Athens Wisconsin (WI)

Wynne Arkansas (AR)

Kinder Louisiana (LA)

Spring Texas (TX)

Sioux Falls South Dakota (SD)

What The Bible Says Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

What The Bible Says Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

What The Bible Says Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

What The Bible Says Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

ROMAN CATHOLIC DOGMA ADDED SINCE THE FINAL NEW TESTAMENT REVELATION

Live Stream From Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Candlelight Service (12/24/2023) Pastor Stephen Cox Please join us!

Father Javier Sanchez of Spain's Archdiocese of Zaragoza has died from complications as a result of burns he suffered when his liturgical vestments caught fire from a candle while he took part in an Easter Vigil.?

Temple Baptist Church - 3-13-2024John 14:7-15? Introduction:? A.? I used the title “Passing The Torch” because of an example that many of us older folks possibly remember.? When the Summer Olympics was ready to start some years ago, I remember that the torch that was to light the Olympic Torch at the beginning of the games was carried by individual runners who passed a lite torch from one runner to another until the job was done.? B.? John, chapter 14 shows the same thing spiritually.? The hearts of the disciples are troubled about the absence of the Lord but now Jesus lets them know that the work is theirs to maintain.? C.? Lets look at the introductory verse of this chapter.? ? John 14:1? Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.? 1.? “Ye believe in God” speaks of God their belief in the Father.? God the Father did what He needed to do to redeem and restore mankind.? John 3:16-17? For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.? (17)? For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.? a.? The Father sent His Son, heaven's Glory, Jesus Christ who never knew sin to become sin for us.? The Way, the Truth, and the Life.? The Creator of all that is.? The almighty Jehovah God of the Old Testament.? ? b.? The Father place His divine approval upon Christ Jesus when He spoke these words: “And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11)? And again in Matthew 17:5, “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”? 2.? “Believe also in me” speaks of Jesus Christ, Israel's Messiah.? Jesus Christ went to the Jew first through the Gospel.? He never set foot outside of Israel!? The Father sent Jesus Christ to pay the price of sin in full.? Paid In Full is a term that we all know and revel in.? The “burning of the note!”? a.? Jesus Christ suffered everything that we suffer as He got hungry, tired, spit upon, scourged, shame, and would be nailed on the cross like the two thieves He died with.? b.? Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God would become SIN for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.? Philippians 2:6-8? Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:? (7)? But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:? (8)? And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.? Hebrews 12:2? Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.? D.? Then, it was the disciples turn to “put their hand to the plough!”? ? John 14:12? Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do? shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.? 1.? God the Father loved the World and gave His Son.? 2.? Jesus Christ died for the sin of the World.? 3.? Now, the message of salvation needs to be spread to the World through the believers.? Matthew 28:16-20? Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.? (17)? And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.? (18)? And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.? (19)? Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:? (20)? Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.? These men turned the World upside down.? Acts 17:6? And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;? E.? Now, it is OUR turn.? 2 Corinthians 5:17-19? Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.? (18)? And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;? (19)? To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.? 1.? Our turn to show and present the Gospel.? a) As salt and light through our good works which they shall behold and glorify our Father which is in heaven.? b)? to plant and water the seed of the Gospel to everyone that we come into contact with.? Matthew 5:13-16? Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.? (14)? Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.? (15)? Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.? (16)? Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.? ? 2.? Our turn to send men of God to the world through raising, and commissioning those whom God calls.? (Acts 13)? ? The Lord's Prayer Request.? Matthew 9:35-38? And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.? (36)? But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.? (37)? Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;? (38)? ? Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.? 3.? Our turn to support through prayer and giving those who surrender to God's call and go.? 2 Corinthians 8:1-5? Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;? (2)? How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.? (3)? For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;? (4)? Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.? (5)? And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.? Philippians 4:14-19? Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.? (15)? Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.? (16)? For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.? (17)? Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.? (18)? But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.? (19)? But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

? Temple Baptist Church - 3-3-2024Genesis 1:1-4? Introduction:? ? A.? I love the Book of Genesis or Beginnings.? ? 1.? “In the beginning God” is the most profound and important statement in the Bible!? Without God, man is nothing with no purpose and no hope.? ? 2.? The Bible is a “God Book” as our Lord said in both Psalms and Hebrews, “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me!”? It matters not what man says nor what man thinks.? If he contradicts the Bible, he is wrong.? B.? There is another “landmark” of the faith that I want to deal with this morning.? We have dealt with the landmarks of the Scripture, Sanctuary, Salvation, and Sovereignty, but one of the most important and neglected of all doctrines is that of Biblical Sanctification.? ? C.? The Doctrine of Biblical Sanctification is so important that the Bible mentions it first!? In Geneses, chapter 1, we see that God set the precedent of sanctification along with the definition of it.? God left no doubt or place for argument.? In verse 4, we find the Doctrine of Sanctification: “and God divided the light from the darkness!”? The light of God dispelled the darkness of this world.? Here, we find the first Biblical sanctification, is caused by division, which demands separation.? D.? In verse one, God created the first heaven, our atmosphere, and the earth.? In the beginning, we find that darkness shrouded the earth.? “Without form, and void.”? Darkness preceded light.? The darkness was upon the face of the deep.? E.? Darkness was before light but when God introduced light (notice I said introduced and not created), it dispelled the darkness.? The Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.? And God said, “Let there be light!”? This was not natural light nor was it a man-made light.? It was the light of God.? ? In 1 John 1:5, the Bible declares that God is perfect light as He has no darkness at all.? 1 Timothy 6:15-16? Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;? (16)? Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.? 1 John 1:5? This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.? F.? In verse 4 of Genesis 1, We find the First Mention of the word “good.”? God declared the light to be good with the unsaid truth that darkness was not good as it obscured what God had made to be seen.? God divided light from darkness.? G.? Thus, we find Biblically that God created sanctification, separation, and division.? ? 1.? I know that this introduction is a little long, but we need to understand that God will not compromise, and it is He that brings division which brings about separation.? ? 2.? God loves sinners and hates sin.? God loves good and He hates bad.? Period!? ? 3.? Today, sanctification and division have been given a bad name by both worldly lost and religious lost.? But too often by God's children as they try to co-exist in peace with the world.? ? 4.? This cannot be done without compromise and the world does not compromise.? The world's take on sanctification is that doctrine is bad because it divides while love is good because it unifies.? ? 5.? The question now needs to be asked, “What does doctrine divide and what does love unify?”? Doctrine divides Godly from ungodly while a love without truth unifies the ungodly against the godly.? H.? Sanctification is Separation!? The word means to be set aside from something for a purpose.? Sanctification is Division!? God created both sanctification and division and in the end analysis, said that it was very good!? ? 1.? I feel that I need to make a point that the world does not like and that is compromise.? The world teaches that both side in conflict need to give somewhat.? We hear a lot about arbitration which is compromise.? 2.? Do not think for one second that God will compromise in order to bring about a peaceful solution!? Matthew 10:34-35? Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.? (35)? For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.? 3.? By the same token, God does not want His children to compromise what the Bible is clear on.? J.? Sanctification which brings division which brings separation is a Landmark that God, through the Bible has set!? It is not the believer who set the precedent, it is God, and the Bible is clear upon the subject.? Now, let us look at sanctification for a few minutes.? ? 1.? Salvation's Sanctification.? This is something that God does!? There are three distinct areas of sanctification in the life of every believer:? a.? It is Positional Sanctification - 1 Corinthians 1:30? But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:? ? 2 Corinthians 5:17? Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.? At the moment of salvation, the believer is set apart from the world positionally through Jesus Christ.? He is the believer's sanctification.? We are baptized into Christ who is both perfect and eternal and therefore remain secure!? b.? It is Perpetual or Permanent Sanctification -? 1 John 3:1-2? Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.? (2)? Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.? 2.? Personal or Practical Sanctification.? Something that we do!? ? Romans 12:1-2? I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.? (2)? And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.? 1 Peter 1:15? But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.? ? a.? The Believer is the separate from the world.? 1 John 1:5-7? This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.? (6)? If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:? (7)? But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.? When we are saved, we remain just a sinner saved by the grace of God.? As we mature in the Lord and grow in our faith, we are being constantly changed by both the Spirit of God who indwells us and the Word of God that teaches and guides us.? John 17:17? Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.? b.? The Believer is to be the light of the world.? ? Matthew 5:14-16? Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.? (15)? Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.? (16)? Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.? 2 Corinthians 4:3-4? But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:? (4)? In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.? 3.? ? Doctrinal Sanctification.? Something that we do!? Romans 16:17? Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.? ? a.? We are to preach sound doctrine.? Sound means something that is not weakened or flawed.? ? 2 Timothy 4:2-3? Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.? (3)? For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;? b.? We are to practice sound doctrine. We are to remain doctrinally sound and separated.? ? Romans 16:17? Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.? 4.? Ecclesiastical Sanctification.? Something that we do!? 2 Corinthians 6:14-18? Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.? Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,? And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.? a.? Denominationalism lends itself to unbiblical unions.? Our church is not to be yoked in any manner with other churches that are liberal or apostate. You are who you hold hands with spiritually.? ? b.? One may think they are straight but if they are supporting or affiliated with liberal churches, they are liberal!? That's why Bible churches were independent and autonomous!? ? Conclusion:? Sanctification or Separation or Division of a right kind is an act of God!? The believer MUST love the sinner but not the sin and this requires (by God) Biblical Sanctification!

? Temple Baptist Church - 2-4-2024Psalm 119:41-48? Introduction:? ? A.? VAU (Vah)? is the 6th? letter of the Hebrew Alphabet.? VAU means a Hook: something used to hold something together.? Used to fasten things together. Here, it would be a noun but, in its general use, VAU is used as a conjunction:? a word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause (e.g. and, but, if).? B.? When I think of holding something together in Israel at the time this Psalm was written, I think of their putting up the Tabernacle in the Wilderness.? Loops and taches were used to put things together in the construction of the Tabernacle.? ? Exodus 26:5-6? Fifty loops shalt thou make in the one curtain, and fifty loops shalt thou make in the edge of the curtain that is in the coupling of the second; that the loops may take hold one of another.? (6)? And thou shalt make fifty taches of gold, and couple the curtains together with the taches: and it shall be one tabernacle.? Notice the last 6 words of Exodus 26:6:? “and it shall be one tabernacle.”? Individual curtains became one.? ? C.? One, if not the best examples of walking with God in confidence is found in Job. Everything going wrong yet walking with God in the midst of troubles.? Job 1:20-22? Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,? (21)? And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.? (22)? In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.? Job 23:10-12? But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.? (11)? My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.? (12)? Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.? There was a VAU, a hook, a tache that held Job to the steps of God's choosing.? Something unseen and probably not felt, but an invisible trust that neither his wife not his friends understood.? D.? One, if not the greatest, enemies that we face is lack of confidence in the Lord.? ? ? I know that you and I would not admit to a lack of Confidence in a God who is all knowing, all powerful, everywhere present.? But our mental and spiritual state often proves otherwise.? ? An unbiblical sense of being alone despite the promise of the Lord to never leave us nor forsake us.? This is why we are often disillusioned, disappointed, discouraged, and defeated.? ? E.? This stanza expresses our walk of confidence in the Lord is found in our confidence in the Word of God.? Taches that hold us when we do not understand the why and His steps and way is in the sea which cannot be seen.? 1.? Verse 41 – The Tache of Mercy – Through the Word of God, we see His mercy.? An acknowledgement that mercy and salvation come from the Lord.? Let your mercies come to me in each step that I take.? Not salvation as we are saved, but deliverance from both self and situations.? God is merciful in our faults and failures but also in our future: what are and will be facing.? Exodus 33:18-19? And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.? (19)? And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.? Ps alms 23:6? Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.? Lamentations 3:22-23? It is of the LORD'S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.? (23)? They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.? 2.? Verse 42 –? The Tache of? Trust.? ? Through the Word of God, we finds His trustworthiness.? ? Because of God's Mercy all the days of our lives, we can have faith in the Lord to carry us through as we face this ungodly world, our enemies who hate us, and our situations—both present and future.? We are peculiar people and fewer in number which makes us stick out.? Psalms 56:2-4? Mine enemies would daily swallow me up: for they be many that fight against me, O thou most High.? (3)? What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.? (4)? In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.? Psalms 118:8-9? It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.? (9)? It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.? Proverbs 3:5-6? Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.? (6)? In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.? 3.? Verse 43 –? The Tache of? Hope.? ? Through the Word of God,? we have seen the end of our race; we have read the last chapter and all ends well.? We see His? Hope in this sense is not “I hope God will be there for me” but a blessed hope which is a secure knowledge that He is and will be there with us and for us.? Our race has a starting point and a finish line as we finish our course.? ? Titus 2:13? Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;? Hebrews 13:5? Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.? 4.? Verse 44 –? The Tache of? Integrity.? ? Through the Word of God, we see His? Law is right.? ? I will keep thy law continually, in every circumstance, for ever, as long as I live.? This is not perfection but constancy.? In this life and the life to come!? Psalms 26:1? A Psalm of David. Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.? Integrity – uprightness, honesty, truth? 5.? Verse 45 –? The Tache of? Liberty.? ? Through the Word of God, we see His? freedom that He has given to us.? ? Thy liberty in law is part of the song “America, The Beautiful.”? ? Liberty is not a license to sin; it is freedom to serve.? Free from the condemnation of law should cause us to walk in freedom within the law.? Oh what joy to be free from the fear of walking contrary to the Lord.? Oh what joy to be free from the fear of those who enforce the laws of man.? ? John 8:31-32? Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;? (32)? And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.? 6.? Verse 46 –? The Tache of? Faith.? ? Through the Word of God, we see His personal will for our individual lives.? “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.”? ? Living a life for the Lord is living a life of boldness before men.? We take no personal pride in our life lived for the Lord.? We do take pride in the Lord who changed our life.? Walking at a guilty distance from the Lord cause shame as we cannot open our mouths for the Lord.? Hand out tracts, invite people to church, live a consistent life in front of the people that you are around.? Matthew 5:13-16? Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.? (14)? Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.? (15)? Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.? (16)? Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.? 7.? Verse 47 –? The Tache of? Delight.? ? Through the Word of God, we see His love.? ? A song says, “I'd rather be an old time Christian, Lord, than anything I know.”? Love God, love the Word of God, love the life in God that He has given to you.? Acts 11:26? And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.? 8.? Verse 48 -? The Tache of? Confidence which ends in a Walk in Praise.? Praise, uplifted hands, for His commandments and Love for His statutes because they are Right.

Our Christmas Eve Candle Light service will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a mini-cantata by our Choir. Following the songs, we will have a brief service, ending with candle lighting. This is always a simple but beautiful service. Please join us as we commemorate and celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.