Blizzard Round 1 (2/7/2011)
Brrrrr! Well it has been quite a week. Recorded snow. Cabin fever. Panic at the grocery stores. Of course the most shocking of all…the weather predictors were right! Maybe it is the end of the world. I trust you and your family had made it through round one. As I’m writing we are gearing up for round 2 due to hit Tuesday-Wednesday. We have had damage to our fellowship building. We have major water damage including a partially collapsed ceiling in the men’s restroom. We have water standing in the restrooms out into the main room floor. We have been working with the insurance company since last Saturday. Due to the damage we will have to postpone some events planned for the building as well as make adjustments for Sunday School. At this point we do not know how long repairs will take. Please be patient with us.

On the positive side about 60 brave souls made it to worship on Sunday morning. Thanks to Brian Hickerson for clearing the parking lot and to Mark Dix and Bob Lowery for shovel duty.

We still have a meeting planned for Sunday afternoon at 4:30 for our mission and ministry teams. This meeting is for anyone who is interested in reaching out to our community. We would love to have a representative from each Sunday School class at that meeting. We’ve got some things we would like to do in 2011 and this would be a great way to involve your class in a ministry project.

I hope to see you and your family as we gather for worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Just A Couple of Things (1/17/2011)
I just want to take a minute to remind you that Sunday afternoon at 4:00 pm there will be a training session in the worship center for the projection system. Anyone interested in helping with services on Sunday morning or evening is invited to attend this training. You will learn the basics of the system. You will learn how to enter the information for a service; edit that material; add video and run the system. It sounds complicated but the system we use is called Easy Worship and that’s exactly what it is – Easy! While basic computer skills are helpful you don’t have to be a computer genius to run this system. We’ll see all those interested Sunday afternoon.

Also I’m still looking for Scripture readers for Sunday morning. It would be nice to have 4-6 people or more to rotate reading. To date I think 1 person has expressed interest. I’ll wait for another week but if no one else is interested we’ll move in a different direction.

I also want to announce there will be a meeting at 4:00 pm on Sunday, January 30, in the fellowship hall for all parents and grandparents of our youth. We would also welcome any who are interested in working with our youth. This will be an opportunity to discuss plans for 2011, get input, answer questions and find opportunities for service. That’s Sunday afternoon, January 30, at 4:00 pm in the fellowship hall.

I look forward to seeing you and your family this coming Lord’s Day for worship and Bible study.

Rod
A New Year (1/3/2011)
A new year. What great and wonderful things are in store for 2011? What sad, disappointing, and painful experiences lie ahead? I’m certain that I will experience both joy and heartache in the year to come. Some wonderful things are going to happen and I’m sure there are dark days ahead. No I’m not a pessimist I’m a realist. I know that life in a fallen world is a life of sunshine and shadows. I know that triumph and tribulation both await. So how are we to face a new year? Do we face it with the joyful anticipation of a child or with the guarded skepticism of a battle-tested veteran? The answer is yes!

We embrace the New Year with courage and confidence born of genuine faith. Faith that God is on His throne reigning over the affairs of men and nations. Faith that God is good and works all things to the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. Faith that nothing comes to us without His permission and accompanied by His promise to never leave or forsake. I don’t know what 2011 will bring but I know I’m not alone. I know that my future is in the hands of One who loves me and has promised His mercy and grace. I know His wisdom is greater than mine. I know that His will is perfect and righteous. I know that He can be trusted. So I look forward to 2011 as a great adventure filled with promise and the hint of danger. An adventure with an unknown and yet certain outcome. In other words I face the New Year in faith.

If nothing else, its one year closer to glory which is the best thought yet. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Our Holiday Schedule (12/13/2010)
Sunday is always a special day. A day of worship and celebration. A day for rejoicing and remembering. Add to that this Sunday is a special day because of the music. In our morning worship service the children will participate and then Sunday evening our choir will present their Christmas program. I know that you will want to be a part of both services as we rejoice in the fact that unto us a child has been born. Unto us a Son has been given. He is Christ, the Lord! Join us in a joyful celebration of our Savior’s birth.

Don’t forget there is still time to give to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for international missions. Our goal is $9000 and as of this past Sunday we are at $6300. We have just $2700 to reach our goal. Your gift to this offering is a worthy investment in taking the Gospel to the Nations.

Don’t forget our schedule through the holidays. We will meet at 10:30 pm on Christmas Eve for a service of carols and Scripture. Then we will meet on the 26th for Sunday School and morning worship only. The same will follow on January 2. But don’t forget our annual breakfast from 8:00 am – 10:00 am on Saturday New Year’s Day.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Lottie Moon Offering (11/29/2010)
“No! It can’t be. It’s December already? How is that possible?” Telephone poles are becoming fence posts and I don’t like it. It’s true isn’t it? As you get older time flies. It was just last week I was dreading my 50th birthday…oh that was 9 months ago. But that’s not possible I just graduated from high school 30…make that 32 years ago. The next thing you know I’m going to walk into a room and forget why I…now I don’t remember why I’m writing this! Oh yeah – Christmas. It is time for the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions. Over 50% of the operating budget for our International Mission Board is supplied by this offering. Your gift enables some 5000 missionaries to take the Gospel to the nations.

I’m going to ask you to prayerfully consider how much you can give this year. I know that times are tough economically. But the need is great and the time is short. There are over 2 billion people on the planet who have never heard the Gospel, have no access to Scripture and are heading to a Christless eternity. How can they hear without a preacher? How can they believe without a witness? Your gift will go a long way in helping to secure that witness. Money invested in the lives of people through the International Mission Board is money well spent.

What can my gift do? How much does it cost to support a missionary?
• $43,845.86 a year
• $3,653.82 a month
• $843.19 a week
• $120.13 a day
• $5.01 an hour
• $.08 a minute

As you consider your gift list this year how about supporting a missionary for a day or a week?

It’s worth considering. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Are We There Yet? (11/22/2010)
It was a regular occurrence. I got to the point I waited for it. If it didn’t come I wondered what was wrong. It was only an hour and a half trip but I’m sure it seemed must longer when you’re a little kid. Finally it would come. From the back seat an urgent cry, “most home?” Zac’s version of “Are we there yet?” It’s a natural question. One to be expected on a long, difficult journey. It is to be expected especially when you are anxious to arrive at your destination. “Not yet,” was our normal reply. But eventually we could point to certain landmarks to indicate we’re getting close. When we did – hope was born.

We’ve been given an assignment, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel.” In fact we’re told we can’t go home unto the Gospel has been proclaimed to all the world. Are we there yet? Not yet but there are some encouraging signs. For the first time in history, we can identify the people groups that remain untouched by the Gospel. We can get there in our generation. That’s going to require a renewed effort. It is going to require that we pray, we give and we go. We are asking that each Sunday School class or department adopt and “unreached people group” for the next year. Each week you will pray for a Gospel awakening. A missionary, the Scripture in their language, that the light of the Gospel will penetrate their dark world. Our Lottie Moon Christmas Offering goal for this year is $9000. Yes that is the largest goal we’ve ever set. Yes these are difficult economic times but the need is great and so we ask you to give. Finally there are opportunities for you to go. Short-term volunteer mission opportunities abound. Is God calling you? We cannot sit back, send our money and expect our mission board to accomplish our task. We must be willing to go if called.

Are we there yet? Not yet but we’re close. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
The Joy of the Thing Itself (11/8/2010)
I remember it like it was yesterday. I had dreamed about it. Read about it. Hoped for it. None of which prepared me for the absolute thrill of possessing it. My own G. I. Joe, a sailor complete with bellbottom jeans, blue shirt and white sailor hat. That was too good to be true but there was more. He came with a scuba suit. He was a frogman! Like Mike Nelson on Sea Hunt only better.

Eventually I outgrew my G. I. Joe. I have great memories and will be forever grateful for the joy he brought me but I needed more. While I once found them repugnant, girls were beginning to grow on me. Then she came along. We’ve been married for 30 years now and unlike Joe she continues to fascinate me and gives me increasing joy.

There are those things in life that exceed our expectations. Some for a season, others for a lifetime. What really matters is not the anticipation or even the characteristics of the thing itself or even what it does for us – it is the thing itself.
What I mean is it is not Rheadon’s beauty. It is not here cooking, her creativity, or the fact that she is an amazing wife and mother though all of those are precious. It is Rheadon, herself!

Too often our focus in spiritual matters is on the blessings we receive. Through Christ we’ve been granted life eternal and abundant; the forgiveness of sin; we have received his righteousness; these are all precious and wonderful but they pale compared to Christ himself. We have received Christ. As Spurgeon said, “What a heartful Jesus must be, for heaven itself cannot contain Him!”

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Looking Ahead (10/4/2010)
Praise the Lord for a great day Sunday! A good crowd for worship, baptism, and a new couple joining our church family it all makes for a great day.

I want to take just a moment to remind you of some things coming up. Don’t forget Keenager Sunday Sonshine this Sunday, October 10, following our morning worship. This will be a great time of food and fellowship around the table. Then on October 24 we will be observing the Lord’s Table during our evening worship. October 31 will be our annual Trunk ‘r Treat. We need all our classes/department to provide a spot that evening. Tina Downing is heading up our efforts and there will be prizes for best costume, best theme for car decorations, along with games and other contests. You’ll be hearing more about that in the near future. Of course we need lots of candy. Each year this activity has grown. Did I mean we need candy? Lots and lots of candy?

We had another six people train for Disaster Relief on October 2. That brings our total of trained volunteers to 22! We are excited about the ministry opportunities this will afford us. Being praying about what we, as a church, can do to enhance our efforts through Disaster Relief.

I look forward to seeing you in Bible study and worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Now That’s Good News (9/27/2010)
Do you ever have one of those days when nothing seems to work? You try to read and you have no idea what you just read? You try to pray but your mind wanders around the world? You try to write but nothing makes any sense? I’ve had a day like that for the last month! It’s wearisome. Did I mention it’s Monday morning?

To be “in Christ” is not to have everything figured out or to live in unbroken love and fellowship. Rather it is to be the object of God’s unfailing love, mercy and grace. It is to understand that at your worst you are still loved and cherished by God. Loved and cherished not because you are perfect or because you’ve performed up to acceptable standards but because Christ has redeemed you. Because Christ’s righteousness has been laid to your account. The wonder of the Gospel is that, because of Christ, I am a beloved son of the living God. That means even when the words of my lips and the emotions of my heart do not line up – God loves me. When my stubborn heart and foolish mind mar my feeble obedience I’m still accepted. Because of Christ, I am kept until that glorious day. Now that’s good news for this gospel-abusing sinner.

That’s good news on a Monday morning when I don’t feel like writing a newsletter column! I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Thank You & Heads Up (9/13/2010)
We had a great response last Saturday for Disaster Relief Training. 16 of our folks are now trained to work with our state convention and the Southern Baptist Convention in disaster relief. They are now part of the largest volunteer relief organization in the world. Several told me they wanted to go but due to other commitments were unable to attend Saturday’s training. Well I’ve got some good news for you. There are two more opportunities in October. First on October the 2nd there is a statewide training event at the First Southern Baptist Church of Del City. Then on October 9th there will be training at First Baptist Church of Broken Arrow. If you want more information gives us a call in the church office.

Saturday was also the “Back to School Bash” for middle school and high school students. We partnered with three of our sister churches to provide this opportunity for students from Clinton, Webster, Berryhill and Sand Springs. I want to thank Dan and Tina Downing for all their hard work putting this event together. We are blessed to have their dedication and leadership in ministry to the youth of our community. I also want to thank those who put in some long hours on Saturday to help make this event happen.

Don’t forget the Vision West Block Party this Saturday, September 18, at Webster. It is from 4-7 pm in the circle drive we hope to see you there. Of course we always look forward to seeing you in Bible study and worship every week. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Thank You! (8/30/2010)
Praise the Lord for a great day Sunday! We enjoyed baptism, had a good crowd along with several visitors and God spoke to His people. I appreciate the many words of encouragement and that the fellowship Sunday evening was a celebration rather than a, “Pastor we have something to tell you…” Some of you actual said, “I hope you’re here another 19 years.” Rheadon and I are grateful to God for His kindness in allowing us to serve this church and give our lives to you. Your generosity and love for us has been evident through the years and we want you to know how much it is appreciated.

Don’t forget the change in schedule this week with the holiday weekend. Well meet for Bible Study and worship on Sunday morning but there will be no services Sunday evening. Then we’re back in full swing the next week. We have two big events to focus on in September. The Back to School Bask on Saturday, September 11. This is a joint effort along with Red Fork Baptist, Berryhill Baptist and Carbondale Baptist churches. We are expecting a couple of hundred junior high and high school students to descend on Berryhill. We’ll need lots of volunteers to help with everything from crowd control to food serving to set up and clean up. If you can help see Dan or Tina Downing. Then on Saturday, September 18 we have the Vision West Block Party at Webster High School. This is an annual community event and this year’s promises to be the largest ever. We’ll need help manning our table that day. If you can help give Katrenia a call in the church office.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
What’s Ahead (8/23/2010)
School is back in session that means there are some great opportunities to minister to the community. For several weeks folks have been bringing school supplies (we’ve got quite a collection so far) and we’ll continue to collect for a few more weeks. These supplies will go to assist the students and faculty of Clinton Middle School. Last week we took food to Clinton for faculty and staff for several days, as they were getting ready to receive students this week. On Saturday, September 11, we will be hosting a student rally in our parking lot. This is an effort by several local churches at last count we had 6 churches committed. We need folks to help with food service and crowd control. If you would like to help talk to Dan or Tina. Don’t forget to pray for our students and teachers as they begin a new year.

I also wanted to let you know that the annual community block party is scheduled for Saturday, September 18. We will have a table for that with information about our church, some prizes and drawings. We will need people to man the booth. If you are interested in helping call the church office and let Katrenia know. This is another opportunity to show our support for the community. They are expecting record crowds at this year’s event.

Good things are happening and I look forward to seeing you and your family as we gather for worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
A Good Day & Back to School (8/16/2010)
Praise the Lord or a great day Sunday. It was good to see everyone for Bible study and worship Sunday morning and then a good number for the service Sunday evening at First Baptist. Thanks to Ed, Betty and the Keenagers for providing transportation downtown and back. Thanks to all those who sang in the choir – you were a great blessing! Congratulations Jim on fulfilling a long-held dream. I know that you put a lot of work into the service selecting the music, lining up the musicians and bringing it all together. It was a labor of love and it showed. Your testimony in song was a highlight of the evening. We are blessed, as a congregation, by your service and I’m blessed to count you a co-laborer in this vineyard. Thank you for letting me be a part of the evening.

Don’t forget we are still collection school supplies for Clinton Middle School. You will find a full list of supplies needed in last week’s worship folder. This is a great way to show our support for our community. Speaking of school, as you pray for our children and young people as they head back to school this fall don’t forget to pray for their teachers and administrators. They have difficult jobs in an ever-changing environment. We are blessed to have many in our fellowship who have served and are now serving in education. Pray for them as they seek to live their faith and impact the next generation.

I’ll see you and your family as we gather for worship and celebration this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Some Reminders (8/9/2010)
I hope that you are planning on attending the hymn festival Sunday evening at First Baptist Tulsa. Our Keenagers are providing transportation from our parking lot downtown and back. Why not park and ride? You can get more information Sunday morning. We expect to take a busload. Thanks to Ed and Betty for providing this service. The evening promises a wonderful night of music and celebration. I hope you will be a part.

School is heading back in session. I know, kids and teachers are wondering where the summer went and parents are wondering what took so long! We are collecting schools supplies to be donated to Clinton Middle School please take a look at the supply list in the bulletin and bring as much as you can to be a blessing to others.

It is also time to start thinking about what we can do for the Westside block party and the Webster homecoming parade. It is important for us to have “a presence” at these events to show our community support.

I look forward to seeing you and your family as we gather for worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Celebrating the Lord’s Table (8/2/2010)
I hope that you are planning on being present for worship this coming Lord’s Day as we will be celebrating the Lord’s Table in our morning service. This is one of the two ordinances our Lord has given His church. It is one of the ways we proclaim the death of our Savior until He returns. It is a high and holy moment. While we do not believe that the juice and cracker become the literal blood and body of Christ neither do we believe it is a “mere” symbol. As if the elements and the celebration is nothing more than a picture. It is a unique and wonderful experience as we reflect on the glory and the wonder of the cross. The Supper is not to be treated lightly or thoughtlessly. Paul told the Corinthians that some were sick and others died because of the manner in which they treated this ordinance. He warned that to partake in an “unworthy” manner was to eat and drink judgment upon one’s self. I hope that you will take time prior to Sunday morning to prepare yourself. Take some time to read through the gospel accounts of the cross. Reflect on the price Christ paid for your rebellion and give thanks. Then come and celebrate with us.

Let me quickly remind you of the Hymn Festival on Sunday evening August 15 at First Baptist. It will be a wonderful evening of music and worship. A bus is being chartered for our senior adults so if you are a senior and want to go you’ll not have to drive downtown and park we’ll drop you off at the door. There is a sign up sheet in the hall just outside the choir room. If you need a ride to the church to get on the bus give us a call and we’ll make arrangements for you.

I look forward to seeing all of you as we gather for worship this Sunday.

Rod
Some Coming Events (7/26/2010)
At the writing of this article I’m trying to get things done so I can leave for youth camp on Tuesday (a day behind the others). I wanted to take just a moment and thank everyone for “soldiering on” Sunday morning through the heat. Thanks to Bill Jarrett and Don Ramsey who had things patched up for Sunday evening’s service. I also want to thank Rheadon and her crew for the putting together the ladies luncheon on Saturday. There was a good crowd and everyone seemed to have a great time.

Sunday morning Jim mentioned the “Hymn Festival” scheduled for August 15 at First Baptist downtown. This will be a great evening of music our choir along with the choir from First Baptist and a few special guest will lead us in worship as we sing some great hymns together. Mark your calendar and make sure you join us Sunday evening, August 15.

I also want you to know that we will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper during our morning worship service on August 8th. We’ll observe the Supper again on Sunday evening, October 24 and then Sunday morning, December 12.

I look forward to seeing you and your family as we gather for worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
A Few Housekeeping Items (7/20/2010)
We had a great time with VBS last week! Our numbers were up a bit this year and everyone had a wonderful experience. There are so many to thank for all of their effort. First I want to thank Stacy Narrin for an outstanding job as “Ranch Foreman.” Of course we had exceptional teachers for the week as always. Thanks to Tina Downing for handling music and Tammy Dix for handling the “Chuck Wagon.” That was mighty fine grub cookie. Thanks to Rheadon, Jessie, Kylie and Carissa, Stacy, Tammy, Taylor, Rebekah, Tina, Dan, Daelyn, Dalton and others I don’t know about for decorating. And thank you for your prayers, financial contributions and encouragement. It was a great week.

I want you to know about a great opportunity this coming Sunday, July 25. We will have as our guest Tracy Singleton who serves with Action Zambia. Tracy will speak during the Sunday School hour in the worship center. His presentation will begin at 9:45 and wrap up about 10:30. He will be sharing about the work of Action Zambia, his calling to work with the African people and about Zambian culture in general. We are inviting all our youth and adult classes to this presentation. You will meet at your regular time in your class for announcements and attendance then move to the worship center by 9:45. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to hear about what God is doing in Zambia.

Don’t forget, if you signed up to bring food for camp that needs to be here by Sunday evening. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Thanks for 19 Years (7/11/2010)
This past Wednesday, July 7, marked 19 years for our family at Trinity. What’s that? Seems longer? It’s gone by pretty fast for me! I’ve spent the last few days reflecting on almost 2 decades. I’ve thought about the folks who “promoted” over that time. Heaven’s gotten a whole lot sweeter as people I’ve loved have gone home. One of the difficulties in ministry is that when you do a funeral…it’s always family. You are my family. I little piece of me dies with each funeral of a church member because it’s a part of me. I’ve also thought about people who’ve passed through and go on for other reasons. I hope I’ve been some encouragement. I hope I’ve contributed to their growth in Christ rather than hindered them. I’ve thought about those of you I’ve grown to love with greater depth because of our years together.

I’ve also thought about my failures and shortcomings. As I’ve thought about nearly 20 years of ministry at Trinity I’ve reached a few conclusions. I know there are better men to serve you as pastor. I’m certain there are more gifted evangelists and better preachers. But I’m not sure there is anyone who could love you more. I cannot express the honor and pride I feel in being your pastor. I’m humbled by the opportunity to serve so many of you who help shape and mold my life. For a lot longer than I’ve been your pastor you’ve loved me, prayed for me, supported me emotionally, spiritually and financially. You’ve put up with a lot. You’ve overlooked my faults and I am grateful. I trust I’ve been an encouragement to you. I pray that I have pointed you to Christ and have contributed to your spiritual development.

Thank you for allowing me to be your pastor. Please know of my great love for you. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Fathers Day (6/19/2010)
Sunday is Fathers Day. It is a day for remembering and giving thanks for our dads. I’m grateful that when I look back at my childhood, I have ample reason to be thankful. Yes, I was spoiled. I had everything I needed and most of what I wanted. We took great vacations and we visited all those places kids want to go. We certainly were not wealthy but we had it better than a lot of kids I knew. But the true gift my father gave me was not something money could buy. He taught me loving devotion.

I saw it when he worked late hours after going in early so he could drive 2.5 hours one way to watch a ball game my brother was playing in. I saw it when I turned from my seat on the bench during my game and I could see in his face my game was just as important as the one my brother stared in. I witnessed it every third Sunday night of the month when I stood to preach at the Meridian Avenue Baptist Church in Oklahoma City and there he was, Bible in hand, waiting for me to open the Word of God.

I saw it every time his eyes lit up at the sight of my children. I witnessed it every time he “happened by the house” and asked if anyone wanted to, “go see a man about a dog?” My kids piled in his car and they were off to Braum’s. I close my eyes and I see his smile and I hear his laugh. And I think, “Thank you Pappy for teaching me that while it is important to provide for your family – life is far more than food, shelter and clothing. While it is important to see that your children are educated – life lessons are taught by example. They are lessons absorbed through time spent together. Thank you for teaching me to laugh and to love. Thank you for teaching me the value of simple things. Thanks for teaching me how to be a dad.”

Happy Fathers Day. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Greatness (6/7/2010)
Calvin Miller, in his book “The Philippian Fragment,” takes a humorous and yet penetrating look at life within the church. The premises of the book is that a fragment of an ancient second-century writing has been recently unearthed. The fragment contains letters from Eusebius, the newly appointed bishop of Philippi to Clement the pastor of Coos. Eusebius tells of his struggles with influential members of the church who desires to be “crowned” as deacons. He speaks of leaders who are far more interested in status, power and influence than in sacrifice and service. No one is willing to serve at the leper colony but all want to “hold office” in the church.

The book is humorous and painful as it forces one to look in the mirror of church life. It is a not so subtle reminder that the church is composed of sinners who are stumbling towards perfection. True greatness and stature in the Kingdom of God is achieved through sacrificial service not through popularity or charisma.

Jesus, himself, is our great example as he chose the way of the cross. He chose it in eternity past as he agreed to the Father’s plan. He chose it against in the incarnation. His choice was reaffirmed in the wilderness temptation. He declared it again at the institution of the Lord’s Supper and in the Garden of Gethsemane. Finally his choice was openly displayed in the agony of Calvary. The call of the Christian life is a call to follow him. There is no great test in following him in triumphal procession. The real test is found on the road to suffering.

In his kingdom the way up is down. The path to greatness is through humility and sacrifice. That seems so foreign. You think maybe that’s why Isaiah says, “His ways are not our ways; his thoughts are not our thoughts?” That is why I must pray daily that the Father will renew my mind – that I might think his thoughts. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Why Do I Need The Church? (6/7/2010)
It is a legitimate question, “Why do I need the church?” If I’m a Christian, I’ve repented of my sin, I’ve turned to Christ, I’m saved – why do I need to be part of one of those thousands of fragmented little groups called churches? “I feel close to God when I’m at the lake. I worship in my own way. I don’t need the church.” I understand that sentiment. I’m the first to acknowledge the church is less than perfect, often frustrating and too often a poor example. But you do need the church. Let me give you the short answer as to why you need the church. You need the church because the local church is a visible, tangible, real-world expression of the body of Christ.

You are part of a body. You cannot live the Christian life in isolation. It is not a solo act you are part of a group. A group of imperfect people stumbling towards holiness and growing in grace. That’s another reason you need the church, because sanctification is a community project. We need each other to learn what it means to love and forgive. You also need the church to worship appropriately.

One last thing – not only do you need the church, the church needs you! We need your gifts, your talents, your insights…we need you. When you neglect your attendance it not just your life that is affected it harms all of us. We are robbed of what you have to give. We are deprived of God’s work through you. We are spiritually impoverished by your neglect. So please don’t forsake our gathering together. If not for your sake for ours. If not for ours for the glory of Christ. Perhaps the church is more important than you thought.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Do You Love The Church? (5/24/2010)
What images or word pictures come to your mind when you hear the word, “church”? How do you view the church? How important is the church to you? When you think about your faith do you think first and foremost about your “personal” faith and experience? Do you think primarily about how things affect you and then think of the church? Is the church essential or is it secondary? These are important questions because consciously or unconsciously they have a direct bearing on your involvement in the life of your church.

It is undeniable that the church is important to the Lord Jesus. He gave his life for her. The church is his bride. We consistently read in the Scripture that Christ died for the church. You do not need any greater motivation – you should love the church because Christ loves the church. It is that simple. Further we are to love as Christ loves. That means “warts and all.” Christ loves the church in spite of its weaknesses and failures. In spite of its inconsistency and stubbornness. No, the church isn’t perfect. Yes, it is often the source of disappointment and frustration but we are still commanded to love the church. Not just the concept of church. Not just the idea of church but the folks who sit in the pew with you. The folks whose names appear on the roll. So I have to ask, “Do you love the church?”

It is an important question and one that demands an answer. Oh, and actions speak louder than words. More about that later. I hope to see you Sunday.

Rod
Thank You! (5/17/2010)
I should have known when I saw that crowd on a Sunday night. Nothing gathers a crowd like the chance to embarrass and humiliate the pastor! To think that I’m loved enough that you would “spare every expense” in recognizing the occasion of my 50th birthday is overwhelming. The thoughtfulness expressed in your gifts of vitamins, pain pills and other expressions of my aged and decrepit condition where heartwarming. I have so many to thank…of course due to my advanced age I can’t remember who they are, so I’ll just say thanks to all of you.

I was so grateful we all got to watch me age in the video. The likeness to Barney Fife was striking wasn’t it? Most shocking to some was that image of me with a shovel in my hand, “…the pastor…working? Unbelievable!” Not to mention the fashion history – hair, glasses, plaid shorts. Then there was that touching moment when I was given a certificate proclaiming that I was officially a Keenager.

It was a wonderful evening and I really do appreciate your thoughtfulness. As I said Sunday evening, I’m grateful that “church family” is not just a cliché but is an accurate and true expression of our life together. Rheadon and I are blessed to have had the privilege of raising our children in the church we grew up in. You are our family and we love you very much.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
God Is Good (5/10/2010)
Do you remember when the Rich Young Ruler approached Jesus about the means to eternal life? He asked, “Good teacher what must I do to be saved?” Jesus answered him, “Why do you call me good? There is only one who is good.” Too often I’ve brushed right past that. There is only one who is good. I’d have to add to that the fact that He is always good. I know that. I mean I accept it intellectually. I affirm it as a doctrinal statement. It is my confession. But is it a living truth. Is it a truth that works itself out in my daily life? In times of heartache and trial, in the midst of trouble and strife am I still confessing, “He is good?”

It is one thing to confession the goodness of God when all is well and quite another to still be making that confession when all hell breaks loose. It’s easy to confess the goodness of God when everything is to my liking but what about when I don’t get my way? What about when dreams are crushed and my hopes go unfulfilled? He is still good and I need to continue to profess that He is good.

I came across a Puritan prayer making this confession. It has become my prayer and I hope it becomes yours: “Thou art all my good in times of peace, my only support in days of trouble, my one sufficiency when life shall end. Help me to see how good thy will is in all, and even when it crosses mine teach me to be pleased with it…”

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Sunday is Mother’s Day (5/3/2010)
Sunday is Mother’s Day and our minds will become photo albums filled with precious memories. Some of those memories are in color others are in black and white. A crowded kitchen or dinning room overflowing with children and grandchildren, mom running back and forth refusing to sit down until she is satisfied that everyone has what they need, may need, or could possibly ever want!

There are pictures of a tired, battle-worn mom asleep in the chair in the wee hours of the morning cradling a sick child. There is that picture of mom fighting back the tears because that child, who just yesterday colored the wall with that permanent marker and ate out of the dog’s bowl, is today walking down the aisle to be joined in marriage to another. For others the scene is a family gathered about a graveside, bidding farewell to the one who brought them into the world. Our minds will be filled with memories with stories of tragedy and triumph and our hearts will be full. The common thread running through them all is mom.

While I think it is a bit overstated, I understand the sentiments of the evangelist Billy Sunday. Sunday said, “Give a boy a godly mother and any old stick will due for a dad.” It would be hard to “overestimate” the influence that mothers have had on the history of the world. Don’t forget to take time to tell mom you love her. Gifts are nice. Flowers are appreciated. But let’s face it…you’re what she really wants. A little time, some appreciation, a hug that’s priceless.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
“Blessings in Disguise” (4/25/2010)
I was reading in my devotions and came across this quote, “Look back on all the way the LORD your God has led you. Do you not see it dotted with ten thousand blessings in disguise?” Blessings in disguise, that’s a good way to put it. Those times when God providentially nudged you in this direction or that. The times you didn’t get the job you knew was “perfect” for you. That house that was “just what you needed” or the school you had your heart set on. When I looked back over my life and consider the path I’ve taken I am amazed because I never would have chosen it if given the chance! Yet the people along the way who have most impacted my life and who, to this day, are some of my dearest friends are there because of those “blessings in disguise.” Those unexpected turns, those disappointing second or third choices that put me in the right place at the right time.

I wouldn’t take anything for the life I’ve lived and the places I have served. When I look back I’m not left wondering where I would be or what I’d being doing if not for “fate.” I’m left standing in awe of a loving God who providentially works all things for His glory and my good. I’m left with profound gratitude for a God too loving to let me have my way. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t always enjoyed it or appreciated it. Too often I was ticked. But time and distance have shown me the grace and mercy of God and the wisdom of His ways. My prayer is that, as I grow older, I will be less prone to argue and complain and more willing to rejoice and praise. How is that working? Some better but a long way to go. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Senior Adult Sunday (4/19/2010)
What a great day Sunday! This past Sunday was Senior Adult Sunday. A day we set aside to recognize and honor our senior members. I commented Sunday that many do not want to embrace that title unless they are standing at a cash register, “Did you get my senior discount?” The Bible says, “The silver-haired head is a crown of glory.” We are to honor those who live long and well. We are blessed to have a large number of senior adults as part of our church family. Their years of faithful service and devotion are a rich blessing to us. Their example of faith and commitment serve as a constant reminder of why we need the church. I say again, “Thank you senior adults. Thank you for your love and faithfulness. Thank you for your continued faithfulness and your prayers.”

I also want to express my appreciation to Ed and Betty Roseborough and their service as leaders of our Keenager ministry. Thank you for all of your planning and coordinating. Thank you for caring for our senior members. Ed and Betty have been serving Trinity for quite awhile. How long? Well let me put it this way. They used to lead the youth choir and now those former youth choir members qualify as Keenagers! I’m not going to say anything about Ed and Betty’s age but…

Thanks to all of you for a great day Sunday. Also thanks to Buck Clayton and Nancy Morgan for sharing their testimonies during the morning worship. I look forward to seeing all of you this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
What a Week! (4/5/2010)
Praise the Lord for a great weekend! Thanks to Tina Downing who did an outstanding job organizing and overseeing our Easter-Eggstravaganza. We had an army of volunteers to handle the crowd of nearly 300 who attended this event. Thanks to all or you who worked to make this a great success. And wasn’t it a joy to see the worship center full on Sunday morning? We had a great crowd in worship as we celebrated the resurrection of our Lord.

The whole week was a wonderful experience. I will always remember Easter 2010. That’s the week I became a total “idiot.” I knew it was going to happen, I just didn’t expect it to happen so suddenly and dramatically. The minute she was born I changed. Within hours I was assaulting people with pictures. I had become one of “those people.” I have never been a picture person. I was always complaining about Rheadon and her camera. “What are you doing? Just leave it alone. Let’s go.” Now I’m saying, “Oh, did you get a picture of that? Oh, look at this one. No, it’s not the same picture her eyebrow is raised in this one.” It’s embarrassing…but not enough to make me stop. I’m embracing my role – get used to it it’s only going to get worse.
Thanks to all of you for your love, support and prayers. By the way, is it just me or was she the best-looking person in worship this past Sunday? Okay I’ll stop.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Busy Week? (3/22/2010)
Wow, what a weekend! Can you believe it – 70 degrees on Friday, sleet and snow Saturday and Sunday! I was in Springfield, Missouri last week for the National Homeschool Basketball Tournament and made the 5-hour drive from Springfield to Tulsa Saturday afternoon into the evening (it normally takes just under 3 hours). I’ve spent this morning trying to dig out from under all the stuff that accumulated on my desk while I was gone and anticipating the week ahead. This could prove a busy week. Our granddaughter is due this Saturday. I’m hoping she cooperates and comes at a decent hour but who knows with that Sasser/Choate blood in her she could be something of a problem. Oh, who am I kidding we all know she’s going to be perfect.

I do want to remind you of a couple of things. Don’t forget the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. Your gifts to this offering enable us to take the gospel to North America. Through your faithful giving we have missionaries serving throughout the U.S. and Canada. Your gifts have helped make our Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Organization the third largest disaster relief work in the country. In many cases our disaster relief workers are feeding and providing the meals for the Read Cross in addition to our own work. Your gift to Annie Armstrong is a great investment in Kingdom work.

I also want to remind you of the Easter Egg-Stravaganza coming up on April 3. This is our gift to the community. We need lots of volunteers and there are still plastic eggs to be filled with candy. If you can help with this event see Tina Downing.

I look forward to seeing you and your family as we gather for worship and celebration this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Prayer for Tulsa County (3/1/2010)
I want to encourage you, if you can, to attend the Second Annual Prayer and Fasting Convocation for Tulsa County. This is a meeting for churches across Tulsa County for the purpose of prayer. We will be praying for a fresh movement of the Spirit of God in our churches and across our nation. We will also be praying for revival here and around the world.

As a part of the meeting we’ll be hearing a report from some brothers about what God is doing in Pakistan. The meeting is this Friday and Saturday, March 5 & 6 at Carbondale Assembly of God. Carbondale is located at 2335 W. 51st. Friday’s meeting begins at 7:00 pm and will conclude at 9:00 pm. Saturday is from 9:00 am to noon. I hope to see you there.

I also want to encourage you to begin praying about what you can give to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. 50% of the North American Mission Board’s funding comes from this offering. Your gifts help with planting churches, providing Disaster Relief and reaching North American for Christ.
I hope to see you and your family as we gather for worship and celebration this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
The Year to Come (1/5/2010)
How many times have you written the wrong year so far? It happens to me every year. I’m usually a week or two into the New Year by the time I consistently demonstrate that I know what year it is. We ended 2009 on a positive note despite the bad weather. Financially we ended the year with a healthy balance. We are within $17,000 of being debt free and we exceeded our Lottie Moon goal of $7,000! Keep in mind that in August we faced a shortfall for the first time in years. God is gracious.

Looking ahead to 2010 we are hoping to payoff our debt by March freeing up funds for some needed repairs. In addition we hope to put renewed efforts into our Sunday School and outreach. We hope to strengthen our ties with Clinton Middle School and engage in more aggressive community outreach. As we look ahead we want to keep in mind that our goal is to assist individuals in discovering life in Christ; in developing a vibrant, living faith; and in discerning their unique mission within the body of Christ.

Join me in praying that 2010 will be a great year here at Trinity. I look forward to seeing you this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
A Christmas Confession (12/21/2009)
Christmas? Are you kidding? What happened to Labor Day? I was told this would happen I just didn’t think it would happen this soon. The other day I was looking for the coaster I keep on my desk here in the office. I looked all over the desk. I moved papers and books and looked behind file folders – it was gone. I moved my drink three times while looking for the coaster before I realized my drink was sitting in the coaster! Okay maybe age has something to do with that but it was mostly because I was busy, had a lot on my mind, and I was trying to finish up a project.

My point is busyness can cause you to lose focus. Busyness can make you miss the obvious. Too often that happens this time of year. There are things to do, people to see, programs to attend and parties to go to and before long Christmas is over and you never saw it. You remember singing the carols and the kids were so cute when they sang but you missed it. The family got together presents were opened, you ate too much but it is all a blur.

Can I let you in on a little secret? Often the one who is most guilty is the one telling you that you need to be careful. The one who too often looks back on their Christmas celebration with regret -is the pastor. “How are we doing on the offering?” “Is everything ready for the service?” “What about Christmas Eve?” “Did I get by to see everyone?” “I’ve got to be ready the 1st of January with that…” and so it goes. Another Christmas is in the book, every item is checked off, now what about next year? My point is not to gain sympathy or to claim that I have it any worse than any of you but rather to say we both struggle to keep priorities right.
Pray for me as I pray for you – that we both have a peaceful and focused Christmas. Merry Christmas and I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Thinking About God’s Love (11/30/2009)
I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately, the love of God. Thanksgiving and Christmas always turns my attention towards God’s love. He had every right to condemn and destroy the creation in response to Adam’s sin. The rules were, “The soul that sins dies.” That’s pretty simple and straightforward. It doesn’t require a rulebook, a team of referees or instant replay. You sin, you do anything that is contrary to God’s command or is in violation of His holiness – you die, game over. But God chose to love. More than that He chose to be wild and extravagant with His love.

Years ago I read a book on the parables by Lloyd Ogilvie entitled The Autobiography of God. Ogilvie’s point was that the parables where a way for God to say to us, “This is who I am.” His chapter of the “Lost Son” from Luke 15 was The Prodigal God. I thought that was a strange title until I discovered the term “prodigal” means wild or extravagant. Webster’s dictionary has it, “recklessly spendthrift.” It means to spend until there is nothing left. That is what God has done for us in Christ. That is the wonder of the Gospel. As we enter the Christmas season I hope that you will take time to reflect on God’s wild extravagant love for us. Imagine God so loved hopeless rebels like you and me that He gave His best – His one and only Son. He stood in your place. He bore your burden. He paid for your sin. Not because you begged Him to. Not because you deserved it. Not because you were caught up in a circumstance not of your making. He did it because He chose to love you. He made that choice when you were at your worst, a sinner rightly deserving His eternal wrath. That’s good news. That’s the Gospel. That’s the story of Christmas.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
The Week Ahead (10/19/2009)
There are just a couple of things I want to do with this space this week. First I want to take a moment and say, “Happy Birthday” to Sylvia Vowell. Sylvia turned 96 on Tuesday. Sylvia, we love and appreciate you and we want you to know that we miss you and we pray that you will be able to worship with us again soon. Thank you for your faithfulness to the church through the years. Thank you for your smiling face and your continued encouragement. God bless you Sylvia and we pray healing, strength and peace for you.

Second, I wan to remind you Trunk ‘r Treat is just around the corner. Thanks to Tina Downing, Elaine Hill, Robin Haynes and Lessie Hill for all their work in getting ready for the big night. Don’t forget we still need lots of candy and we need YOU to come and decorate your car and hand out candy. There will be prizes for the best decorated car, best kid’s costume, best adult costume and a pumpkin carving contest. There may ever be another surprise or two. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to give a gift to our community. Saturday October 31 from 6:30-8:30 pm in the west parking lot.

I hope you’ll join us for worship on Sundays. Sunday mornings we will be working our way through the book of Romans and on Sunday evening we are looking at questions. Questions related to the Christian life. This past Sunday we ask the question, “Is there such a thing as a carnal Christian?” Join us on Sunday evening as we continue to ask and answer important questions. Don’t forget this Sunday morning, October 25, we will be observing the Lord’s Supper in our service.

I’ll see you this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
A Confession (9/21/2009)
It seems that regularly I’m reminded of just how weak, stubborn and sinful we can be. By “we” I mean, we, the fallen children of Adam. The older I get and the longer I walk with Christ the more aware I am of my own failings. I find it increasingly difficult to be critical of others. My own black heart too often astounds me. I have every reason to rejoice and be grateful due to God’s abundant blessing. Yet I am prone to discouragement, disappointment and rebellion. Oh I manage to hide it – after all I could lose my job! I manage to keep things in check not because I have no desire but because I fear the consequences of being caught. Why is that?

I so readily identify with Robert Robinson who wrote,
“Let Thy grace, Lord, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee:
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.”
Why is that? How is it that one who has been brought from death to life, who has been the recipient of God’s profound blessing could be prone to wander? Prone to leave? It’s because I’m in the process of being made holy – I’m not there yet. I’m a fallen man, living in a fallen world, who is stumbling towards holiness. That’s one of the reasons why I so desperately need the church. I can’t make it alone…and God never intended me to. When Christ saved me, He made me part of a body, a family, the church. As we learn to live the faith together we spur one another on to love and good deeds. We support, encourage and pray for one another so that together we might obtain the prize.

There are those who avoid the church because it is full of hypocrites and sinners. Well I’m one sinner who’s grateful for the company!
I’ll see you Sunday as we seek to walk together for the glory of God and the good of His church.

Rod
One Day Report (8/31/2009)
It was a great success! Thanks to all who worked to make our OneDay Training a special event. Thanks to all who provided snacks and those who served as greeters and hosts. A special thanks to Rheadon for coordinating all the snacks and making sure there was plenty to eat in each of the areas. I have heard nothing but positive response from all participating. It is time now for all of our classes to begin thinking about their mission project. Sometime in September or October we are looking to implement mission projects throughout our community as we seek to take the love of God and the gospel beyond our walls.

We are also at the official end of summer. Next Monday is Labor Day and then means we can say goodbye to summer and begin settling into the fall. I almost said, “fall routine” but I trust this will not be a routine fall – hopefully it will be a new beginning. I want to encourage you to get involved in a Bible Study class and begin investing your life in the lives of others. It is in the small group that you will find relationship to help you live out the truth you are learning. It is by interacting with others you learn to apply the true. There is no substitute for that personal interaction enjoyed in a small group setting.

I hope to see you and your family as we gather this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Good News/Bad News (8/3/2009)
Let me take just a minute to brag on you. On Monday, July 27, our budget and finance committee met to review the first six months of 2009. At that meeting we discovered that you had given over $200,000! In addition 23% of that had gone to mission causes through the Cooperative Program, Lottie Moon, Annie Armstrong and two special mission offerings. In addition to our mission giving we were able to handle a new roof over the worship center at a cost of $25,000 and a few other maintenance projects. You have also given over $36,000 to Catch the Vision. That means we are half way to our $72,000 to be debt free! Thank you for your faithfulness. Your generosity is greatly appreciated and stands as a testimony to your love for Christ, His church and the work of the Gospel. That is the good news.

We also discovered that the downturn in attendance, the economy and the special offerings have taken their toll on our general fund. Our budget calls for $6,100 a week. In July our income was at $4,800 a week. This means that we are looking at a negative balance at the beginning of August. We do have emergency funds available so we are cautious rather than in a panic. We will be watching things closely through August and into the fall. We are prepared to make adjustments as needed so that we remain faithful stewards of what has been entrusted to us. I just wanted you to know where we are financially.

While there is concern I am far more encouraged than discouraged. I believe there is great cause for rejoicing. We’ve taken care of our responsibilities and given $37,049.58 to mission causes within the first six months of 2009. God is good. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Lord’s Supper & Camp (7/19/2009)
I just want to remind you that we will be observing the Lord’s Table this Sunday, July 26, during morning worship. While we do not believe that saving grace is received through the elements it would be wrong to consider the Supper a “mere” symbol. It is a wonderful, unique and holy time when the church gathers around the table. In addition when we celebrate the table the whole service revolves around it. I trust you will be present as we together declare God’s glory through the bread and the cup.

In addition let me remind you that the youth will be leaving for camp Monday morning. That means we need you to have your food here by Sunday evening! We appreciate all of you who signed up and gave money to help feed our crew all week. You generosity helps us keep the cost down and enables more of our youth to attend camp.

Please continue to pray for our nominating committee and our committee on committees as they do their work for the coming year. I look forward to seeing you and your family as we gather for worship and celebration this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
A Couple of Prayer Requests (7/6/2009)
Let me take just a moment this week to ask you to pray about a couple of things. I’ve sent information to our Nominating Committee and our Committee on Committees to begin their work for the coming church year (September 2009 – August 2010). The Nominating Committee recruits teachers and officers while the Committee on Committees fills the various committee openings. I’m asking you to pray with them as they seek God’s leadership. In addition I’m asking you to pray about where you fit in. Where are you serving? We have openings for teaching positions and some crucial areas of service. We also have key committee positions to fill. Would you like to serve? We will find a place for you to serve. The fact is you have been blessed and gifted by God to serve and we need you. We are not interested in “sticking” you somewhere. We want you to serve where God has called you. We want you to know the joy of being where God wants you to be doing what He has gifted you to do.

The second thing I would like for you to pray about is our structure. We continue to struggle with our Sunday School. We’ve experienced a major drop in attendance and interest. In addition we’ve not had anyone to serve as Sunday School Director for a couple of years now. Is it time to rethink and possibly retool our small group Bible study? Do we need to change our approach? Is it time to look at what is offered and when it is offered? These are important questions and questions worth exploring. Join with me in praying for God’s leadership and wisdom in address this critical need in our fellowship.

In the meantime I look forward to seeing you this coming Lord’s Day as we gather to worship and celebrate our life together in Christ.

Rod
Thank You! (6/22/2009)
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am so grateful for the faithful workers and the dedicated servants who made Vacation Bible School a great success. From those who corralled kids during recreation to those who taught the lessons, those who led the mission time and those who worked in the kitchen. I’d put our team up against any team in the convention! A special word of thanks goes to our youth who were faithful to come and work night after night. Then on Saturday they worked hard all day raising money for their mission trip to Kentucky. Of course I want to thank you, our church family, for your faithfulness in praying and making everything possible through your giving. We are indeed blessed.

Don’t forget our youth leave this Saturday, June 27, for Kentucky. Pray for safety in their travel and God’s grace and strength for the work they will be doing. I look forward to seeing you and your family as we gather for worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Reminders (6/15/2009)
At this writing we’ve just completed our first night of VBS and I’m surveying the damage. I’m kidding we had a great night! I appreciate all the folks from both Trinity and Carbondale who are working to make this week a success. I do want to remind you that we’ll be having our family night on Friday (June 19). Then on Saturday will be the youth car wash and garage sale. As you know our youth are heading to Kentucky the end of this month to work in two of the poorest counties in Kentucky. They will be working with some construction projects and also doing VBS. Pray for the kids and their leaders as they share the message of the gospel through word and deed the last of June and the first of July. I also want to remind you that we’ll not be having evening services this week (June 21) due to Father’s Day – enjoy time with your family.

While we are grateful we did not continue in decline this past month financially (we received more than we spent) we are beginning to feel the financial crunch. Pray for our budget and finance committee as they keep watch and develop a strategy for the rest of the year. Of course this is also my subtle reminder that our needs continue during the summer months when so many will be away for vacations and much needed rest.

I look forward to seeing you and your family as we gather for worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Summer Schedule (6/8/2009)
I thought the summer months was a time for relaxation and refreshment. I thought it was a time for “kicking back” and enjoying things. I’m going to have to work! I asked for questions or passages and you came through with some great suggestions. Now I’ve got to get to work. I’ve spent the last week trying to organize them so that I could begin to work my way through them for the summer. I’m still working on it but here is what I’ve got planned for the next few weeks on Sunday morning (keep in mind this is subject to change).

June
14 – The Rich Man & Lazarus Luke 16
21 – The Prodigal Son Luke 15
28 – Philippians 2:1-18
July
5 – John 14:1-7
12 – Israel & The Church
19 – Christ & His Sheep
26 – Psalm 23
August
2 – Millennial Questions
9 – What Happens After Death?
16 – The Reality of Hell
23 – The Problem of Evil

I have other issues that have been submitted that I’ll be working in on Sunday evening as I can. Thank you for your interest and your suggests. We will also be using a more relaxed schedule and format for Sunday evening through the summer. We are also planning some fellowships for Sunday evening. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
A Couple of Things (6/1/2009)
I want to take this week’s column to address a couple a things. One is that we are facing some economic challenges as a church. The economy is “catching up” with us. We have experienced a drop in income over the last few months while cost have remained at a higher level. We’ve had some roof repairs and other maintenance issues that we had to address. While we have not had to dip into our contingency fund we are operating on the margin. I bring this up because we have some major expenses coming this summer that will add to our already stressed financial standing. Vacation Bible School begins on June 14. This is a major expense as we seek to reach beyond our walls and touch the community. We have a youth mission trip planned for the end of June. We know that the trip will cost approximately $5000. That money will have to be raised as the money budgeted is just not there. Children’s Camp comes right on the heels of that followed by Youth Camp the end of July. In addition utility costs are higher during the summer months and offerings are typically down as people go on vacation and take weekend trips. I do not tell you this to try and “fleece” you or guilt you for taking time off. I simply want you to be aware so that you can pray as we trust God to supply our needs through the summer months.

I also hope to gently remind you that our financial needs continue even when you are away. I also want to assure you that our budget and finance committee is monitoring both our income and our expenses and if needs be we will make the necessary adjustments. As always our commitment is to be faithful stewards of what the Lord entrusts to us.

On a related note some have asked about the projector system we talked about some months back. For those who are not aware, a gift was given at the end of last year or the first of this year for the purchase of a projector system for the worship center. We’ve been working on getting bids and making sure we spend this money wisely. We’ve made the decision and the system will be installed sometime in this summer. I want to emphasize that no general fund moneys will be used for this project. This comes from a single gift given for this purpose months ago.

Great things are coming this summer! Let’s pray that this is our best summer yet. I see you as we gather for worship this Sunday.

Rod
Summer is Here (5/21/2009)
Summer is here. Can you believe it? Where did spring go? Of course summer means that VBS is just around the corner as is the youth mission trip, children’s camp and youth camp will be here before you know it! That means things will get busy around here real quick. It also means that we’ll be spending a bunch of money over the next couple of months. I’m telling you this because we’ve been losing ground financially over the last few months. We’ve had repairs and upgrades and in the process our general fund has gone from a balance of $25,000 in January to $6000 at the end of April. It is critical over the next few weeks that we hold spending as much as possible and that we maintain giving to replenish funds. I know that summer is busy with travel, vacations and weekends at the lake and with family but don’t forget the financial needs of your church in the process.

In last week’s Messenger I mentioned the “Summer Favorites” series, to date I’ve just received one request! There is still plenty of time to get those in and I’m hoping that I’ll see several in the next few days.

I look forward to seeing you and your family as we gather for worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Summer Favorites (5/17/2009)
I had a thought Sunday (you know they say the first one always hurts). I was approached by a member who asked me to preach a sermon from a certain text. It was one of his favorites and he asked if I would preach a sermon from that text. The thought was this, “What if I asked for others? What if I planned my preaching this summer around ‘favorite texts’ or texts that folks had questions about?” I’m game, how about you? Here is the way it will work: You need to submit a text to me in writing. I say “in writing” because I have no confidence in my memory! The series I began Sunday morning runs through the end of May. I’ll start preaching from the suggested texts in June. I can’t promise to cover everyone’s but I’ll try to honor every request. I’ll also try to publish ahead of time what the next text will be. Now give me a chance, let’s not play “stump the preacher.” I’m looking forward to seeing how “Summer Favorites” comes out.

I also want to remind you that we’ll not be having an evening service this Sunday (May 25) due to Memorial Day Weekend. I hope that you’ll have a wonderful time with friends and family. I’ll see you and your family as we gather for worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Coming Up (5/11/2009)
Can you believe we are almost at the end of another school year? I know, the kids can believe it. It has been so long. Parents are thinking, “Where did the time go?” Of course around here we know that means things are about to get busy. This Sunday, May 17, we will be hosting the Vespers Service for Webster’s Class of 2009. The service will be at 2:00 p.m. In a few weeks Vacation Bible School will kick off followed by a youth mission trip and before you know it youth camp! That means there are exciting opportunities ahead. We are going to be asking for volunteers and prayer commitments and an offering or two. This is such a wonderful time to invest in the lives of our children and youth but it also means that we will have a great deal of expense in a short amount of time. Please keep this in mind as you remain faithful in your regular giving and as you have opportunity to give to some special offerings.

Don’t forget that Sunday morning our children’s choir will be participating in our morning worship service. It is always great to see the children help lead in worship. I hope to see you and your family in Bible study and worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Thanks Pop (5/4/2009)
I was prepared for it and yet I wasn’t. I knew that James was right, “Life is a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes” but I wasn’t prepared for the emotion I felt. Dad had been sick for so long. During his last week we knew he was in great pain. His death was a blessing and a sweet release but when it came I was a boy again. I thought of his strong hands; his confident, assertive ways; his laughter, his love of life; his determined will and I wondered, “What am I to do now?” I’ve never drawn a breath but that dad was here, now he is gone what will that mean? As a kid I never had a worry because I knew my dad could handle anything. Even through his health problems it never occurred to me he could be afraid or uncertain. He always embraced life, never backed down from a challenge and faced each obstacle with faith and courage. Life would be different from this point on. I was glad he had gone home to glory. I rejoiced in his joining the land of the living with Christ his Savior. I knew mom and dad were together again. I thought of all our family gathered in a great reunion and I experienced peace.

I’ve been thinking since Thursday about what my father taught me. He tried to teach me about cars and their maintenance…it didn’t take. He tried to teach me to love mincemeat, I refused! However, he did teach me the love of God the Father by the way he loved me. He taught me that love is unconditional and yet firm. He taught me that love cares enough to instruct, correct and rebuke. He taught me that real love makes sacrifices. He taught me to love the Scripture as he read and studied his Bible daily. He taught me to love the music of the church through his belting out the hymns Sunday after Sunday. He taught me relationship through his lifetime friends. He taught me respect, dignity and responsibility by the way he lived. I thought about another verse from James, “Every good and perfect gifts comes down from the Father above.” Thank you Father and thank you pop.

Rod
Thanks! (4/27/2009)
We had a great day Sunday! Thanks to Ed and Betty and their work and planning for Keenager Sunday. I know everyone had a great time Friday night and I really enjoyed the testimonies Sunday morning. What a blessing to see so many people who have been a part of this church for years. It is rare thing in today’s world to find people committed to one church for a lifetime. In a culture that constantly pursues the “best deal” or seeks out the latest fad, long-term commitment is rare. In a world of “church shoppers” it is nice to be surrounded by “squatters!” I like the fact that on Sunday morning I know who’s missing by which seats are empty. Fellowship is rich and meaningful when you grow old together. Our church, like all families, has its problems and squabbles but at the end of the day we are family and you can’t put a price on that.

Let me just add a personal word. I appreciate all the prayers on concern for my dad and our family. Things turned for the worse on Thursday, April 23, and progressively worsened over the weekend. There are several things wrong and the bottom line is we are seeking to make him as comfortable as possible. As of this morning (Monday April 27) he is stable and they will move him back to the VA this morning under hospice care. We appreciate your prayers as we spend our last days together this side of glory.

I love and appreciate you all. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Thank You! (4/13/2009)
Praise the Lord for a great weekend! It began with our Tenebrae service on Friday night. We had a great crowd and the choir did a wonderful job. Thank you Jim and choir. Saturday was our first attempt with an egg hunt/outreach. We were overwhelmed with the response. We saw a lot of new faces and we saw some of them again on Sunday morning! Of course Sunday morning was wonderful with a full house gathered in celebration of the resurrection. Again I want to thank all those who worked so hard to make the weekend special.

Now we turn our attention to Senior Adult Sunday on April 26th. We will be recognizing our senior adults in the morning worship there will be a lunch following the service and then a special concert Sunday night with The Messengers. Mark your calendar now because you will not want to miss all the activities on the 26th.

Don’t forget to pray for Bobby Smith and the other members of the Singing Churchmen as they left this week for this ministry tour. Pray for their safety and pray that God will use them mightily for the sake of the Gospel. I hope to see you and your family as we gather this coming Lord’s Day and resume our study of the book of Galatians on Sunday morning. I’ll see you Sunday!

Rod
This Week (4/6/2009)
Herbert Lockyer called it “the week that changed the world.” It was the climax of God’s redemptive plan. Jesus the Lamb of God, without spot or blemish, gave His life as payment for our rebellion. This week we remember the Passion of our Lord. We reflect on the price He paid that we might live. I trust you’ll take some time this week to reflect and give thanks. I hope that you will set aside some time to consider the wonder of His grace. Salvation is not owed to any of us. That God would chose to save even one sinner is evidence of His kindness and mercy. Though He is not obligated to save He has chosen to save a great, unnumbered host. A people from every tribe, nation, kindred and tongue all to the praise of His glorious grace.

Our celebration begins with a special service on Good Friday. We’ll meet at 7:00 p.m. to observe the Table of the Lord and then be led through the Passion by our Celebration Singers. You won’t want to miss this special Tenebrae service. It will be a service of hymn texts and scripture accompanied by beautiful music. On Saturday we’ll have a community egg hunt with games and fun for the family and then we’ll meet in celebration on Resurrection Sunday! I hope that you will be part of the whole weekend.

I look forward to seeing you and your family as we gather this weekend. And remember, “He is risen! He is risen indeed!”

Rod
Coming Events (3/30/2009)
What snow? Can you believe this weather? Only in Oklahoma can you have that heavy snow on Saturday and it is all but gone by Sunday evening. Well, I know that the snow had a “chilling” effect on attendance Sunday morning (sorry I couldn’t resist) but we had a hearty group for worship Sunday morning including some visitors from other churches! As I said Sunday morning, “Look around. It isn’t often you get a chance to see just who’s going to heaven!” We decided to postpone our observance of the Lord’s Supper until sometime in April or May. And if you are interested you can find Sunday’s message online with all the other messages at www.tbctulsa.org. I want to remind you of a couple of things.

First is the community Easter Egg hunt on Saturday, April 11. This is a big undertaking and will require all of us working together. We will have activities for kids preschool – 5th grade. We have volunteers taking care of food and organizing activities we need you to supply plastic eggs. How many? As many as you can carry. We need hundreds of plastic eggs filled with candy (the kind that doesn’t melt). And we’ll need to have them here by Wednesday April 8. Please, please help us make sure we have plenty on hand. This is a big outreach to the community and we don’t want to come up short.

Second I want to encourage you join us for all the activities Easter weekend. We’ll begin with a special service on Good Friday. We’ll meet at 7:00 p.m. for a special service. We’ll observe the Lord’s Table and then the choir will lead us through the Passion of our Lord in a special candlelight service. This will take the place of our Sunday evening worship for that weekend. Come gather with us on Friday evening and then finish with us on Sunday morning! I’m looking forward to it. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Coming Up (3/23/2009)
I had a great time last week. It was nice to get away for a few days, spend time with Zac and watch some pretty good basketball. No, I didn’t go to the NCAA I went to the National Christian Homeschool Basketball Tournament in Springfield, MO. 344 teams from across the country met for a week of basketball played in 30 different gyms throughout Springfield. You can go to all the games you want, no admission is charged and you can watch everything from elementary through high school both boys and girls. I got my fix for the year in one dose!

Now it is back to work. We have our Mission Banquet this week (March 27). On Sunday morning March 29 we will be observing the Lord’s Table in our morning worship. Then Easter is just around the corner. Let me emphasize a couple of things about Easter. First our outreach team is working on an egg hunt for the community. We need you to supply as many plastic eggs filled with candy as possible. This is a huge undertaking for us and time is short. Maybe your class or department could take it on as a project. We need “hundreds” of eggs. The candy needs to be the kind that will not melt! There will be games, food, prizes and lots of fun. For more information contact Keith Cannon.

Second, we are having a very special service on Good Friday, April 10 at 7:00 p.m. In this service we will celebrate the Lord’s Table and the choir will present a Tenebrae service. This service will recreate the betrayal, abandonment, and the agony of the events leading up to and including the cross. I hope that you will come as we gather in remembrance of our Lord’s dying for His people. Come and join us as we enter into His suffering in anticipation of His resurrection. I can promise you if you will join with us on Friday, Sunday will have new meaning. Join us in the Shadow of Sacrifice on Good Friday followed by the joy of Resurrection Sunday. I’ll see you this coming Lord’s Day as we gather in joyful celebration of our new life in Christ.

Rod
Worth Thinking About (3/2/2009)
Sunday evening was a great time as we heard from Steve Harden and his plans/dreams for The Connection, a new church to be planted in South Tulsa. This is the first time Trinity has been hands-on, directly involved in beginning a new work. Steve, along with his wife Shelley, and two daughters Amy and Molly are in the process of getting moved to Tulsa from Ponca City. We along with Bethel Baptist Church in Owasso are joining with Steve in this new work. In time applications will be made with the BGCO and the Tulsa Metro Baptist Network for funding but that will come as things begin to materialize. For now we are praying, studying and laying the groundwork. As Steve shared last night we need to pray for their house in Ponca to sell. We need to pray as they look for a home here and scout out places for the new church to meet. A few families have already been identified to help form this new congregation. However the goal of The Connection from the outset is to reach “unreached” or unchurched people. As Steve told us last night on any given Sunday only 20% of Tulsans are attending a church service. That means 4 out of 5 are not attending a church of any kind. As we pray for this new work why not pray for a “rebirth” for ourselves?

Why not pray that we would begin to look at our neighborhoods, schools and workplaces from a new perspective? Why not pray that God would renew our passion, our longing to see our family, friends, coworkers and neighbors come to know Christ? Why not pray that we might begin to think differently about what we are doing? It is worth thinking about. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Catch the Vision 2009 (2/23/2009)
In just a two weeks we will be making our commitments to Catch the Vision for 2009. We’ve come a long way in just 7 years. We had hoped to pay off our debt within 5 years. That didn’t happen but here is what we have accomplished:

In 7 years we have gone from $560,000.00 to just $70,000.00 in debt.
We have increased our budget each year.
We have increased our mission giving.
We are now helping a struggling sister church on a monthly basis.
We are investing in a new church start.
We have handled some major renovations.
We’ve done significant roof repairs.
We are completing a new playground.
We’ve become a major gathering place for the community.

Your faithfulness has made all this possible. The end is clearly in sight. I’m asking that you prayerfully consider what you can do this next year to help eliminate our debt. Our motto for 2009 is “Let’s wrap it up!” This year we are not asking you to sign a pledge card. We are not asking you to fill in an amount. We are asking for a commitment. The commitment simply says, “You can count on me to do my part in wrapping this up.” Together we can do it. As always I only asked that you give as the Lord leads you to give.

I’ll see you and your family as we gather for worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Thinking (2/22/2009)
My head hurts. I’ve been reading for a good while this morning. I’ve been traveling around the Internet reading various blogs discussing things Southern Baptist. There’s been quite a discussion lately about what makes one a “true” Southern Baptist. Much to my surprise I discovered, according to at least one group, that I’m not! That would really bother me if I cared about what they think.

On another thought I was listening to the radio on the way into the office this morning and heard how bad the economy is, about the reduction of the workforce, and the current rate of unemployment…I would be really bothered if I cared about what they think.
The two are not unrelated. We live in fearful times. There is reason for concern about our country, the economy and where we are heading. Within our convention there is legitimate reason for concern over direction and falling numbers. But should we panic? According to some we are on the verge of another Great Depression. Are we? Unemployment is at 7%. In 1932 it was nearly 25%. In fact in most of the leading indicators the depression was double or triple the numbers today. Problem? Yes. Disaster? Not yet. As for our convention we’re in trouble. There are things that concern me. I’m concerned about the narrowing of the parameters of cooperation. I’m concerned about our failure in reaching the younger generation and the increased “graying” of our convention.

But the truth is these are great times in which to minister. Hardships cause us to look to what really matters. Difficulties tend to purge and that’s a good thing. What do you do in the face of national crisis? How do we respond to denominational worries? We remain on task. We remain faithful to our call to live and preach the Gospel. Our goal is to hear the Master says, “Well done good and faithful servant.” Oh, and in case you’re interested…I do care what He thinks! I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Bibles and DVDs for Armenia (2/9/2009)
As you know we voted to send Bobby Smith to Armenia and Israel with the Singing Churchmen of Oklahoma. I just received, in the last week, information about a project they are working on. Our IMB missionaries in Armenia have asked us to help supply Bibles and DVD copies of the Jesus film for distribution in connect with the concerts. This is a wonderful opportunity to present the gospel to the Armenian people in their own language. Cost of the Bibles and DVDs is $1.00 each. We’ve only got a brief amount of time all moneys must be into the BGCO by March 1st. That just gives us a couple of weeks. But I did want you to have an opportunity to give to this cause. Make sure you mark your envelope “Bibles/DVDs” so that it goes to the right account. If you are not familiar with the Jesus film it is a video presentation of the gospel of Luke. It is very well done and has been used for many years on the mission field as a very effect tool. Just think for a gift of $50.00 you can place the word of God in 50 homes in Armenia. When you consider how many people each of those Bibles/DVDs has the potential of reaching it makes this is a very worthy investment.

I look forward to seeing you and your family as we gather for worship and celebration this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
2009 Chili Challenge (2/2/2009)
Congratulations to our winners in the annual Chili Bowl Challenge. We had thirteen people enter their favorite chili and after intense scrutiny by our “expert” panel of judges four rose to the top. We had a tie for third place between Isaac Hatcher and Rheadon Harris. Second place went to Daelyn Downing. Andrew Dix emerged as the 2009 Chili Grand Champion. We had a great time of fellowship around the tables and great food…and I think there was even some kind of game on the big screen. I guess congratulations are in order for Tina Downing, who seemed the lone Steeler fan (wearing Big Ben’s number 7). Cardinal fans were riding high having taken the lead with just over two minutes remaining. But it takes a lot to overcome a 60-year championship drought. One Cardinal fan, taking a final look at the screen and then peering down at his “I participated in the chili challenge” certificate mumbled, “Nothing like coming to church and being demoralized all the way around.”

We had a great time thanks to everyone who worked to make it a great evening. Thanks to Rheadon for handling things in the kitchen and keeping things organized. Thanks to Jim Narrin for setting up the screen and projector. Thank you to all those who help clean up the kitchen and put things away. For all those who were “demoralized” by the outcome (both the game and the chili challenge) – I’m sure it rings hollow but “there’s always next year!”
I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
A Little Housekeeping (1/12/2009)
Sunday morning we began a study of Paul’s letter to the churches of Galatia. I hope you will join us over the next few weeks as we walk through this important New Testament book. Paul’s message is one of freedom and grace. He warns of those who would “enslave” us to a system of rules and rituals and calls us to a joyous freedom in Christ. Sunday evenings we will return to our study of the prophecy of Jeremiah.

We have a lot going on as we gear up following the holidays. We are in the process of finishing up our special offering for Bobby Smith and his trip with the Singing Churchmen to Israel and Armenia in April. In addition our mission/ministries teams are in the process of some new projects. Our ministry team is currently collecting coats for the Allan Davis Ministry Center. Our mission education teams is looking at adding a page to our website and providing missions information through our Sunday School. Our outreach team will be meeting this Sunday to prepare for the next few months. Good things are happening and please join in praying that we will continue to find ways to take the gospel beyond our walls to our community.

Let me also remind you that we have a desperate need for nursery help on Wednesday evenings. We need nursery help from 6:30-8:30 pm to help during the various Bible studies and for choir rehearsal. If you can help please let Jerry Scott know.
I hope to see you and your family as we gather for worship and celebration this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Looking Ahead in 2009 (1/5/2009)
The dust is finally settling as we finish up the holidays and head into 2009. Our schedule has been off for a few weeks now but as of this week we are back to our normal schedule. Hopefully things will begin to pick up this coming Lord’s Day. Both Sunday School and worship attendance have been down through the last of December and into the first Sunday in January but I’m confident this will turn around. We raised our Lottie Moon goal this year and exceeded it before Christmas! We also ended the year on a good note financially with some significant gifts at the end of the year.

Pray for our mission teams as we plan for 2009. Pray that we aggressively seek ways to make Christ known in our community, state, nation and the world. I know that through our Sunday School classes we will be giving you information about one of our missionaries so that we can all more effectively pray for those who labor far from home. In addition we’ll be doing some projects locally and perhaps put together a mission trip. I also want to encourage you to prayerfully seek to live and speak the gospel where you live and work. Understand that you are a missionary. You are Christ’s representative. As we all settle into our routine following the holidays let’s not allow things to become “routine.”

I look forward to seeing you and your family as we gather for Bible study and worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Whose Birthday Is It Anyway? (12/1/2008)
“It’s beginning to look a lot like…” oh excuse me I was just getting in the mood. Can you believe Christmas is almost here? I love much of what goes on at Christmas time. I enjoy the parties, the programs and family getting together. I love the music (both the sacred and the secular). I look forward to “It’s a Wonderful Life”, “White Christmas” and the other Christmas classics. There is even a soft spot in my heart for those misfit toys and who doesn’t tear up when they see Charlie Brown’s pathetic little tree? While I enjoy all of that it is critical that we not lose sight of the true significance of the season. To celebrate and stand in wonder of a God who so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son. Christmas is about celebrating the advent of our Savior, the coming of our Redeemer. Too often He is the last one considered during the season other than a token mention in the annual program.

One of the best was to remember Him is to give to the Lottie Moon Offering. Each year we give to the Lottie Moon Offering for International Missions. This is one of the ways we support our 5000 missionaries around the world. This is one of the ways we help take the Gospel to our world. As you plan your giving this year – have you included the Savior? I know a lot of families who are “drawing names” this year. “Things have just gotten too expensive. We can’t buy for everyone. Let’s just draw names.” But does anyone draw His name? Just whose birthday is it anyway? Our goal this year is $6000.00. What will you be giving? It’s worth thinking about. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
It is Official (11/17/2008)
Well, it is official. We are empty nesters. This past Saturday we married off the last of our three children. Of course we’ve had some time to adjust Ben bought a house and moved out back in July but Saturday was official. Our baby (sorry Ben) has started a family of his own. There is that part of us that is proud of the way our children have turned out. We can be proud that all of our children have grown into responsible adults. Each is actively involved in the Church. They are doing well in their jobs and we never tire of hearing their employers tell us what fine people they are. Rheadon and I have much to be thankful for. God has been gracious and we are blessed beyond measure. Of course the other side of the coin is – what do we do now? So much of our life was taken up with soccer practice and games, basketball, football and piano. If we weren’t heading to a practice or game of some sort we were going to a youth activity. It seems we were constantly on the go and honestly – we loved every minute of it! Now it is just the two of us after 25 years.

During premarital counseling I tell every couple, “Don’t stop dating just because you are getting married.” I explain that their first loyalty and priority is to their spouse. I also tell them that when children come along that does not change. It turns out that’s pretty good advice. As much fun as I have had with our children (and still do), as much as I enjoyed all the ball games and activities I still enjoy time with Rheadon the most. She is my best friend and my one love. I’m fairly certain she feels the same. I hope to make the most of that over the next couple of years because I might lose her when grandkids start showing up!

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Another One Bites the Dust (11/9/2008)
I wonder how many times I’ve said it? When talking with someone about witnessing or telling others the good news about Christ – “Let me so how I can explain this…let me see if I can simplify it…” When you hear that it is a pretty good indicator that the one saying it is trying desperately to come up with a logical sounding excuse. At least that is what I think from person experience. When I’m grasping for a way to put something it is generally I’m trying not to make myself look bad. I’ve been reading a lot lately about missions and evangelism. I’ve read approaches by various authors who approach the subject from different positions. Each author argues that his particular view is the best or the most effective. Through my reading I’ve come to this conclusion: It is not as complicated as we make it.

Of course if my conclusion is correct I’ve let myself very little wiggle room. I can’t come back and say, “Well life is different today. We have to take into account methods once popular are no longer effective. People have built up an immunity in our part of the country having heard the gospel all their lives.” I can’t say, “The only way we can be effective today is to…(you fill in the blank).” The bottom line is people are reach with the gospel today the same as always – God uses flawed, broken, ineffective witnesses, like you and me, to tell others His story. I’ve concluded it really is that simple. My caring enough to live and speak the gospel before my family, neighbors, coworkers and the people I rub elbows with every day. I wish it were more complicated than that. I love hiding in complications. At this rate I’m going to be out of excuses! And that is probably best.
It was just on my mind so I thought I’d share it.

Rod
It Was on My Mind (10/27/2008)
Well in a few days it will be over. On Tuesday, November 4 we vote. That means we can put aside all the partisanship, the rancor, and the mudslinging and get on with life…NOT! Unfortunately the above has become a way of life. It use to be that we had a presidential election every 4 years. It seems now we have a presidential election all the time. People are already predicting who will be running and who is the frontrunner for 2012. Sound bites and photo-ops are far more important than substance and positions. If you don’t believe that just listen to people talk about why they are going to vote as they are. Democrats and Republicans will continue to “dig in” and “hunker down.” Independents and Libertarians will continue the call for a viable 3rd party. And so it will ever be as long as we put our trust in “kings and horses.”

Don’t misunderstand me I have strong opinions. I’m not indifferent as to who is elected. I believe there are right and wrong choices. I think there are wise and foolish choices. I know that the decisions we make on Tuesday will profoundly affect our lives in the years to come for good or evil. Therefore we ought to pray and allow our faith to inform our vote. It is our right as citizens and our God-given responsibility as the people of God to let our voice be heard. And it is our duty beginning Wednesday morning to pray for those who have been put in authority over us. At the end of the day my peace comes from the fact that the hearts of the kings are in the hand of our God. All I know is after listening to endless promises from candidates and the dire prophecies of pundits I still sleep well when I lay may head down on the doctrine of God’s sovereignty.

That’s what was on my mind this morning. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Just Thinking (10/13/2008)
Every day I grow increasingly excited about the upcoming election. No it is not that I can’t wait to vote or that I’m excited about future prospects – I’m just ready for the campaign to be over! I get so tired of the rhetoric. The promises, which cannot possibly be kept; the incessant name-calling and mudslinging; and the constant blaming of everything on the other guy are just wearisome. As a public speaking major in college I remember studying the presidential election of 1876. The Democrats had the election won until Robert Green Ingersoll hit the campaign trail on behalf of Rutherford B. Hayes. Hayes was a master of “bloody oratory.” He knew how to whip a crowd into a frenzy and exploit their emotion. In his campaign speeches he blamed everything on the Democratic Party from burning asylums in the north to killing orphans and even the smallpox epidemic. Hayes won the election in one of the closest races in American history. Truth did not matter. Reason was not important. All that mattered was get our guy in office.

I guess it is true, “the more things change the more they stay the same.” Watching and listening to the adds over the last few weeks it seems that both local and national leaders like to portray themselves as saviors. Both Republicans and Democrats single-handedly save the day. With everyone standing alone and accomplishing so much it’s no wonder so little actually gets done. And amazingly everyone saves the day and no one is to blame! My grandfather used to say, “If it sounds too good to be true…you can be sure it isn’t true.” My advice for the upcoming election? Pray and seek God’s guidance in how you ought to vote. Be informed and vote your convictions and your values. But remember there is only one Savior…and He’s not up for reelection. It’s just 3 weeks until Election Day – THANK GOD. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
A Lesson From Nerdville (9/28/2008)
I often find myself in a conversation where I’m really behind the times. People are talking a language I do not understand. Oh, they’re speaking English (at least I think they are) but I don’t understand what they are talking about. They’re talking about “blogging” and “Facebook” and “My Space.” Just the other day one of my friends said to another, “Yeah I’ve been blogging for a few years. I enjoy blogging but my new thing is to twitter.” They looked at me and I “knowingly” nodded approval though I had no idea what they were talking about!

While I was inwardly gratified that I was not a nerd, another part of me really wished I could join in the conversation. It made me think about the way I often discuss issues of faith. How often do I use language that “insiders” know well but the uninitiated haven’t a clue? How often have I caused those who do not know the language of Zion to feel excluded and unwanted? What I often assume is a lack of interested may be a lack of understanding. In fact what I take as hostility may be frustration. It just might be they would love to join in the conversation but pretty much shut them out of the conversation by throwing up a language barrier.

I’m not suggesting that we gut the faith of all religious language. There are great terms that must be retained. But we must be careful to draw others into the conversation and then teach them the wonder and the depth of the language of Zion. It’s just something I learned the other day when traveling through Nerdville.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Rambling (9/22/2008)
It seems that daily I’m reminded that things have changed. I’m approaching the age when things quite working like they used to. I’m finding I can’t eat some of the foods that I’ve always loved. Oh, I can it them but they are not as enjoyable they don’t “set well” if you know what I mean! I occasionally drive around the old neighborhood and it has changed. I realize that part of what I’m remembering is in idealized version of what once was. But I remember freshly mowed lawns and neighbors actually out in their yards talking to one another. As a kid I knew everyone on the block and they knew me. Which was great unless of course I’d done something wrong. When they happened by the time I got home mom had received 6 or 7 calls and she was waiting on me.

Even so I miss those days. I guess what I miss most is that sense of “community.” That sense of belonging to something bigger than myself. Today we are individuals existing in the same space. With our hectic lifestyles we don’t have time for neighbors or getting to actually know that person I wave at pulling in or out of my driveway. There is a lot to be said for a “simpler” life. A life less cluttered with business and more open to “wasting time” just laughing with a neighbor or talking about the mundane routine of life together. Of course a simpler life is not an easier life. In fact it is really quite a bit of work. I’m not sure I’m up to that. I’d have to make some conscience choices. I’d have to change some things…change? That going to add another dimension. Maybe I’ll just be satisfied with my memories. I mean why invest so much time, energy and effort into getting to know my neighbors? It’s not like I owe them anything…He sure has a way of throwing a wrench into my thinking! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 22:37-40.
I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
I Demand A Recount! (9/15/2008)
I can’t believe I didn’t win anything. I chose Avery to help me by drawing names and she didn’t draw mine? Something is not right about that. But I’m not bitter. I’m just going to let it go. I do want to congratulate those who did win. Congratulations to Jerry Deason, Samuel Hoyt, Judy Ryan, Rose Pilon, Adina Hill and Betty Jones I hope you enjoy spending my, excuse me, your gift certificates. We had a great time in fellowship around the tables Sunday evening that thanks to those who brought ice cream and those who made cookies and brownies. Some have suggested we do that every Sunday night. If we do we’ll have to vary the menu, ice cream every week? Though it would be one way to “grow” the congregation. But I’m not sure increasing pant size is considered church growth!

Don’t forget Sunday Sunshine following the morning service this Sunday. Senior Adults – bring a salad or dessert sandwich fixings will be provided. The cost $1.50, $2.00 per person. It will be a great time especially if you are part of it.

I hope to see you and your family this coming Lord’s Day for Bible Study at 9:30 and then worship at 10:50 as we continue our study of the book of Revelation. Don’t forget Sunday evening as we continue our walk through Jeremiah. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Something to Think About (9/8/2008)
What does it take to be an effective evangelist? I don’t mean that in the “big hair, traveling sideshow” sense but in the living my faith day by day sense. How do I become effective in sharing Christ with a lost world? It is not nearly as complicated as we want to make it. You don’t have to be a “high pressure” salesman or a “Bible scholar.” You just need to be you! As you seek to live out your faith rubbing elbows with and running into your neighbors, coworkers and folks around town – live your faith. And when given the opportunity speak your faith.

Don’t compartmentalize your faith. Don’t put it in a separate category; make it the center of your life. So that speaking about your life in Christ and your commitment to His church comes as naturally as speaking about any other part of your life. No one has to goad you into talking about your children or grandchildren. You don’t have to be “guilted” into talking about the Sooners or “the big one that got away.” You naturally talk about what matters to you. The better we understand the Gospel the easier it is to share. When you really do understand that you are a sinner and that the only hope you have of life eternal and life abundant is God’s incredible grace. Once that really gets hold of you – talking about it is easy.

When a beggar finds bread he doesn’t mind telling other beggars where to find it. As one “messed up” human being to another I know where you can find help. What’s so hard about that? It’s worth thinking about. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Just Some Thoughts (8/24/2008)
At the writing of this column I find myself at an interesting point. I’m sitting at my desk reflecting on the events of the last 24 hours. It is Sunday afternoon and in a few minutes I’ll be heading to the worship center for the evening service. What makes this time interesting is the bittersweet moment I’m experiencing. Two fellow servants – one a mentor who guided me through my first two years of pasturing; the other a co-laborer with whom I’ve shared ministry over the last 10-12 years. Dr. Tom Owens, director of Missions for the Cimarron Baptist Association went to be with the Lord Saturday afternoon. Tom walked me through my first wedding, first funeral, first baptism and first Lord’s Supper service. His office door at First Baptist Pawnee was always open to me. I spent countless hours sitting and talking with Tom. His wisdom, sense of humor and kindness has continued to shape my ministry. I’ll miss Tom but I’m greatly encouraged by the fact he made it “home” for worship Sunday.

I learned just a few minutes ago my friend Tom Woodson, pastor of Keystone Hills Baptist Church also went to be with the Lord yesterday. Tom was just 47 years old and following a massive stroke on Thursday died Saturday evening about 11:45 pm. Tom and I served together on several committees for Tulsa Association and on the Board of Directors of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. Tom’s death shocks me. Partly because it was so sudden and unexpected (I was not aware of any health issues with Tom); and partly because he was my age. I grieve for Tom’s wife and children. I don’t understand why his life would end so suddenly and why such suffering for his family. When I said in the sermon this morning that, “there are times when we cannot see God’s hand and thus we must trust His heart” I wasn’t expecting to have to practice that myself this afternoon! But it is true. And I find great comfort in knowing God can be trust and my friends are both home this evening.

Rod
Thank You! (8/18/2008)
Wow, thank you for the very generous love offering Sunday evening! It is hard to believe it’s been 17 years. I know many of you have told me it seems so much longer. To have the opportunity to watch our children grow up in the same church we did; to baptize them in the same baptistery and see them stand on the same platform at their wedding ceremony is a privilege very few pastors enjoy. To see them shaped and molded by many of the same teachers and leaders that played such a vital role in our lives is a great joy. Rheadon and I want you to know how much we love and appreciate you as our family. You are a great blessing to us and we pray, that by God’s grace, we are a blessing to you. Thank you for the privilege of serving with you.

On Sunday, August 10, we had a missions meeting. This was a meeting for any and all who are interested in the mission goals, programs and education of our fellowship. We had a great response to this first meeting and as a result we had several suggestions made. John Taylor and I have meet and categorized the suggestions and have developed an overall framework. We will be meeting again on Sunday, August 24, at 4:30 pm. Again this is an open meeting. You are urged to attend if you want to serve or if you just want to know what is going on.
At this point we are looking at three teams: evangelism/outreach; mission education; and service ministries and projects. We will divide people up according to interest and allow them to develop each area as they fill led. We are excited about the future and where this will lead. I want to encourage you to join our team as we seek to spread the name and fame of our God here and around the world. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Odds ‘n Ends (8/11/2008)
It is hard to believe school has started. I’m left wondering, “Where did the summer go?” It is time to refocus our energies as we gear up for the coming church year that runs from September – August. We still have some needs in our staffing for the coming year. There has been some reorganization, the convention has changed some of the literature, but we are in fairly good shape with a few weeks to go. I would ask you to be in prayer as we seek to fill the few remaining spots and as we seek an answer to our nursery woes. We’ve gone with an all-volunteer force in the nursery for several years but we have some significant needs on Sunday morning during Sunday School and on Wednesday evening. Please pray for our nominating committee and our personnel committee as we seek to address these needs.

We had a great response Sunday evening for our missions meeting. Pray as we put our team together and begin working through the suggestions received Sunday and develop a mission strategy to guide us as we seek to spread the name and fame of our God in the days to come. Our goal is to educate, inspire and provide “hands on” experience in mission work locally, nationally and internationally. Pray for us as we seek to put our vision into action. Of course there is always room for you to join us! If you were unable to attend the meeting but want to be a part call the church office and let Katrenia know.

On a personal note, I appreciate the kind words and the good response to our Sunday morning study of Revelation. I would ask your prayers as we continue to walk through this important book together. I look forward to seeing you and your family as we gather this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Mission Meeting This Week (8/4/2008)
“You will be my witnesses.” When our Lord spoke these words it was not in the form of a question. It was not an invitation. He did not say, “Would you like, sometime, to tell someone about me?” He said, “You will be my witnesses.” And you will be witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and the uttermost part of the earth. God’s Mission is at the heart of who we are as the people of God. It is central to our life together as Southern Baptist. Being “on mission” is not an option for us. It is a matter of obedience or disobedience. Through the years we’ve been involved in missions locally, statewide, nationally and internationally as we’ve given to various offerings and individuals have gone on mission trips. It is time for us to take the next step.

It is time for us to put together a comprehensive plan/strategy for mission involvement. That’s why we are having a meeting Sunday evening, August 10th at 5:00 P.M. for anyone interested in missions. I want us to get together in one place and pray and dream about have we become involved, “hands on,” with missions. I would like for us to get to the point that we are intentionally involved locally, nationally and internationally. We do not have to reinvent the wheel. The structure is already in place through our association, state and national convention. We also have sister churches with established relationships with mission projects who would welcome our support. I hope that you will be a part of the meeting Sunday as we begin the process of looking beyond our walls and actively seek ways we can impact our world with the Gospel of Christ. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Thinking During the Sermon? (7/27/2008)
“But it looked good on paper.” Have you ever been in a situation where that was your response to something that didn’t go according to plan? I was thinking about that a lot this past Sunday (Not I’m not referring to the mix-up in the service with the offering/special music). I mean I thought about it while teaching the Sunday School lesson and then during both messages. I guess I should let you know that – contrary to common perception I actually do “think” during the message! During Sunday School I thought about that debate during the Jerusalem Council. These were genuine brothers in Christ hammering out a serious doctrinal matter (the nature of the Gospel itself was at stake). Both sides were passionate and convinced they were right. It is one thing to “go to war” with an enemy – it is something else to do battle with a brother. It’s easy on paper to stand for truth…it is something else to look a brother in the eye and say, “You’re destroying the Gospel.”

During the morning message I couldn’t help but think, “It is easy to stand in this pulpit and boldly declare the truth. But what if the doors were to burst open and I was called upon to change my message or forfeit my life?” It looks good on paper but I have to wonder if my courage would fail. Sunday evening I wondered if I could have said to those who threatened my life, “My life is in your hands, do with me what you consider to be good and right.” Do I really believe in the Sovereignty of God or not? It looks good on paper but…

As I’ve reflected on it this evening I’ve come to this conclusion – it’s not a bad thing to think during a message! And it is great to be part of a family that will challenge and encourage you in your walk of faith. We as disciples of Christ are called to live out our faith together. To spur one another on to good works and to encourage one another all the more as the Day of the Lord approaches.

It’s worth giving it some thought. I see you this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Was that “evangelistic” golf balls or goof balls? (7/22/2008)
It’s more than a little embarrassing. I was listening to a program on the internet a while back and they were talking about a new book called “Rapture Ready! Adventures in the Parallel Universe of Christian Pop Culture.” The book is written by a Jewish man who is a freelance author who writes for The New Yorker Magazine as well as other publications. He spent a year traveling around the country interviewing people and taking a look at the church from an outsider’s perspective. Amazingly he was not overly critical! He actually had some positive things to say. But some of what he reported was well…disturbing.

Yes there were the ridiculously silly things that we sometimes refer to as “Jesus Junk” that one finds in too many “Christian” bookstores but more disturbing to me was the attitude or mindset that drives the whole Christian subculture. He talked about an ad that he saw for “Christian” golf balls. These were golf balls with a Christian message printed on them. One pastor said, “It was the best golf evangelistic tool he had seen.” I of course wondered how many golf evangelistic tools there were! What disturbs me is not that someone might use a gold ball with a Bible verse on it – I’m just curious about the idea of it being an effective witnessing tool when someone finds it in the weeds or at the bottom of a pond. I guess what really bothers me is that I could see how I would be much more willing to use that method than to walk across the street and talk to my neighbor. That might involve me sharing my life with them…could get messy. Maybe I’ll just give them a “testamint” fresh breath is important.

The problem with all this silliness is that we cheapen the Gospel in the process. Why should they take our message seriously when we present it in such a way? It’s worth thinking about. See you Sunday.

Rod
A Good Kind of Hurt (7/14/2008)
I had a conversation with a friend last week. He is a pastor from another denomination. One very different from ours in some respects but nonetheless a brother in Christ whom I love greatly. We had not seen each other in awhile so I made a point to go by and see him and we sat in his office and had a great visit. We talked about the church in general, about family, about our churches in particular. It was nice. We were not trying to solve the problems of the church or the world. We just talked. I did notice something after I left. I noticed that I did not have to fight or resist the urge to “defend” my turf. I didn’t need to explain why certain things were as they are, justify what we do or argue for why we don’t do certain things. My first thought was of how great it was to have a friend who did not judge me or gaze at me with a critical eye. Just a friend who loves and accepts me as I am. But then I realized that while that was true – that wasn’t really it.

I think it has more to do with me and my views. Views that are changing due, in no small part, to our study of Revelation on Sunday mornings. I’m seeing the church differently. The church is not an enterprise to be marketed or a cause to be defended. Nor is it an idea to be championed. The church is a body to be loved, cherished, and nurtured. The church is a group of flawed individuals covenanted together clinging to the grace of God and seeking to live out their faith together. As such the church is not perfect. There are often inconsistencies and we usually say more than we live. While we must seek to correct one another and spur one another on to love and good deeds – that’s not to be done in anger or with an air of superiority. It is to be done in humility through tears.

I guess one of the things I’m learning is that the church is worth weeping over. If I’ve learned nothing else it’s pretty clear the Lord of the church will not be patient forever with His church. He says things like, “I will remove your lamp stand” or “I will come and war against you.” He expects repentance and faithfulness. Now when I notice things that are not “right” in the church (meaning the church at large) I no longer get angry, I hurt. My heart breaks. But I have to admit…it hurts pretty good! Maybe I’m starting to resemble my Father.

I’m going to be gone this Sunday, July 20th. Vance Wiley will be preaching in my place but I’ll be back on the 27th. I’ll see you then.

Rod
It’s Worth Thinking About (7/7/2008)
I don’t know if you spend much time reading blogs (if you don’t know what that is – don’t worry about it) but I read a few. I blog is a web-based journal of sorts. People write their thoughts for the world to read and comment upon. Sometimes the most interesting part is to read the comments and witness the give and take going on in response to a written piece. Among Southern Baptist bloggers there is a great debate about the Southern Baptist Convention and its future. Does it have a future? Will it look anything like what it does now? Why are we connected in the first place? How connected ought we to be? A related discussion has to do with what it means to live out the Gospel in our cultural context. How should we respond to the culture? Where is the line that marks compromise with the world? All seem to agree we should be “missional.” That is we are to be on mission and bring a missionary mindset to the task of evangelism.

To be missional is to recognize that American culture has changed in recent years and it is no longer the “Christian-conditioned” culture of the past. A few years ago American culture was dominated by a Judeo-Christian worldview. That is no longer the case. We have become an increasingly secular culture driven by a secular agenda and shaped by a secular worldview. That means some things have to change if we are to reach the people of this new culture. The trick is we must do this without changing our message or compromising the truth. So while some things must change others must not change. I must admit at this juncture I have more questions than answers. I’m still wading through the issues but let me share some things I’m certain have not and must not change.

As we seek to reach our culture we must view all men as people for whom Christ died. We must be eager to take the Gospel to people of every economic level, every ethnic group and every lifestyle. We must not view any group as “outside” the love of God. Second, we must believe that God has a people in every nation on earth. People from every tribe, nation, kindred and tongue will gather with us before the Father’s throne. Then it is essential that we understand that our confidence in reaching the culture and transforming lives lies in the Gospel itself and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. It is not our intelligence, wisdom or powers of persuasion but rather the power of God.

It’s worth thinking about. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
“Making the Bible Relevant?” (6/23/2008)
I read an article recently that talked of the need to “make the Bible relevant.” The author was concerned that sagging attendance, the drop in baptisms and overall decline within our denomination was the result of “irrelevant” preaching. We need to speak to the practical needs of people. We need to address people where they live. I applaud the intent of the writer. I agree that we must address the real needs of people but I don’t know of any better means than the faithful teaching/preaching of the Word of God. I don’t know of any better way to speak to the hearts, minds and wills of people than to expound upon the Word of God and allow the Spirit to convict and convince. I’m of the opinion that the Bible is already relevant. It doesn’t need me or anyone else to make it relevant.

As I’m working my way through Jeremiah on Sunday evenings and Revelation on Sunday morning I’m finding it very relevant! It seems to me it speaks directly to our culture and to the church. The words of the Lord of the Church to the seven churches of Revelation seem to address our pluralistic culture head on. His word to the church fighting to be heard in an antagonistic culture seems spot on to me. Jeremiah’s burden for a “church” that has grown comfortable and set in its ways is at times too close for comfort.

I think the best way to be relevant is to allow the Word of God to speak for itself. As you seek to hear a meaningful and relevant word – I’ll do my best to stay out of the way and allow God to speak for Himself. I hope to see you Sunday.

Rod
Remember. Repent. Return. (6/15/2008)
Some things are just easier than others. There are messages I love to preach. There are passages that are personal favorites and I love to expound upon them. Then there are those texts that are, without question, true and from the Lord which are hard to hear and I can assure you even harder to declare. This past Sunday was one of those. As I spent last week pouring over the letter to the church at Ephesus I found my heart increasingly burdened. It seemed too familiar to me. Its truth hit too close to home. Like the church at Ephesus, I believe there is much to rejoice in concerning our fellowship. We have much to be grateful for. But I could not escape the feeling that like Ephesus we have abandoned the love we had at the first.

Some of that is reflected in the declining numbers for Sunday School. Some of it is reflected in lack of workers to staff the classes we have. Mostly I think it is seen in the fact that we are…well…comfortable. We know what we believe. We are confident in our beliefs. We refuse to compromise, we have no trouble standing our ground, we call error, error but our passion has cooled. Don’t misunderstand me. By passion I don’t mean we jump up and down, wave our arms, stomp and shout. Enthusiasm is not necessarily passion. I also don’t mean we need to cry, turn red or crank up the volume to say we really mean this. Passion is demonstrated by commitment, sacrifice and devotion. Passion is seen in the radiance that comes across your face when you speak God’s truth. Passion is reflected in the fact you tear up when you witness a baptism, hear a testimony or glimpse of the wonder of new found faith.

My purpose Sunday was certainly not to guilt anyone into anything. I don’t want anyone to teach a class or serve on a committee or be involved because they are driven by guilt. I hope your response will be what mine has been. I’m not angry. I don’t feel guilty. But my heart is broken. I want what “ought to be.” I long to be passionate about my faith, my Savior, and my church. The way home is simple. Simple but not easy. Remember. Repent. Return. It’s a start. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
“Saviour” this Sunday (6/9/2008)
It’s one of those things – when it is good it is very good but when it is bad…it can be very bad. Music has the ability to lift you to the highest heaven and engage your heart, mind and soul in worship. It can also make you think you’re…well…that you’ve gone the other direction! I can assure you that Sunday evening will be a wonderful experience. Our Celebration Singers along with guest soloists will perform Saviour a wonderful oratorio telling the story of redemption. I trust that you will be present and bring some folks with you. There will also be having a church-wide fellowship following.

It’s that time again. Our Nominating Committee and Committee on Committees will be seeking to fill our needs for the coming year. If you are not currently serving let us know of your interest we would love to put you to work. There are all kinds of needs. Often folks think in terms of teaching or leading some ministry but there are needs for helping with funeral dinners; serving as hostess for fellowships and receptions; if you have a desire to serve in any capacity we will find a place for you! Let me lay out some of the most pressing needs at this time. We have a great need in the bed babies during the Sunday School hour and on Wednesday evenings. We have needs in the preschool Sunday School in the 2 and 3 year-olds. We have the need of a Sunday School Director. If you have skills in organization and scheduling I would love to talk with you about outreach and visitation. There are “out front” and “behind the scene” opportunities. Would you considering joining our team?

I hope to see you and your family this coming Lord’s Day for Bible Study at 9:30 AM and then for worship as we continue our study of the book of Revelation.

Rod
Put It On Your Calendar (5/26/2008)
Sunday evening, June 15, is going to be a wonderful night of praise and worship. Our own “Celebration Singers” along with guest singers from First Baptist Church Tulsa, and a number of guest soloist will be performing Saviour. Saviour traces the Son of God from creation, through the fall to His coming to redeem a people for God’s glory. It is a wonderful piece of music telling a glorious story. Joining our excellent choir will be soloists Mike Davis (son of Jim), Jeff Elkins (minister of music FBC Tulsa), Robert Winn (from Santa Fe, New Mexico), Sue Wilson and our own Todd Cochran. It is going to be a wonderful evening. Bring family and friends and enjoy a night of praise.

Also on June 15 we will be observing Parent Dedication during the morning service. If you’ve had a child since our last dedication and you would like to participate please call the church office and talk to Katrenia. Oh, and that day also happens to be Father’s Day.

I hope to see you and your family in Bible Study and worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
It Was On My Mind (5/22/2008)
I’m not fond of doctors. I don’t like that appointment every four months. He keeps harping on the same things! I keep trying to get my doctor to look on the positive side of things. For instance – I keep telling him, “Round is a shape. I’m in ‘shape’ just not the one you’re looking for.” He doesn’t buy it. But then that is his job – to make we look at what I don’t want to look at. I’ve been thinking a lot last night and this morning about our church. I find myself this morning with mixed emotions.

There is much that I’m happy about and grateful for. I’m grateful to be part of such a loving church family. I’m thankful that we are a praying people. I am amazed at your generosity and your willingness to help others. I’m thankful that our church is known throughout our community for its involvement in community activities and projects. I love the fact that the building is slow emptying on Sunday after services. People linger, visit and laugh together. There is so much I’m grateful to God for and yet there is another side.

I’m concerned about a lack of aggressive evangelism and outreach. I’m concerned that there are areas of service unfilled. We have critical needs in our nursery during Sunday School and on Wednesday evening. If not corrected we’ll no longer be able to have nursery during Sunday School or on Wednesdays. What will that say to families – both those visiting and those who are members? We have a critical need for teachers in the children and preschool. I was looking over reports this morning of our Sunday School over the last 5 years. Did you know the highest percentage of attendance for a single month over the last 5 years is 12% of the total enrollment?

I guess what I’ve noticed is that it is a mixed bag when thinking about church. There is good and there is bad; things that are great and things that are not so great. We have some things worth celebrating. And we’ve got some things over which to repent. Now the question is how should I/we respond? First and foremost we must pray. We pray that the Lord of the Harvest will supply workers. We must fill the needs in nursery, preschool and children. That is an immediate need that cannot wait. And we must pray about long-term goals and structure. Taking an honest look at where we are and where we need to be. That will not be easy and may be painful but it is necessary for our health as a church.

I just wanted to share this with you because it was on my heart this morning. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Thinking About Mom (5/4/2008)
Sunday is Mother’s Day. That was always a special day around our house when I was growing up. Dad would always go out in the yard a cut rose buds for us three boys to wear to church on that Sunday. Mom always got a fancy corsage and was treated like a queen on that day. Why we would even let her rest for a few minutes after dinner before she did the dishes, cleaned the kitchen, manage a load of laundry and got supper together before we headed back to church that evening. Oh I know that was really spoiling her…but she deserved it! Mom went home 8 years ago this summer and I still haven’t adjusted. I only wish I had known how blessed I was with the mother I had. It was the only life I had ever known. I thought every boy went home to find a mom with a snack ready and a desire to know what went on at school that day. I thought every mom was convinced that their child was the best and brightest. And didn’t every mom sacrifice for her children and determine to move heaven and earth for their benefit?

It was only later I learned just how blest I was. When God created mothers I think He had her in mind. My mom was a kind, loving and gracious soul who passionately loved and was devoted to her children. While not perfect and having her faults I would not trade my mom for anyone. In my book she stands unrivaled except by one woman…the mother of my children.

Rheadon is an extraordinary woman who has brought grace and dignity to our home. Without question she is the heart and soul of our family. She is the most caring person I’ve ever known. Her acts of kindness and compassion are beyond measure. She has for 28 years made our house a home. She is a marvelous mother and has been preparing, for years now, to be a grandmother. For years she has been buying baby clothes, toys and books, “These are for the grandkids room.” “What grandkids?” “In time.” She is special. I’m thinking about letting her put her feet up for a few minutes Sunday afternoon. It might be nice. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Keenager Sunday (4/28/2008)
I hope that you are planning to be with us this coming Lord’s Day as we celebrate Keenager Sunday. We are having as our special guest Joe Howard. Joe served as pastor of Trinity from May of 1985 to January of 1988. Joe was a great encouragement to me in my early days of ministry including bringing a van load of deacons and participating in my ordination service. Joe will be bringing the message in the morning service and his wife Peggy will provide special music. A box lunch will follow in fellowship hall. Then on Sunday evening the youth hand bell choir, from the First Baptist Church of Warner, will present a concert. It is going to be a great day I trust you’ll be part of it.

Let me also take this opportunity to inform you of some pressing needs. We have needs in our children and preschool area. If you are interested in serving Christ by ministering to our children please see me or Jerry Scott we would love to talk with you about how you can be involved.

I’m looking forward to seeing you and your family as we gather for worship this Sunday.

Rod
Friendship (4/21/2008)
Last week was an enjoyable week for me. Not just because I had a chance to get away from my routine and hear some great preaching, though that was part of it. By the way great preaching is uplifting and encouraging maybe you can get away soon and hear some instead of what you’re used to hearing! It was enjoyable because of the people I traveled with. Three of the five men I traveled with have been friends of mine for over 20 years. We hold many things in common and we’ve walked together down some dark roads. One of them I walked with through the valley of death as his first wife was dying of cancer. I preached her funeral and sought to comfort him and his children. Another along with his wife was part of a mission team to the Yucatan Peninsula. We labored side by side as we sought to take the gospel from village to village. The other I met when I was his parent’s pastor. Through the years I’ve often preached in his church. These men are dear friends with whom I’ve shared my life.

We laughed. We told stories, by stories I mean things we’ve seen and done not “stories” as in, “he storied (lied) to me.” Okay we did that too. We discussed theology. We argued biblical texts. We sought advice. It reminded me of how important friendships are. Real friendships rooted in the gospel; the kind of friendships that add depth and quality to life. It reminded me of what I have here that I so often take for granted. So let me just say, “Thank you, my friends, for sharing your life with me and making my life so rich and full.”

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Did You Mean It? (4/14/2008)
It’s been one of those mornings. I’ve done about 15 things and yet I haven’t done anything! You know what I mean. I’ve been running around wrapping up some details before leaving town this morning (Monday) for a conference in Louisville. Some much to do; so little time to do it in. Just when I thought I had everything done – my phone rang and I had about 4 other things to do. It figures today would turn out this way. Yesterday was a wonderful Lord’s Day. It was encouraging and uplifting. The only problem was the message Sunday evening on God’s sovereignty. True to form today was a test of whether or not I really believe what I preached the night before. I managed to pass…this time.

It is easy to forget that biblical truth is meant to be lived out in the real world. Things might sound nice in a sermon or in a Bible class but the value of truth is in the living. I don’t always “get it right” but I’m grateful today I was able to see the trial for what it was – an opportunity to prove the grace and goodness of our God. Thank you for punctuating a great day with a not so subtle reminder that your Word is truth.

Have a great week and I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Small Things (4/7/2008)
It was a small thing. You know not the crisis that causes one to reflect on the meaning of life and things eternal – just some little annoyances. But this past weekend was one of those times when things go wrong. My phone quit working, my new glasses weren’t right, I spent thirty minutes taking things off my car so I could get to the battery to do one thing then put it all back together again. It solved the problem for about…30 seconds. Needless to say I was on the verge of “losing my testimony!” About the only thing that didn’t happen was my dog biting me. He did ignore me, but that’s nothing new. The point of my ramblings is that in spite of my frustration (which could have easily morphed into rage), God was still in His Heaven and the world was guided by His providential hand.

Have you noticed how often the truth of God can rain on your pity party? The truth of the Sovereignty of God which has given me great comfort when facing surgery, dealing with the death of a loved one and facing any number of challenges also gives me a swift kick in the pants when I need it. God is still sovereign when my phone doesn’t work. He is still in control when life is annoying and frustrating. As much as I hate to admit it – God is even in control when I get “dumped on.” And ultimately that is the source of my peace.

Nothing comes into my life without passing through the loving, gracious hands of my heavenly Father and it will work for my good and His glory. It’s worth thinking about. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
About Restoration (3/31/2008)
“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” That was Paul’s advice to the believers in Galatia concerning our treatment of those who fall into sin. Two things stand out in my mind when I look at Galatians 6:1-2. The first is that ignoring the sin is not an option. We cannot pretend it did not happen. In fact we are told we must restore the individual. The word Paul used means “to put right.” It is the term used for setting a broken limb. That is a painful but necessary step in healing. We do our brothers and sisters in Christ no favors when we turn a blind eye toward their sin. But I also note this is to be done in a spirit of gentleness. That means to inflict as little pain as necessary. It means we take no delight in the pain we cause.

Two years ago I was asked to serve on a team assisting Tom Shaw with his restoration. As you know Tom fell into sin and as a result lost his pastorate of 30 years causing great harm to himself, his family and our sister church. It has been a long, difficult and painful process. We have walked with Tom holding him accountable, praying with him, questioning him and seeing that he got counseling. He has done all that has been asked of him. He has genuinely repented and demonstrated the fruit of repentance over the past two years. This Sunday evening, April 6th, we are having a restoration service at Red Fork Baptist Church celebrating God’s gracious work in Tom’s life. This is not a service to restore Tom as pastor of Red Fork. This is to celebrate God’s work in Tom’s heart and life. Any future ministry remains in God’s hands.

We will not have an evening service this Sunday to allow any who want to be a part of the service at Red Fork the opportunity to go.

Whether you attend or not, I hope that you will continue to pray for Tom, his family and the good people of Red Fork Baptist as they continue to work through their pain toward a God blessed, and gracious future. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Thoughts on Easter Sunday (3/16/2008)
“He is risen.” “He is risen indeed!” Such was the Easter greeting in the early church as they gathered in celebration on Resurrection Sunday. We know that every Sunday is a celebration of the fact that Christ lives. We refer to Sunday as “The Lord’s Day” in recognition that that day changed everything. Think of all that had happened during that week. A joyful welcome; a shocking act of cleansing in the temple; Jesus’ wisdom silencing the religious scholars; His authority in announcing judgment on Jerusalem and a religious system that moved from life to lifeless ritual; the love of the Christ; the betrayal of Judas; the weakness of Peter; the compassion of the Savior; the horror of the cross; the wonder of the resurrection. It was quite a week.

Sunday people will gather in country chapels and grand cathedrals to worship the risen Christ. The faithful will gather along with the “not so faithful” to sing and tell the old, old story. Pews will be full, the singing will be robust but how many will truly understand the wonder of which they sing? How many will leave the service feeling good about their pilgrimage and the homage paid to the lamb slain but leave having moved no closer to the One who gave His all for them? I can think of nothing more tragic that the empty worship of the Lamb of God. I can think of nothing more heart-rending that to sing the songs, hear the story and not understand it was for you He died. I hope and pray we have a “full house” Sunday. But more than that – I pray that when we gather we will see the Lamb slain for our sin. The Savior raised for our justification. And that we would stand in awe and wonder of the Christ who died and rose again to give us life.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Odds and Ends (3/10/2008)
Praise the Lord for a great day Sunday! I always enjoy being home. After being away last week it was great to worship with my Trinity family. Sunday was Vision Sunday and though attendance was down we had a great response. Thank you for the encouragement of seeing so many come forward and put their pledge in the offering plates. As of Sunday morning we had $41,000 pledge over the next 12 months. That is $41,000 over and above your regular giving. You are a generous people. I know there were other pledges that came in on Sunday evening and some others will come in over the following weeks. Together we will give that the Gospel and the work of the Kingdom will expand.

I’m also grateful that Larry and Doris Powell joined us for worship Sunday. Larry and Doris are Mission Service Corp volunteers for the North American Mission Board and will be our guest for the mission banquet on March 28. I hope that you will join us for the banquet. This will be an opportunity for you to hear about mission projects in and around the Tulsa area as well as across Oklahoma and the nation. I spoke with Larry on Monday morning and we are hoping to have representatives from some of the mission projects here at the banquet. That means you will have a chance that evening to speak directly to the leaders of some of the ministries about how you can begin serving now.

There are wonderful days ahead of us. Wouldn’t it be great to see a large mission force mobilized out of our fellowship in the next few months? I’m looking forward to worshiping with you this coming Lord’s Day. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Vision Sunday (3/5/2008)
Sunday, March 9, is Vision Sunday. That is the day we will turn in our commitment cards for 2008 – 2009. Catch the Vision giving runs from March – February each year as we are seeking to eliminate our debt. We are obligated to the Baptist Foundation for $3982 per month on our loan. That is over and above our monthly expenses. In addition that is on a 15-year note. Our desire is to payoff well before that. Our goal in the beginning was to average $100,000 a year. We are coming in at just over half that amount at the current rate. I know that some of you prefer to give a one-time gift each year. Others like to commit to a monthly gift. Whether your gift is $10,000 or $10 dollars it is greatly appreciated. We do ask you to make a commitment so that we have an idea of what the year will bring. This helps us with budgeting and managing our resources through the year. So I’m asking that you prayerfully consider what you can give this next year and turn that amount in on the 9th as a statement of your commitment. All I ever ask of you is to do what the LORD would have you do, nothing more, nothing less.

Mark your calendar for Friday, March 28, 6:30 P.M. for our Mission Banquet. Larry and Doris Powell, Mission Service Corp volunteers with the North American Mission Board will be our special guests. Larry and Doris will be talking about mission opportunities in and around Tulsa, across Oklahoma and throughout the United States. This will be a great opportunity for you to discover places where you can serve. I’m praying we leave that night with some mission commitments already made! Please mark your calendar and make plans to join us on the 28th.

I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
The Table of the Lord (2/11/2008)
Sunday morning, February 17, will we have a wonderful time of worship and celebration which will include the observance of the Lord’s Supper. The Table of the Lord is one of the two ordinances give to the church, baptism being the other. It is to be a memorial to the work of Christ in redeeming His people. We do not believe that the Table is a “sacrament.” Grace is not dispensed to us in our receiving the elements. We do not believe that the bread becomes the body or the fruit of the vine becomes His blood. Rather we believe they are powerful symbols of His body and blood. It is a picture of what Christ has accomplished it is a symbol of redemption. However we do not believe it is a “mere” symbol. We must be careful that we not under value the Lord’s Table. For that reason we do not tack it on to the end of a service as an afterthought instead it is the focus of the service.

When we gather around the Table it is a holy moment. It is a special and unique experience as we look back and remember and as we look ahead in hope. It is a church ordinance; therefore it is for the church. It is for those who have placed their faith and trust in Christ and in Christ alone for salvation and life. I do believe it is necessary to “fence” the Table in that it is my responsibility to warn, from the Scripture, of the danger of taking the Supper in an “unworthy” manner. When Paul uses this language he is talking about approaching the observance in a flippant or irreverent manner. He is not suggesting there are those who are worthy and others who are unworthy to take the bread and cup. All are unworthy in that sense. None of us deserve Christ. Paul warns that some have approached the observance irreverently and as a result some are sick others have died. It is a serious matter. He further instructs, “Let a man examine his own heart.” I cannot stand at the table and say, “You are okay…you are not.” My judgment is fallible. You may give every appearance that all is well and yet your heart be as black at night. When we come in humility and honesty to lovingly take of the elements it is a glorious thing. But if you approach it from arrogance and flippantly you will be drinking judgment unto yourself.

I bid you come to the Table of the Lord this coming Lord’s Day but advisedly and in the fear of God. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Chili Challenge & Teacher Training (2/4/2008)
What a great time we had Sunday evening with our annual Chili Bowl Challenge! It was a fierce competition with 10 entries. Our panel of expert judges debated, argued and finally reached consensus. The winners were Ashley Darland second runner up; Suzan Hatcher first runner up; and our champion – the team of Kevin Foote Jr., Samuel Hoyt and Robbie Austin. Congratulations to our winners and to all who competed. There were some great soups brought too! We may have to add a category next year. [Note: the winning recipe is printed in this addition of the newsletter.] I also want to thank all those who helped get things organize and those who stayed and cleaned up afterwards.

Teachers, don’t forget the training opportunity beginning this Sunday evening at 4:30. Todd Cochrane will lead a class studying the Seven Laws of the Learner. This will be an excellent class for the seasoned teacher but also those who are interested in teaching but who are unsure of how to go about it or not sure they are up to the task. This 8-week course will help to make you an effective teacher. There is no cost for the class and it will be a wonderful tool to equip you. I hope you will take advantage of this training.

I look forward to seeing you and your family in worship this coming Lord’s day.

Rod
Thoughts from the Table (1/21/2008)
As I’m writing this I’ve just finished my third or fourth call related to illness within our church family. I guess that’s on my mind due to the fact that we have so many who are sick at this time. Some dealing with the flu and or the virus going around; some are in the hospital or just came home; others are facing surgery or dealing with some long-term illness. It is a bit overwhelming and not a little depressing! But there is another reason why it is on my mind. Last night as we came together around the Lord’s Table, I was struck by the thought of the body of Christ. Not his physical body but his body – the church.

I was struck by how much the Scriptures speak of the congregation or the assembly. I thought of how often the Scripture addresses us as a people rather than as individuals. We are connected to one another by design and of necessity. We need one another. The “body” is essential for our spiritual growth and development. We are not to think of ourselves apart from the others who make up this body. Just as I need all the members of my body to function together if I’m going to accomplish whatever task I’m engaged in – we must function together, each fulfilling his or her role. And there are no “unimportant” members. We cannot say to any of the members of our body, “I really don’t need that. It really serves no purpose.” None of us wants or desires paralysis within our physical bodies why would we just accept it within the church? If part of my body shuts down – you can bet I’m going to the doctor and see what’s causing it before it’s too late. So why do we sit back and do nothing while part of our church body shuts down?

I know these are not the normal thoughts accompanying the Lord’s Table, but then you never know where the dinner conversation might lead when the Father comes to the table! I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Silent Lord’s Supper Sunday Night (1/14/2008)
The Lord’s Supper is one of two ordinances given us by our Lord. It is a symbolic remembrance of our Savior’s atoning sacrifice. We believe it is a symbolic act. The Supper is a symbol but not a mere symbol. Please do not read symbol as unimportant or ritual. There is something wonderful and moving about our joining together in the taking the Supper. While we do not believe that grace is dispensed through the bread and cup, we do believe it is an act of worship and thus a life impacting event. On Sunday evening we will be observing a “Silent Lord’s Supper.” This will be an evening of music, prayer, meditation and remembrance. I hope that you will join us for this unique experience. I also want to let you know that we will be observing the Supper again on Sunday morning in late February or Early March.

I look forward to joining you in worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Of Routines and Resolutions (1/7/2008)
I’m not sure but maybe we can get back to normal this week, whatever normal is. The whole month of December seems a blur with the holidays, the ice storm, the canceled services and all that went on. And yet we exceeded our Lottie Moon Goal! We had a goal of $6000 and through the Sunday School hour on January 6th we had $6559. Praise the Lord. Our Wednesday evening schedule gets back to normal this week with dinner at 5:30 pm and all the other activities beginning at 6:30 pm. Kids are back in school, vacations have ended it is time to settle back into routine or is it?

Routines aren’t necessarily bad. They are often quite comfortable. They are familiar, you pretty much know what to expect and you’re seldom surprised. But routines easily become ruts. Ruts are confining and controlling. I’m praying that 2008 will be anything but routine. I’m not much for New Year’s resolutions, mostly because I seldom if ever keep them past a week or two. But what if we were to resolve to do a few things together throughout 2008? Such as:
Resolved: to grow spiritually by spending time daily in prayer and study of the Word of God.
Resolved: to move outside of my comfort zone and take the Gospel to my world. This would include personally sharing our faith and looking at our community as a mission field.
Resolved: to invest my life in others. To build genuine friendships with lost people around me and earn the right to tell them of the hope that is in me.
Resolved: to give myself to Christ through the work of my church.
What difference do you think that would make? Would it break us out of our routine? It’s worth considering. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Thoughts on a New Year (12/31/2007)
Can you believe it? 2008! You know what that means…I graduated from high school 30 years ago. I guess I have to quit saying, “A few years ago when I was in school…” For those of you who are mathematically challenged – yes that means I’ll soon be 48. That means I’m middle-age. I said that to someone the other day who responded, “Yeah, you’re just now middle-age if you’re planning on making it to 96, otherwise you’ve been there for awhile pal.” That was a former friend.

Of course a new year brings with it new challenges and goals. I don’t really do resolutions but there are some things I hope to accomplish (these are in no particular order):
• I hope to convince my doctor that round is a shape.
• I hope to do better with diet and exercise.
• I hope to pay more attention to those around me.
• I hope to demonstrate greater sympathy and compassion.
• I hope to be more vocal in letting others know they are loved and appreciated.
• I hope to be a better husband and father.
• I hope to grow in my knowledge of God and His Word.
• I hope to become more like Christ.
• I hope to be a better preacher and pastor.
• I hope to be a better friend.
• I hope to win the lottery (I’m just kidding on that one).
• I hope to do my part to see that this is the best year in Trinity’s history.
One thing is certain; if I’m to actually do any of these it will demand the grace of God. Setting goals and striving is one thing, but understanding my “fallenness” and need of God’s grace is everything! Here is to a new year full of promise and adventure. Let’s seize it together by God’s grace.

Rod
Random Thoughts (12/18/2007)
Where did it go? It’s official. I’ve finally reached that age. The one where telephone poles go by like fence posts. Christmas is next week? Wasn’t it January 1st just last week? Of course it could have something to do with my memory – it is just not what it used to be. Sometimes I forget what I’m talking about in the middle of…

I know that the last week has been grueling on many of you. I told some folks Sunday, “If I had been alive during those pioneer days, we’d all still be living on the East coast!” I’m such a baby. Of course I never like it when we have to cancel services, no it’s not because I have to hear myself preach, I miss spending time with my church family in worship. In addition I hate when it happens during this time of year because it always takes its toll on Lottie Moon. I want to remind you that the Lottie Moon Offering supplies 50% of the yearly budget for the International Mission Board. And the work of the IMB is increasingly critical in a post-Christian world. Please don’t forget your Christmas Offering. I say that knowing that not one cent of that offering stays here. It doesn’t stay in the state or the U.S. for that matter. It goes directly to our missionaries around the world.

I also want to remind you that we will be having our annual Christmas Eve service Monday night at 10:00 PM. I hope you will bring your family to this beautiful service of music and Scripture as we celebrate the coming of our Lord. Of course I hope to see you and your family when we gather for worship this coming Lord’s Day.

Rod
Just a Thought (12/2/2007)
It’s already starting. Today is the second of December and I just realized I have two “Christmas Parties” this week! I do love this time of year. I love the parties, the movies, television specials and I’ve set my radio dial to the “all Christmas music all the time station.” But, truthfully, I’m just not ready for it yet. In my mind it is still August.

I’m not sure why it is that I’m never ready for Christmas. Everything else seems to be flying by. I’ve reached the age that things are speeding up. Children are no longer children but young adults. Graduation was 30 years ago not 5 years ago. Maybe I’m not ready for Christmas because I’m at the awkward age – my children are grown but there are no grandchildren yet. I’m not sure of the cause of my Christmas blues but I think I know the cure. No, it’s not grandchildren (though if you are reading this and you formerly lived in my house…well I digress) I think the cure is found in a return to a simpler time. A time worthy of reflection and careful thought concerning the wonder of God’s coming to earth. To consider the wonder of his stepping into his creation for the purpose of redeeming a people for his own glory. To remember his leaving the glory and splendor of heaven to live on this fallen planet stained with sin and guilt. When I think about his coming to endure the hostility and rejection of ungrateful creatures; to give his life as ransom for our rebellion my heart is strangely warmed.

No I’m not some Ebenezer Scrooge who needs to be awakened to “Christmas Cheer” and goodwill towards man. I need my cold, sinful heart warmed and renewed by a vision of our glorious Savior. I need to be reminded that God so loved the world he gave his only Son. I need to pull away the trappings of the season and remember the reason for our rejoicing. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
A Little Gift-Giving Advice (11/26/2007)
Are you in panic mode yet? You know what I mean. Christmas gets closer with each passing day and you are still wondering what to get that special someone. Christmas is a time for giving. And you want your gift to be special. You want it to be meaningful. That’s why you plan, worry and fret. You don’t want your gift tossed aside. No one likes to think that their hard-earned money was spent on something not appreciated. So I’m here to help you out this year. I want to give you a “sure fire” Christmas gift tip. This is something that will be used and appreciated year around. The kind of gift will not be forgotten. That is your gift to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.

Every cent that you give to the Lottie Moon Offering goes directly to support the work of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. Did you know the Lottie Moon Offering provides 52% of the IMB’s annual budget? Over half their budget is supplied in this one offering. But how is it used? It goes to support 5,148 missionaries who work in around the world. It goes to support church planting efforts that last year established 23,486 new churches. It made it possible for IMB missionaries to engage 590,890 new believers in discipleship last year. It resulted in 475,072 baptisms in 2006. Your Lottie Moon gift touches the world with the life-transforming power of the Gospel. What can you do this year? How will you touch the world?

Do you know how much it cost to keep a missionary on the field for one year?
• $40,866.61 a year
• $3,405.55 a month
• $785.90 a week
• $111.96 a day
• $4.66 an hour
• $.08 a minute
Could you fund a missionary for a day? How about a week? Why not make an eternal difference with a gift this year? I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Headed to the BGCO (11/13/2007)
As I’m typing this I’m preparing to leave for Oklahoma City for the annual meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma. I just spoke to a friend of mine from Missouri. Their Convention was two weeks ago and apparently there were some fireworks. There are clearly two or three sides in the Missouri “fight”, I mean fellowship. Texas is another divided state. I’m glad that our meetings are fairly “boring!” We are a fairly unified bunch as conventions go. I love convention not because I love meetings (I don’t). It is just so good to see old friends and get reacquainted. I don’t expect any big stories coming out of this week and I hope that I’m not disappointed.

I did want to remind you that we will be hosting the Community Thanksgiving Service on Tuesday, November 20^th, at 7:00 pm. Our choir will be singing and I’ll be bringing the message. I hope that you will join with your brothers and sisters in Christ as we gather to give thanks for the goodness and grace of our God. We will be hosting a fellowship immediately following that service so be watching and listening for details. Let’s have a good turnout and make sure that we are a great host for this event.

I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we gather to worship the risen Lord.
A Good Hurt (11/5/2007)
I hate it when that happens! You know, when something gets stuck in your head. Someone sings or whistles a familiar tune in your hearing and so you have to listen to it for the rest of the day. That annoying tune just won’t leave your head. I often joke with pastor friends when I see them on Monday and they ask me how services went on Sunday. I like to say,
“My sermon was so good, I stopped and took notes on myself.” Well, I didn’t take notes but my Sunday School lesson and the evening message “annoyed” me well into the night and was still hanging around this morning. I couldn’t shake the thought of my responsibility to love truth and to love others.

I kept hearing myself say, “You must love others enough to tell them the truth about their sin.” I thought about the responsibility that we have, as a church, to love and care for those whose names appear on our rolls but have never been confronted about their lack of involvement or their failure to attend. I’ve thought about those I’ve offended or who have offended me and I did nothing about it. It was just easier to “let it slide” than to confront it or confess my own sin. I tried to rationalize it. I tried to generalize it; after all we’re all guilty of this sort of thing aren’t we? I tried to ignore it. But like an annoying tune it just wouldn’t go away. There was only one way to deal with it – confess it. Own it. Repent. I hate it when that happens – no, I rejoice when that happens. I rejoice because it is the gracious work of my Father who loves me too much to allow me to continue in my sin.

It’s a good hurt. No, the problem isn’t solved. I’ll fail again. But for now I’m on the right path and I’ve grown a bit in the process. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Just Thinking (10/29/2007)
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about home. There are those times when you’re just tired, worn out and weary so you long for the peace and security of home. Home is that place where you shut out the cares and worries of life and rest secure in the warm embrace of those who love you. Of course, for us as the people of God, our home is in heaven. It is there, and only there, we will be able to shut out the cares and worries of this life. It is there, and only there, we will know genuine peace and security. And why is that? It is because there we will be in the continual presence of God without hindrance or limitation. You see the thing that makes heaven, heaven, is not streets of gold, gates of pearl or the presence of friends and loved ones, but the presence of God.

Pastor and author John Piper asks a penetrating question in his book God is the Gospel: “If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?” Hum? If we can answer, “Yes” to that question have we really understood the Gospel and have we exhibited saving faith? Heaven is heaven because our blessed Lord is present. Some days I’m really homesick. Even so come Lord Jesus.
I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Getting Back on Track (10/23/2007)
“I’m back in the saddle again!” (Read that line with the appropriate tune for full effect). The week following a Bible conference is always a matter of digging out from under all the stuff that piled up from the week before. I have a couple of meeting scheduled for the week and some mail to answer but there is no time to waste because Sunday is our High Attendance Day. I trust that you’ve been contacting class members and inviting folks. Sunday will be a great day. I look forward to seeing you and your friends as we gather in worship and celebration.

Also don’t forget that Trunk R Treat is coming up on Wednesday, October 31. We’ll need as many Sunday School classes as possible to have a vehicle decorated and folks prepared to hand out candy. We’ll be open from 6:30-8:00 pm. We also need some folks to help with popcorn and some other goodies we’ve got planned. It is also nice to have folks just walking around the parking lot and visiting with our guest. Each year it seems our crowd is a little larger, so this is a great opportunity to greet the community.

Let me also remind you that we will be hosting the annual Community Thanksgiving service. It has been a number of years since we hosted this event. I’ll be preaching and our choir will be singing so I hope you’ll make plans to be present Tuesday, November 20 at 7:00 pm. I’ll see you Sunday.

Rod
This, That & The Other (10/15/2007)
What a great start to our week! We had good crowds both Sunday morning and evening and a good number planning on being at lunch today (Monday) for our “Week of Renewal.” I’m very thankful for God’s goodness and grace speaking through brother Paul in both messages Sunday. This series of messages on “Running the Race” seems to be what many of us need. All of the messages, including the noonday services on “The Tabernacle in the Wilderness” are available online at www.tbctulsa.org. Just click on the resource link, guest speakers and you’ll find them all there.

Don’t forget our annual “Trunk r Treat” on Wednesday evening, October 31. We need each Sunday School Class/Department to decorate a vehicle and be prepared to hand out candy. We’ll start at 6:30 and finish at 8:00. This is always a great time. We need several folks who can just mingle with the crowds as they come through; get to know them; and serve as an ambassador of Christ and of our fellowship.

Also, don’t forget our high attendance Sunday October 28. YOU have set a goal of 225 in Sunday School on that day. I hope that you are praying and working toward your class goal.

I’ll see you Sunday as we gather in worship and celebration of our life in Christ.

Rod
Renewal and Other Things (10/9/2007)
Let me address two things with you quickly. First, our Fall Renewal Conference with Paul Burleson begins Sunday morning and runs through Wednesday evening. I trust youâ€™ve already been praying for Godâ€™s blessing and asking friends, family and coworkers to join you at the services. My heartâ€™s desire is that this be far more than just another series of meetings. I pray that it will be a new beginning. I am praying that God will do a great work in us and then empower and embolden us for faithful and effective ministry.

Pray for Paul as he comes and ask God to grant him freedom to say what we need to hear. Pray for an anointing that will break up the fallow ground of our hearts. Pray for those who will be present. Pray that their hearts will be open and receptive to the work of the Holy Spirit. Finally, come to the services each evening and noonday with a sense of expectancy!

Let me also remind you that we will be having â€œTrunk or Treatâ€ on Wednesday, October 31. We will suspend our regular schedule for that evening and use this as a community outreach. We need classes/departments to set up a display in the parking lot and people to walk around and visit with the people who come through. We also need lots of candy! And, as Rheadon would say, â€œMake it the good stuff.â€ We will also need some folks to help with the popcorn and whatever else we dream up. It is a fun evening and a great way to invite and encourage others to come visit with us. Iâ€™ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Odds and Ends (10/1/2007)
It really is an amazing transformation. When I pulled into the church parking lot the other day I couldnâ€™t believe the change. The Youth House looks brand new! I appreciate all those who worked to make it a reality. To that brave group who fought the rain to remove the old siding: Jim Narrin, Jerry Scott, Mark Dix, Andrew Dix, Wayne Hatcher, Jerry Deason and Terry Rutledge, thank you. Also thanks to Bobby Smith, Keith Cannon and Tom Guthrie who finished that up a week later. I also appreciate Dan Downing for all his help with this whole project. Our biggest thanks goes to Terry Rutledge and Don Ramsey who put in many hours repairing the house and then putting on new siding. Thanks to all of you for a job well done!

Donâ€™t forget the change in schedule for Sunday, October 7, 2007. The annual meeting of the Tulsa Metro Association of Baptist Churches will be at the Evergreen Baptist Church starting at 6:00 pm. Evergreen is located at 10301 E. 111th Street (thatâ€™s on 111th between Mingo and Garnett). We will be hearing from each of the 4 priority focus teams and celebrating what God is doing in and through Tulsa Baptist. You will also have opportunity to hear Dr. Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention. It is going to be a great evening – Sunday October 7 beginning at 6:00 pm.

Then donâ€™t forget our Fall Renewal Conference with Paul Burleson beginning Sunday morning October 14 and running through Wednesday evening October 17. Iâ€™m looking forward to seeing you Sunday as we gather for worship.

Rod
Odds and Ends (9/24/2007)
Let me encourage you to mark your calendars and begin making preparations now for our Fall Renewal Conference October 14-17 with Paul Burleson. Paul is a great Bible teacher and conference speaker. He pastored the Southcliff Baptist Church in Fort Worth for a number of years and has had an extensive ministry through the seminary and impacted hundreds of seminary students through the years. Following his pastorate in Fort Worth, Paul was pastor of the First Baptist Church in Broken Arrow. We will of course begin with our regular service on Sunday morning the 14th and then services Sunday evening through Wednesday will begin at 6:30 pm. As a special treat Paul will be speaking Monday through Wednesday at a noon meeting. We will have a light lunch and then he will teach a series on the â€œTabernacle in the Wilderness.â€ Weâ€™ll meet from 11:30-1:00. I know that you will be blessed, encourage and challenged. This will be a great opportunity to invite family and friends.

Also, donâ€™t forget to pray for the ladies who will be attending the conference this weekend in Dallas. Let me take another moment to congratulate Darla Hall on her award this past Sunday afternoon. The Southwest Tulsa Chamber of Commerce awarded Darla their first ever, Lifetime Achievement Award. Darla was recognized for her tireless devotion to Southwest Tulsa and her service to the community. Congratulations Darla and thank you for all youâ€™ve done.

Iâ€™m looking forward to our being together again this coming Lordâ€™s Day. Iâ€™ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Feelign Uncomfortable, and Glad for It! (9/18/2007)
Do you ever find yourself overwhelmed? Do you ever have those times when it seems that God just gets hold of your mind and heart and drives something home to you? Thatâ€™s what Sunday was for me. It just seemed everything was aimed at my heart. The Sunday School lesson, the services, the music, conversations before and after services. It all seemed orchestrated. Itâ€™s funny, I studied all week. I worked for several hours again on Saturday. My lesson was ready. Both sermons were firmly fixed in my mind and heart. And yet in the midst of the messages I got new insight and it seemed repeatedly I heard the whisper, â€œThatâ€™s for you.â€

Now, that could be very discouraging. I mean Sunday morningâ€™s message was a call to personal holiness while Sunday evening was about the need for reformation or revival. Itâ€™s not that Iâ€™m living a â€œdouble lifeâ€ and have some great sin for which I must atone; the danger is more subtle than that. It is the reminder that you can be outwardly clean, busy about spiritual things and your heart be completely removed. It is that you can â€œdo churchâ€ and yet not be attentive to the needs of others; insensitive to what is going on around you; and neglectful of fellowship. I didnâ€™t sleep well Sunday night. I got up early this morning. Iâ€™m still thinking things through. Iâ€™m grateful for the discomfort. It means thereâ€™s still hope.

Father,
Thank you for the sting of conviction. Thank you for loving me enough to prick my conscience and reminding me of the wickedness of my heart. Grant grace today Father to not ignore your pleading and yield to your hand of correction. Amen.
Iâ€™ll see you Sunday.

Rod
We’re Off! (9/9/2007)
Weâ€™re off! A new church year has begun and things are going well. Todd Cochran, our new Sunday School Director has set a meeting to this Sunday evening, September 16, to meet with all teachers and directors. We hope to work on several projects in the months to come. Our desire is to strengthen our Bible teaching and reaching ministry. We hope to offer some teacher training, make sure our teachers have the resources needed and to offer support throughout the whole organization. When you pray for our church donâ€™t forget to pray for Todd and all of our Sunday School workers.

Our new building and grounds committee will also be meeting this next Sunday to look at some critical needs around our buildings. We are in the process of updating and taking care of some long neglected needs of the youth house. Thanks to Terry Rutledge for heading up that project. In addition we have some work to be done on the property where the other house was removed and itâ€™s time to start considering replacing the roof of the Worship Building. A number of decisions will have to be made in the near future. Pray for the building and grounds committee and pray that we would be wise stewards of our funds.

The womenâ€™s retreat in Dallas is just around the corner and Keenager Choir is back in the loft on Sunday evenings at 5:00. Thereâ€™s a lot going on in addition to our gathering for worship twice on Sundays and then on Wednesday evening. I hope that you will take advantage of all the opportunities for worship and service. Iâ€™ll see you Sunday, Lord willing.

Rod
I Guess There Is No Stopping It (9/3/2007)
No matter how much I want to avoid it â€“ it is becoming increasingly obvious.Â Iâ€™m getting old!Â Oh, I know that age is a relative thing.Â But I still like to think that it was just recently I graduated from dear old Daniel Webster High.Â But, as my mail keeps reminding me, my 25^th college reunion is this fall.Â If thatâ€™s not bad enough, Rheadon is picking at the back of my head saying, â€œHuh, I think you may have your dadâ€™s head of hair, looks bare back here.â€Â And on top of all that, our youngest child turns 20 this week.Â It does cause one to stop and think.

Iâ€™ve been thinking a lot lately about what is important and what really matters.Â While career and achievement are important after all, we are to do all for the glory of God, thus excellence is a reflection on the God we worship and serve.Â Faith, family and relationships are of supreme importance.Â Nothing can be of greater importance than our commitment and devotion to Christ.Â Our loving devotion to the Savior ought to dominate our thinking, our choices and our actions in every other sphere.Â Second, our commitment to our families must take priority over career and personal achievement.Â Nothing gives me greater joy then when our grown children want to spend time with us.Â That is something wealth, prestige and position cannot buy and I would gladly take that over the trappings of power and influence.Â Iâ€™m not saying you cannot excel in your career and have a happy family â€“ Iâ€™m talking about the aim of your life.Â Iâ€™m talking about what matters to you.Â I would have to add to faith and family meaningful relationships.Â Iâ€™m thinking particularly within the church.Â Iâ€™m grateful for the deep, abiding relationships that grow out of my being part of the church.Â My dearest friends are those with whom Iâ€™ve wept and prayed, celebrated and rejoiced while seeking to grow into the likeness of Christ.

Forgive my ramblings.Â It was just on my mind and I thought I would indulge my mind while I still have one!Â Iâ€™ll see you Sunday.

Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Rod
It’s That Time (8/27/2007)
Praise the Lord for a great day Sunday. We were able to witness Christian baptism in the morning service and set apart three good men to serve as deacons in the evening service â€“ that makes for a great day! Speaking of great days (that was smooth wasnâ€™t it) we begin a new Sunday School year this coming Sunday. Students will be moving to new classes, we have a new Sunday School Director, and some new teachers will be setting up shop. Itâ€™s a new day. If youâ€™ve not been active in a class why not start something new with us? Why not join with others in a small group Bible study? Interacting with fellow believers and with the text of Scripture will serve to sharpen your faith and deepen your relationships. Come be a part of something new.
This weekend makes it official â€“ summer has ended and we will be getting back on track with our fall schedule. Wednesday evening meals will start again on September 5. Sign-up sheets will be available Sunday or you can call the church office. Dinner for an individual adult? $4.00. Age 6-youth? $2.00. Children under 6? Free. Maximum cost per family? $10.00. Fellowship around the table? Priceless! Join us Wednesday evenings 5:30 pm starting September 5.
Ladies, let me encourage you to attend the â€œRevive Our Hearts Conferenceâ€ September 28-29, 2007 in Denton, Texas. The speaker is author and syndicated radio host Nancy Leigh DeMoss. This is a great opportunity to be challenge, encouraged and strengthened in your faith. For more information see Kelly Mills.
Iâ€™m looking forward to seeing you in worship this coming Lordâ€™s Day.
Rod
It Was On My Mind (8/22/2007)
I noticed on the way into the church this morning (Monday) school parking lots overflowing with cars, school signs announcing the arrival of another school year, and I couldnâ€™t help but think of the number of people in need of prayer this morning. I thought of those new 6th graders entering that â€œbig buildingâ€ in fear of getting lost or not remembering where their locker was. I thought of those excited kindergartners who were sure that they would be taught to read on this, their first day of school. I thought of the sadness in the heart of some of those veteran teachers who saw today as the first day of their last year of teaching. And I thought of those brave souls who would greet their first class of students. All of them in need prayer for various reasons.
We all know that life has changed, the world is different. We live in the age of school shootings, gang violence, a breakdown of authority and a general lack of respect. These combine to make the school environment more dangerous and threatening. It is easy to allow the bad news to drown out the good news. It is easy to ignore what is right to bemoan what is wrong. The fact is good and godly people work in the school environment both public and private. The fact is dedicated people give their lives to making a difference in the lives of children and youth. They teach, they encourage, they mentor and they model a godly lifestyle before their classes. We in the church must acknowledge that we are partners with the school system not adversaries. We both care about our communities. We both care about the lives of the students. We both want to see them thrive. I thank God for those who serve in the public and the private school and those who choose to educate at home. And it is our responsibility to pray for the good of our community and those who serve.
The next time you drive by a school why not breathe a prayer and ask Godâ€™s blessing? It was just on my mind this morning. Iâ€™ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Never A Dull Moment (8/6/2007)
Last week wasâ€¦wellâ€¦eventful! I spent the week with our youth at Camp Summit in the Kiamichi Mountains of southeastern Oklahoma. We had a great week together. Danny and Tina did a wonderful job with planning, organizing and running our camp. Our sponsors, Liana Deason, Robin Haynes, Tina and Larry Westfall and Bob Lowery, were great. Kay Dye kept the troops well fed and we had the best group of kids in the whole camp. Thank you for all of your support financially, emotionally and spiritually. Our young people are blessed to have such a generous and caring church family. I believe in the coming weeks you will see the fruit of your prayers and the benefit of your investment.

And then there was a little excitement around here when a would be burglar got stuck in an old furnace flume. Fortunately for him he was not alone. His friend ran to a nearby house and called for help. A couple of hours later firefighters and police officers pulled the hapless burglar from the bricked-up flume. And some still think church is boring?

Iâ€™m trying to settle back into the routine of things this morning â€“ who knows what this week will bring. I do know that Iâ€™m looking forward to join you in worship this coming Lordâ€™s Day. Iâ€™ll see you then.

Rod
Hot! (7/28/2007)
â€œHot.â€ Thatâ€™s the term that comes to mind as I write this article. At the time of writing Iâ€™m preparing for youth camp at Kiamichi Assembly. Weâ€™re taking about 50 this year, our largest group in some time. Deodorant, $1.95. Flip flops on sale $7.00. Camp in Oklahoma, in Augustâ€¦priceless! Iâ€™m a little concerned as Iâ€™m packing. I said to Rheadon, â€œThis could be my last year at camp. I may just kill over in this heat.â€ She showed great concern as she said, â€œBut your life insurance is paid up right?â€

Camp is a great opportunity to invest in the lives of our young people. A chance to get away from the routine and have a concentrated time of spiritual instruction and exposure to the Gospel. Because we take anyone interested in going and often have un-churched kids with us â€“ it is often the first opportunity for some to experience a Christian environment. That makes camp a great opportunity to model the Christian faith and to demonstrate the practical outworking of what it means to trust in Christ. Some aspects of our faith are â€œcaughtâ€ more than they are â€œtaught.â€ Pray that this week of camp will be a life-altering experience for our youth.

Let me also encourage you to continue praying for our nominating committee as they seek Godâ€™s will in filling a number of positions for the coming year. I look forward to seeing you and your family as we gather for worship this coming Lordâ€™s Day.

Rod
A Cure for Boring Worship? (7/23/2007)
If studies, surveys and word of mouth are to be believed a number of people stay away from church because â€œchurch is boring.â€ Now I have to assume that what they actually mean is that worship is boring. And to be perfectly honest there are times I would have to agree. I remember spending a month in a service one night! The music was embarrassing and the message, oh the message was horrible. It went on and on and on the problem was while it went on and on â€“ it went nowhere. I was embarrassed for the preacher. I thought, â€œWhy doesnâ€™t he just shut up and sit down?â€ Of course the really embarrassing part isâ€¦I was the preacher!

Iâ€™ve also attended services where I was bored. Of course most of the time I am at fault. Iâ€™m there physically but Iâ€™m not there spiritual or emotionally. My mind is in a hundred other places. My thoughts are divided between whatâ€™s for lunch, that stack of stuff on my desk, appointments during the next week, whatâ€™s for lunch (that one keeps coming up). Can I make a suggestion? Why not take some time Saturday evening or Sunday morning and prepare for worship. Go to the top of the page and click the “resources tab” then click “order of service.” There you will find the order of service for Sunday. Read through the hymns; read the Scripture for the call to worship and the passage for the message. Spend some time praying for those who will lead in worship and the folks who normally sit around you. Pray that hearts will be open to the Gospel and that Godâ€™s Spirit would move in the service. Pray for the preacher for clarity of mind and thought, for empowerment and anointing. Pray for your needs in light of the text, the music and the theme of the service. You might be surprised by the difference it makes. Iâ€™ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Of Camps and Committees (7/16/2007)
And theyâ€™re off! A group of 25 brave souls took off this morning for Kids Kamp at Tulakoggee. By the time you read this they should be back home safe and sound full of stories and lessons learned. Weâ€™ll be hearing some about their week in our evening service July 22. In the meantime our youth are gearing up for camp July 30 â€“ August 4. Ah, August in southeastern Oklahoma â€“ refreshing, not! But a great time with the youth in learning about the Kingdom of God and encouraging one another in the faith. There is still time to sign up on the food lists. There is a list in the foyer and in the northwest entrance to the worship center. Thanks to all of your support and sacrifice for our children and youth. Your investment in their lives is worth every penny.

Please continue to pray for our nominating committee and committee on committees as they seek to finish up their work. They are seeking to work with you in helping you find that place of service within your church. We need your gifts and talents to accomplish the task weâ€™ve been given. Do you have a specific interest? Do you have a desire to serve? Let us know and weâ€™ll help to find that place so that you can find joy and fulfillment and others can be blessed.

Iâ€™m looking forward to seeing you and your family as we gather in worship this coming Lordâ€™s Day.

Rod
Something to Think About (7/9/2007)
There is a passage in an unpublished novel by Walker Percy that captures the restlessness of the human soul. In the novel two men, who are patients in a tuberculosis sanitarium, are having a conversion:
â€œWhatâ€™s the matter, Willy?â€
â€œI donâ€™t know Scanlon. Iâ€™m homesick.â€
â€œHow long have you been homesick?â€
â€œAll my life.â€
St. Augustine said our souls are restless until they find their rest in God. Daily we rub elbows with people who are hurting, hopeless and helpless. They long for something more. They canâ€™t put their finger on it â€“ but there has to be more to life than what they know. They are homesick and they donâ€™t know why.

The problem is they donâ€™t even know they are not at home! They have not come to realize that, like the prodigal, they have wasted their inheritance on reckless living. They are content to eat with the pigs and wallow in filth thinking it is normal. It is our responsibility to disturb their â€œpeaceâ€ through the preaching of the Gospel. When we are faithful to live and preach righteousness our gracious God, through the Holy Spirit, awakens the conscience of the sinner. Once awakened they realize they are far from home and are ready to receive instructions concerning the road back. Yes salvation is the work of God but part of Godâ€™s work is our preaching the Gospel. Together we are signposts along the path. It is not about us. Our responsibility is to point the way home. Is your sign in good shape? Are you displayed so others can see? Itâ€™s something to think about.

Iâ€™ll see you Sunday.

Rod
VBS…again? (6/25/2007)
Let me tell you Arizona is a nice place to visit butâ€¦ We had a great week with our youth serving Christ at the Apollo Baptist Church in Glendale this past week. We took 19 young people and 6 sponsors to work in Vacation Bible School. I want you to know our kids did an outstanding job! They represented us well but most importantly they represented our Savior well. We have a great group of kids. I also want to thank Dan and Tina Downing for all of their hard work in putting the trip together and overseeing the whole trip. Dan and Tina, you did a wonderful job thank you. Alberto, Frances and Bob you were great sponsors. And church family, what can I say? Your generosity, love and support made the whole thing possible. Thank you for investing in the lives of our youth and in the people of Arizona.

The bus carrying our team rolled into the parking lot at 5:30 pm Sunday and they went right to work because our Vacation Bible School started at 6:00 pm! We had a great opening night as Trinity, Carbondale and Garden City Baptist Church joined hands to touch our community for Christ. What a great thing to see and be a part of! We had an abundance of workers and the spirit and atmosphere we wonderful. Iâ€™m looking forward to the rest of the week.

I trust that you and your family will join us when we gather for worship this coming Lordâ€™s Day.

Rod
On The Road (6/11/2007)
As I write this we are in the process of finishing up our packing, loading the car and hitting the road for San Antonio for the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. Before leaving I wanted to write to say to you how grateful I am to be part of such a loving and giving fellowship! Thanks to your generosity yesterday (Sunday) we were able to exceed our goal for the youth mission trip. Every chance we get we remind our youth how blessed they are to have such a supportive church family. Thank you for loving them and sacrificing so that they can go and give themselves in service next week in Phoenix.

Donâ€™t forget our other mission project our Vacation Bible School. We are joining with two sister churches, Carbondale and Garden City, to reach the children of our area with the Gospel. On Saturday, June 16, weâ€™ll meet at the church at 10:00 a.m. to distribute flyers in the surrounding neighborhoods. If you can come, your help will be greatly appreciated. Stacy Narrin has done a good job organizing and working with the other churches but getting the word out is critical to having success. Each church is covering their area with flyers so please come help us get the word out in our neighborhood.

Due to a change in the schedule weâ€™ll be leaving for Phoenix after the morning service Sunday the 17th. Bill Parker will still bring the message on both Sunday morning and evening but this will give us an opportunity to â€œcommissionâ€ our missionaries at the end of the service.

Iâ€™m looking forward to seeing you and your family as we gather in celebration this coming Lordâ€™s Day.

Rod
Busy, Busy, Busy (6/4/2007)
June is shaping up to be a busy month. Rheadon and I will be leaving Monday, June 11, for the Southern Baptist Convention meeting in San Antonio. We will get back on Thursday evening late and Iâ€™ll leave with the youth on Saturday for Arizona. Iâ€™ll fly back the following Saturday in order to be here for the morning worship on the 24th and weâ€™ll start Vacation Bible School that evening. In my absence Val Smith will bring the messages on Wednesday June 13 & 20. Val will be doing presentations on Noah’s Ark and Sodom and Gomorrah for the two nights. This will be a great opportunity to bring lost friends who might not attend a traditional service but would find these presentations intriguing. Billy Parker will be bringing the messages on Sunday the 17th.

There is still opportunity to give toward the youth mission trip. As you know we needed to raise an additional $4900.00 above what was budgeted so that we could send them on a chartered bus. To date weâ€™ve received $1335.00. So I would ask you to prayerful consider a gift to help underwrite this mission effort.

Continue to pray for our area Vacation Bible School. For the first time we will be joining with two of our sister churches in an effort to reach the children of our community. If you can help with decorative items or volunteer your time to help decorate we would really appreciate it!

I look forward to seeing you Sunday as we gather in celebration of the Gospel and our life together in Christ.

Rod
Mission Trips and VBS (6/1/2007)
As you read this Bob Lowery will be finishing up his mission trip to Nicaragua, the youth mission trip to Arizona will be just a month away and Vacation Bible School is upon us. That means a lot of activity and considerable expense all hitting at once. The Lord has been gracious and we are in good shape but we still need some special gifts to get us through the next month. We need to raise $4,900 in addition to what was budgeted for the youth mission trip. If you’ve already given to the trip, THANK YOU! If you are planning to give but just haven’t done so yet please do so as soon as possible to help our cash flow. We also do not want to hinder our Bible School effort by not being able to fund everything. This is an exciting year with Carbondale and Garden City joining us. Please be in prayer for all these activities over the next month.

On a personal note, Rheadon and I would appreciate your prayers as wedding number 2 approaches. Boy, things are really getting quiet around our house.

I hope to see you and your family as we gather this coming Lord’s Day.
Retreat? (5/21/2007)
Every now and then I find myself wondering if it might not be a good idea to find a cave somewhere and move in! At least I think I understand the monastic mindset. That mindset that says, â€œThings are getting bad and we need to separate ourselves from the godless world that surrounds us.â€ But then it is a bit hard to serve as salt and light in the world when we retreat into our own ghetto. Our culture is growing more pagan with each passing day. Biblical standards are, at best ignored, but most often mocked and ridiculed. I certainly understand the temptation to withdraw into our â€œholy huddleâ€ and lick our wounds but we are not afforded that luxury. We are called to â€œtake onâ€ our culture. We are called to â€œcontend for the faith.â€ The truth of the Gospel, the message of salvation is worth fighting for. But we can contend without being contentious.

We do not have to live with a scowl. We do not have to go about our day with a chip on our shoulder and an attitude that says, â€œI dare you.â€ But we must speak the truth in love. We must stand for righteousness and morality. And we must do so because the stakes are high. The souls of men and women, boys and girls hang in the balance. If we loose the Gospel – we loose everything. We must remain ever vigilant in our guarding the precious Gospel entrusted to our care. While we individually have a duty to contend, we are to contend as one. We together as the body of Christ are to safeguard the Gospel. We must also understand part of our contending is our strengthening and encouraging one another. Thatâ€™s just something to think about as move toward this coming Lordâ€™s Day.

Rod
The Upcoming Bible School and Youth Mission Trip (5/15/2007)
There are two things I need to talk with you about.Â One is our Vacation Bible School coming up June 24-28 with â€œFamily Nightâ€ on the 29th.Â We are doing some things differently this year.Â For one thing we are doing an evening Bible School and for another we are starting on Sunday night.Â In addition we are bringing Carbondale Baptist in with us and possibly one other church (Iâ€™m waiting to hear back from the pastor).Â The potential exists for a larger number of kids and the need for more workers than normal.Â In addition the family night will require extra workers.Â I know that Stacy Narrin is doing a good job in coordinating but she needs your help.Â If you are available and havenâ€™t told her that you want to help please let her know this week.Â This is a great opportunity to move beyond our walls out into the community.Â I hope youâ€™ll join us!

The other thing is our youth mission trip to Arizona.Â Last year we rented vans, pulled a trailer and had to stop along the way.Â We thought it better to charter a bus and travel straight through.Â That means greater safety but more expense.Â The problem is we budgeted before this decision was made.Â Therefore we must come up with an additional $4,900.Â Iâ€™m asking that you prayerful consider giving a special offering toward this expense.Â The Lord has been gracious and we are in good shape financially but we will have the mission trip and Bible School back to back.Â In fact, the kids will not be home until late Sunday afternoon with Bible School being that evening.Â Will you give and help make it possible for our young people to serve Christ and minister to children in the Phoenix area?Â For the next few week proceeds from our Wednesday evening meals, above cost, will be given to this special project.Â I hope that you will prayerfully consider how you may help.Â Iâ€™ll see you Sunday.

Rod
Whew! (5/10/2007)
Excuse me just a minute as I catch my breathâ€¦okay, what a week. I appreciate those of you who noticed we were gone last week. More than that I appreciate the fact that you prayed for our meeting. Things went well. It was a four day family reunion. I know that it was a blessing for us and I trust it was an encouragement for the church. It was great to see folks we hadnâ€™t seen in years. I went with one of the deacons to visit some of the older members who are now in nursing homes. One was a lady for whom Iâ€™d preached her husbandâ€™s funeral and helped her through some difficult days with a grandchild. She is now well into her 90s. Her eyesight is failing and her hearing is not good. When the deacon said, â€œDo you remember this guy? He used to be your pastor.â€ She looked at me a minute and said, â€œI saw you once. Then I got sick!â€ I said, â€œIâ€™ve had that affect on a lot of people.â€

As much as I enjoyed our time in Ponca it was good to be home Sunday! The music was great, the fellowship was wonderful and the message was adequate. We did exceed our Easter Offering goal as of Sunday morning. Thank you for your faithfulness in giving. Donâ€™t forget that Sunday, Motherâ€™s Day, is the Motherâ€™s Day Offering for Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children and Baptist Retirement Village. If you do not find a Motherâ€™s Day Offering envelop in the pew, just mark â€œMotherâ€™s Day Offeringâ€ on one of the regular envelops.

I look forward to worshiping with you this coming Lordâ€™s Day.

Rod
Family (4/30/2007)
It is part of what it means to belong to the body of Christ. It is the fruit of the Spirit at work in the people of God â€“ that bond, that unity that we enjoy. This week Rheadon and I are in Ponca City as I am preaching at Longwood Baptist Church. We were serving at Longwood when we were called to Trinity. Weâ€™ve kept in touch through the last 16 years with occasional visits and phone calls but this is a special treat. We enjoyed dinner after the morning service and again Sunday evening. My understanding is that they have something planned each evening following worship. It seemed we picked up where we left off. Leading the music for the meeting is Joe Brown. Joe served with me at Longwood for couple of years. We spent most of yesterday (Sunday) laughing and remembering. It was strange to see â€œkidsâ€ married with children of their own! Thatâ€™s not right.

This week is good for both of us. I think that weâ€™ve been an encouragement to the church and I know they have been a blessing to us. Time with family is always good. Of course I missed being with you on Sunday. Iâ€™m grateful to Ed and Betty and their work on Keenager Sunday (along with Keenager night out on Friday). We are blessed to have Ed and Betty working with our senior adults. I look forward to being home and worshiping with you on Sunday.

Rod
I Survived! (4/23/2007)
I canâ€™t believe we made it! We actually survived the wedding. Of course weâ€™ve survived only to turn around and do another in six weeks â€“ but Iâ€™ll cross that bridge when we get there. I want to thank everyone for making Saturday so special. We were overwhelmed by the crowd. We appreciate so much those who help us move furniture, set up tables, put up decorations and then to put everything back! And Jessie got to be the first to use the brideâ€™s room. No I didnâ€™t plan it that way! Special thanks go to J. Fred Smith and Bob DeBolt for the long hours and hard work they put into the remodeling project. Thanks to the committee: Rachel Finley, Lisa Scott, Lisa Cannon, Jim Narrin, Jerry Deason and Bob DeBolt for their leadership. If you havenâ€™t been down stair to see our new basement, you need to take a look. Oh, and the new tables arrived today (Monday).

Sunday will be a special day as we observe Keenager Sunday. Dr. Robert Cannon will bring the morning message and Vance Wiley will preach in the evening service. There is also a lunch following the morning service for senior adults. I would appreciate your prayers as I will be preaching at the Longwood Baptist Church in Ponca City April 29-May 2. I was the pastor at Longwood prior to coming home to Trinity. And just think, after only 16 years they thought it was safe to invite me back. Rheadon and I are looking forward to reconnecting with some dear friends. I hope you have a great Sunday here and I look forward to being with you again on May 6!

Rod
A Big Week (4/16/2007)
Well this is a big week for the Harris clan. Work is feverishly underway even as I write putting details in place for the big day Saturday. I’ve been asked by several of you if I’m going to cry during the ceremony. I don’t know. I’ll cross that bridge when we get there. I do want to thank you for your encouragement, support and friendship. So many of you have offered to help and do anything we needed. For that we are grateful. This is why it is such a joy to serve this fellowship. This is why it means so much to us to have had the opportunity to raise our children in the same church we grew up in. Not many pastors get that opportunity. Some of you raised Rheadon and me and now you are raising our children, what a blessing!

I am finding it a little difficult dealing with my children growing up, moving out and getting married. I know it is the way life works and I’m happy for them and pleased with the additions to our family but it also means I’m getting old! It was only yesterday we were rolling around on the floor, playing ball in the backyard and learning to ride bikes. Now I’m wondering where the time has gone? How did they mature this much when I’m not any older? Then I look in the mirror or step on the scales and I’m painfully reminded that I’ve moved on too. I know I’m not losing a daughter I’m gaining a son. That’s another thing (just kidding Isaac). Will I cry? I don’t know. I’m sure I’ll have a lump in my throat. I’m exceedingly happy for Jessie and I’m proud of her. Breakdown or not I’ll get through it. And I’ll get over it…eventually.

Rod