Eastanallee Baptist Church: Recent Episodes
Dr. Richard Sego
Graves Into Gardens performed by: Wood Talkington, Paige Bennett, Mary Fowler, and Leah Hicks
A quick overview of Acts reveals how Jesus's church is birthed, grown, sustained, and protected. All of this happened from a group of Jesus followers who had confidence in the risen Lord Jesus Christ!
So much happens before the birth of the church..just as any major event in your life is not the result of a solitary choice, but a stream of fact-paced happenings that result in a climaxing event. The journey through Luke and Acts is filled with action and excitement.
Have you ever been in a “thicket of life”? No matter which way you turned there seemed to be no way out. It wasn’t a result of your personal sin but just one of those dead ends of life. You didn’t know how you were going to get out of it and then suddenly it seemed as if a way out was dynamited open for you. You suddenly were free from that predicament. That was the staff of the Shepherd.
We will suffer, but we suffer with the Shepherd for He is with us! And all of His beauty is on display as the Rose and Lily of my life! Appeal to saints that are in the valley. It’s just a shadow. You will pass through it. God has purpose in it so grow through it. He is with you.
The whole point of Psalm 23:3 is this: Our Shepherd possesses a ministry of restoration. He restores the soul of the sheep. This is good news because sheep tend to need restoration.
The imagery of “lying down in a green pasture” conjures up thoughts of rest, relaxation, serenity, and abandonment to the care and concerns around us. Believe it or not, God wants us to rest.
One of the most basic illustrations in the Scripture of the relationship that God has with His people is that of sheep and Shepherd. God is our Shepherd and we who have trusted Christ and His finished work on the cross, are His sheep.
Psalm 1:1-5 & Jeremiah 17:5-8
The root of the problem is the problem of no roots. - We need roots. How do we get them? Treasure the Word, Trials of Life, Trusting the Lord and Training in Godliness. - Then, you will have stability and growth required to impact this world for Jesus Christ.
Spurgeon said, "A blessing is concealed in the believers' crosses, losses, and sorrows. The saints' trials are divine farming that reduces abundant fruit."
The Resurrection is the unavoidable fact of History. The LIVING CHRIST says to: The Tomb: PREVENT ME Science: EXPLAIN ME Technology: DUPLICATE ME History: REPEAT ME Unbelief: DISPROVE ME You and Me: BELIEVE ME
Jesus died and rose from the dead as a CONQUEROR!
Did Jesus die? Yes! Just for you and for me? Yes! Jesus dies literally for our sin...to please God because we never could! -To atone for our sins because we never could. -To redeem us because we couldn't do it ourselves. -To forgive us because nobody else could. He did for us! Now, we must live for Him!
He's the Way - He's the way to have your sin forgiven. He's the way to heaven. He's the way to please God. As a secondary blessing, He's the path to a lifetime of adventure, fulfillment, challenge, and purpose. He's the Truth - He is the only Truth...anything or anyone contradicting Him is false! He will provide you with wisdom that works for everyday life. He's the Life - He alone can give you eternal life.
Historically, the answer is Yes! Experientially, the answer is Yes! Biblically, the answer is Yes!
Jesus is more than just a man, more than just a myth - He is actually God!