Zion Primitive Baptist Church: Recent Episodes
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (Preached on December 4, 2016)
In this final sermon in our series on Malachi, we are dealing with the final indictment God has against Judah. They were despising to render service to God, and therefore God is judging them. But Malachi leaves us with a clear and direct prophecy of the coming of the one who would be the precursor to the Messiah: John the Baptist, who would come in the spirit and power of Elijah! Join us today as we conclude our study of the book of Malachi.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on December 4, 2016)
As we come to the end of our series on Malachi, we see that the last charge Malachi has against Judah is that they are despising the service of God. There were some who were faithful, and gathered together regularly to worship God, but there seemed to be more and more people who were idolaters and evildoers who despised to render proper service to God. Join us as we look at this last chapter of the Book of Malachi.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on
As we saw in the first half of this sermon, the children of Israel in Malachi’s day were robbing God in the sense that they were not giving to the temple and ministry like they should. God certainly doesn’t need any of our “stuff,” since He owns everything in the universe! But our giving is an act of worship for the One Who has blessed us so abundantly! Join us as we continue looking at the principle of God-honoring giving.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on October 16, 2016)
As we continue our study of the book of Malachi, we find more problems with Judah in that day. We have already seen some of the issues, and today we begin looking at their failure to tithe like they should. Indeed, the people of Judah in Malachi’s day were robbing God’s storehouse by not giving properly. Join us as we begin to look at this important principle of giving.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on October 2, 2016)
As we saw in the first half of this sermon, John the Baptist was to be the messenger of the coming Messiah. His job was to “prepare the way” before Him. In the last half of this message, we focus upon the Messenger of the Covenant, who is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. God’s Messiah – His Son Jesus – will come “suddenly” to His temple, and bring justice and judgment, along with mercy for His people. Join us as we continue looking at God’s final warning through Malachi before this Messenger of the Covenant comes.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on October 2, 2016)
In the sermon today, we continue looking at the first messenger that is prophesied by Malachi. As we have already seen, this messenger is John the Baptist, whose job it was to go before Jesus and prepare the way for His earthly appearance. John’s ministry was unique, and brief, but it was the most powerful ministry a preacher ever had! Join us for the first part of this sermon, which focuses upon the upcoming work of the one who was to pave the way for the Messiah.
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be Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 25, 2016)
In this sermon (which is a little shorter than normal due to sharing the time with another Elder), we begin looking at the final warning given by Malachi in his prophecy. He tells the nation of Judah about two messengers that will be sent by God. The first is the messenger of the Messiah, who will be sent to prepare the way of the Christ. Of course, this messenger is John the Baptist, and we begin the see some of the characteristics that his ministry will contain. The second Messenger is the Messenger of the Covenant, Who is Christ Himself. Join us today for this message that forecasts the first coming of Christ, and His messenger who will prepare His way.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 18, 2016)
As we began to see last time, the people of Judah in Malachi’s day were disrespecting God’s covenant of marriage. Not only were they marrying outside the Jewish people, but they were also putting away their spouses for ungodly reasons. Join us today as we continue looking at the covenant of marriage, and how God intends for it to be carried out.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 18, 2016)
As we continue our study of the Book of Malachi, we see more problems with the people of Judah in that day. Not only had they been committing sin in regard to their worship, they had been profaning God’s covenant of marriage. As we will see as we look at this, God hates divorce! His original plan for marriage was for one man and one woman to unite for a lifetime. Join us as we begin looking deeper into the sins of the land of Judah in Malachi’s day.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 4, 2016)
The problems in Malachi’s day started at the top, with the priests. But corruption among the leaders almost always trickles down to the people! Join us today as we continue reviewing the sins of the priests, which was one of the primary reasons God sent this final warning to His people before the first coming of Christ.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 4, 2016)
In today’s message, we continue looking at the sins of the priests in Malachi’s day. They were not only questioning God’s love for them, but also bringing the lame and the halt and the blind as sacrifices, instead of the best of the herds. In the sermon today, we review much of what we have preached before, and learn more of the problems facing Judah in this time.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 4, 2016)
As we began to see yesterday, the priests were committing grave sins in Malachi’s day. The first questioned the love of God for His people, and then when worshiping Him in tithes and offerings, they brought the lame and sick of the flock instead of the best of their material possessions. Join us as we continue our exposition of the Book of Malachi, which was God’s final warning to the Jews before Christ’s incarnation.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 4, 2016)
As we get into the heart of the problems in Judah in the time of Malachi, we find that there were issues that went all the way to the top. We have already seen that they were questioning whether God even loved them! God had to remind them that He has proven His love over and over, most clearly in the fact that He loved Jacob while hating Jacob’s twin brother Esau. Today, we begin to see that the problems in Judah started with the priests themselves, and the half-hearted way they were worshipping the Lord. Join us as we continue looking at the problems in Israel in Malachi’s day.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on August 28, 2016)
In this series from 2016, we read about the final prophecy sent by God to the Jews before the incarnation of Christ. One of the problems during His day was that the people had even begun to question God’s love for them! Truly this was a “final warning” about repentance, and being prepared for the most important event in the history of man to this point: the birth of Jesus as a baby in Bethlehem. Join us as we continue looking at the opening verses of the Book of Malachi.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on August 28, 2016)
Back in 2016, we engaged in a series on the Book of Malachi entitled, “A Final Warning”. Malachi’s prophecy was, indeed, the final warning to the Israelites before the initial advent of Christ. After this final book of the Old Testament, God was silent for over 400 years! There was no inspired word from heaven until the cry of the Christ Child in a stable in Bethlehem. Join us as we begin looking at this important prophecy that completes the Old Testament and leads us into the New.
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by Elder Tom Corley (preached on October 13, 2024)
On the second Sunday evening of October, 2024, we had the unexpected pleasure of having Elder Tom Corley preach for us! He preached a powerful sermon about what Jesus has done for His children. We are publishing the sermon in its entirety here today. Please join us for this reminder of how thankful we ought to be for the sacrifice of Christ.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on June 28, 2024)
As we began to see yesterday, there are many placed in the New Testament where Jesus told His disciples to be of “good cheer.” Today, Elder John Morgan Owens continues along this thought by looking at other examples of Jesus cheering His disciples in the face of difficult, and seemingly impossible, circumstances. Join us for the conclusion of this sermon today, entitled “Be of Good Cheer.”
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on June 23, 2024)
As Jesus is preparing for Calvary, He shares some last words of encouragement with His disciples: “Be of good cheer.” He does not tell them that the tribulations of the world will go away; on the contrary, He emphasizes that there WILL be problems in this life! However, He reminds them that He Himself has overcome the world, and therefore they can have joy and comfort in their daily walk. Join us as Bro. John Morgan Owens teaches us about why we can have good cheer in a cheerless world.
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by Elder Kevin Lofton (preached on September 29, 2024)
As we began to see yesterday, much like the sweet mingled wine that cheers the hearts of God and man, the sweet gospel message brings joy to the hearts of God’s children. We were learning that there are some truths mingled together that make this gospel blend sweet to the soul of the broken-hearted sinner! But there are some things that do NOT belong, such as the teaching of any kind of works-based salvation. And most gloriously, the cup of the wine of God’s wrath will NEVER be visited upon God’s children! Join us today for the conclusion of this powerful message by Elder Kevin Lofton, Pastor of Buffalo Primitive Baptist Church in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.
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by Elder Kevin Lofton (preached on September 29, 2024)
On the fifth Sunday night in October 2024, we were blessed to have Elder Kevin Lofton, Pastor of Buffalo Primitive Baptist Church in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, as our guest minister. In this sermon, he shows some comparisons given in the Bible between wine and the gospel. We learn that, much like properly mingled wine, the gospel is a mixture of many sweet truths that, when properly joined together, make glad the heart of God and man. However, when you remove something from the mixture, or add something to it, you create something that is neither palatable nor nourishing. Join us as we begin looking at this sweet example from Scripture.
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by Elder Martin Onyoni (October 6, 2024)
When Elder Martin Onyoni came to preach for us in October 2024, after the sermon we asked him to take some time and update our church on the churches that have been established in Africa. Bro. Martin has labored faithfully among the flocks there, as well as several of our ordained elders and other Primitive Baptists from here in America. I wanted to post this update because it was so encouraging to us here at Zion church. We are also including much of the beautiful congregational singing that we had that night; it was a glorious night of worship, and I hope you are blessed to hear how the Lord is working in Africa!
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on September 15, 2024)
Have you ever been homesick? In this sermon, Elder John Morgan Owens reminds us how it is too long for home when we are away from home. He shares how, when he was a child and spending the night somewhere overnight, a phone call from home would help lift his spirits. Likewise, Scripture teaches us that “good news” from our heavenly home refreshes and encourages us! Join us for this uplifting sermon.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on October 13, 2024)
As we began to see in the first half of this sermon, there are at least three different types of justification taught in Scripture: justification by grace, justification by works, and justification by faith. Since “justification” is a legal term meaning “not guilty,” we are made to think of “courtrooms” in which different types of justification apply. Justification by grace occurs solely by the sacrifice of Christ, and applies in the courtroom of God’s throne of eternal judgment. Justification by works, on the other hand, occurs in the courtroom of men’s opinions – how else will anyone know that we are indeed children of God, unless we demonstrate that by our works? Finally, justification by faith occurs in the courtroom of our own hearts and minds, and has to do with how we view ourselves and our relationship to God. Join us today as we consider this important doctrine.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on October 13, 2024)
In the sermons leading up to this message, we have been laying the groundwork for Paul’s examination of Justification by Faith in Chapter 4 of the Book of Romans. As we move on into this chapter, we find Paul using the example of Faithful Abraham to illustrate this Bible doctrine. In fact, Abraham is used many times throughout the New Testament to exemplify the life of faith. But what does it really mean to be “justified by faith”? The term “justification” is a legal term, which causes us to think of a courtroom. Join us today as we begin to see the context and the courtroom in which justification by faith applies.
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by Elder Martin Onyoni (preached on October 6, 2024)
On the first Sunday night in October of 2024, we were blessed to have Elder Martin Onyoni, pastor of First Primitive Baptist Church Kisii, Kenya, come and preach for us. Bro. Martin brought a powerful and comforting message about the second coming of Christ, from Matthew chapter 25. Please join us for the message today, and keep Elder Onyoni and his labors in Africa in your prayers!
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on September 29, 2024)
As we began to see yesterday, the name “Christian” is not just any old name. In fact, it ought to mean something! Elder John Morgan Owens continues today teaching us from Scripture what it means to be a follower of Christ. Join us for the conclusion of this message.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on September 29, 2024)
What is a Christian? What does it really mean when someone says, “I am a Christian?” In this sermon, Elder John Morgan Owens teaches us from Scripture that being a Christian means that we are living our lives in a Christ-like manner. Join us as we see the answer to this important question.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on October 6, 2024)
As we began to see yesterday, it is extremely important for us to place our faith in the finished work of Christ. Belief of the gospel message gives us the rest, assurance, and hope that we need to serve the Lord profitably here in this sin-cursed world. Join us today as we conclude this message about the importance of faith in the gospel.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on October 6, 2024)
In the last message from the book of Romans, we saw that our eternal salvation does not depend on whether or not we believe the gospel message. But does that mean that believing the gospel is not important? The answer is a resounding “NO!” It is extremely important that we have faith in the finished work of Christ as we walk in this sin-cursed world. Join us today as begin to look at the importance of faith, or believing the gospel.
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by Elder Kenneth Nowell (preached on September 4, 2024)
In 2 Kings 22, we read about the young king Josiah, who was the last good king of Judah. During the reign of his father and grandfather, the Book of the Law had been lost. And where had it been lost? In the House of God (the Temple)! In this sermon, Elder Kenneth Nowell explains how we also can lose the book (the Bible) if we aren’t careful! Join us for this needed reminder of how diligent we should be in reading and remembering the word of God.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 22, 2024)
We began yesterday reviewing a couple of verses we have already discussed in Romans 3:3-4. The question of whether unbelief keeps us out of heaven has been argued about since the early days of Christianity. But the Bible answer is clear: it is the faithfulness of God that counts, not of man! Belief is extremely important for our peace of mind here and now, but it is the faithfulness of God to His covenant that gets us into heaven. Join us today as we conclude our look at this important Bible topic.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 22, 2024)
As we continue our study in the Book of Romans, we want to go back today and review a couple of verses that we have already discussed. These verses are found in the first part of Chapter 3, where the question is asked, “What if some did not believe?” The answer given by most of the rest of the religious world is, “They die and go to hell.” But Paul’s answer is, “God forbid!” Join us today as we learn about how God is faithful to His covenant even when man is not.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 15, 2024)
Today we conclude our study of the doctrine of “total depravity” as set forth in Chapter 3. We have seen what total depravity is, and how it separates us from God. Today we finish up by looking at the solution for the human condition of depravity, and ultimately find that God gets all the credit for the eternal salvation of His people! Join us today for our study of this important bible subject.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 15, 2024)
As we have seen in our study of the Book of Romans, the doctrine of “total depravity” – i.e., that man is completely dead spiritually – is a very real doctrine! We have looked at the definition and description of depravity as set out in Chapter 3, and today we examine the dilemma that depravity places us in. We are completely unable to serve or please God due to our naturally depraved nature! Our dilemma, then, is that we cannot save ourselves. However, the solution for our depravity is the perfect work of Jesus Christ! Join us as we continue learning about the doctrine of “total depravity.”
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by Elder Tim McCool (preached on August 7, 2024)
Have you ever considered the symbolism of the national holidays of Israel? In this sermon, Elder Tim McCool, Pastor of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church in Echola, Alabama, shares some of the symbolism of the festivals given to Israel by the God of the festival. Join us for this encouraging sermon.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on September 8, 2024)
As we began to see yesterday, the thing we most need during times of distress is a vision of God high and lifted up! This world is filled with trouble, but eventually it will all be rolled up like a scroll and put away. The political disputes, the social divide, the sickness, and the death will all be done away, but God will still be on His throne! Join us for the conclusion of this comforting message.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on September 8, 2024)
Do you get tired of the daily bombardment of sin and immorality? Does politics get you down and out? Does living in a sin-cursed world just generally drag you down into despair? Then maybe you need to see what Isaiah saw! In a time of great political and national turmoil, Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up. This was the vision he needed in order to find encouragement. Join us today as we begin to look at the need to see God seated on His throne.
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by Elder Craig Blair (preached on September 8, 2024)
As we began to see yesterday, God has revealed Himself to us in various ways. Elder Craig Blair has begun to teach us that we can see God in nature, and in Scripture. In the second half of this sermon, we continue looking at the way God reveals Himself to us in Scripture, and then learn that He reveals Himself to us in our experience in walking with Him here and now. Join us for the conclusion of this message about “knowing God”.
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by Elder Craig Blair (preached on September 8, 2024)
In this sermon, Elder Craig Blair, pastor of Tuscaloosa Primitive Baptist Church, teaches us about knowing God. There are at least three ways that God reveals Himself to us: in nature, in Scripture, and in our experience as we walk in discipleship with Him. Join us today as we begin looking at the ways in which we can know God.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 1, 2024)
As we began to see yesterday, there are often famines in the life of the child of God. These famines are real, and can be scary to us! How should we face such famines? Isaac’s example in Gen. 26 teaches us that, when the famine arises, we should stay in the place where God wants us to be. Join us today for the conclusion of this sermon.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 1, 2024)
How should we face the famines that arise in our lives? There are many accounts in Scripture concerning famines, and how people reacted them. In Genesis 26, we read about a famine that Isaac faced in the land of Canaan. God specifically told him, “Go not down into Egypt,” like his father Abraham did. Isaac obeyed God, and as a result experienced great blessings. What an example of how to face the famines in our own lives!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on
As we began to see in the last sermon, we have to press into the Kingdom of God on earth, which is the Church. It is NOT inevitable that the regenerated child of God will become a believer and join one of God’s true churches. Rather, we must press into it with effort, because we have many enemies trying to keep us out of the church! Last time we saw that our ultimate enemy is none other than Satan himself, who hates the church and hates God’s people. If he can keep them separated, he will do so with glee! Join us today as we look at our other enemies: the world and the flesh.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on August 21, 2024)
In Luke’s gospel, we read an important statement regarding our discipleship here on earth: “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.” The phrase “presseth into it” means, literally, to take it by force. Clearly this is not speaking of the heavenly kingdom; rather, it is a reference to Christ’s Kingdom on earth: the Church. One of the enemies that tries to keep us out of the Kingdom is Satan. Joins us today as we take a look at this great enemy that we must “press against” in order to enter the Church Kingdom.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on August 11, 2024)
As we began to see yesterday, God has set forth a path for us to follow if we would enjoy life in a godly way. Peter tells us that the one who wants to “see good days” should refrain his tongue from evil, and seek peace, among other things. Join us today as we listen to the conclusion of this message about how to have a good and godly life.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on August 11, 2024)
Do you want to have a good life? The Bible teaches you how! In this sermon, Elder John Morgan Owens preaches to us from the book of Peter about how to have “good days.” Join us as we see what we need to do in order to enjoy life in a godly way.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 1, 2024)
In our study on Romans, we are looking at the doctrine of total depravity as set out in Chapter 3. Last time, we saw the definition of depravity and discussed some dangers in forgetting about depravity. Today, we take a look at the description of depravity in Romans 3:10-18. Join us as we continue to explore this important and fundamental doctrine.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 1, 2024)
In today’s sermon, we continue looking at the doctrine of total depravity in Romans 3. First of all, we review the definition of depravity that we discussed in the last sermon. Then we begin looking at why we need to know about our own depravity. When we forget the fact that we were dead in trespasses and sins, we cannot fully comprehend the glory of grace, and we will not be giving God all the glory to which He is due! Moreover, when we forget our old depraved Adam nature, we risk slipping back into our old sinful ways. Join us today as we continue looking at the doctrine of total depravity.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on August 25, 2024)
Today we get to the crux of Paul’s argument regarding the condition of man. The theological term that we use to describe the condition of man without God in nature is “total depravity.” This term describes the fact that ALL of Adam’s descendants are dead in trespasses and sins by nature, and unable to extricate themselves from the desperate situation they are in. Join us today as we begin looking at the topic of total depravity.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on August 25, 2024)
As we continue in our series on Romans, we are dealing with several questions asked by Paul in chapter 3. Today, we come to a question that implicates the false doctrine of “absolutism”, which is the belief that God has predestinated – or at least is “orchestrating” – all things that occur, including sinful acts of men. If this is the case, Paul asks, how could God righteously judge the world? Paul uses this argument to debunk this heresy. Join us today as we look into this important question.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on August 18, 2024)
In the first half of this sermon, we learned that the only advantage the Old Testament Jews had was that God had given them His word. Today, we deal with the question, “What if some did not believe?” The answer to this question given by the religious world is, “The unbelievers die and go to hell.” But is that the answer Paul gives us under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit? In Paul’s words, “God forbid!” Join us as we see the glorious answer to this question, that God Almighty will always be true to His covenant of grace, regardless of the unfaithfulness of men!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on August 18, 2024)
As we move on into chapter three of Romans, we come to some questions asked by Paul concerning the Jews. In this sermon, we begin dealing with the first two of these questions: (1) What advantage has the Jew? and (2) What if some did not believe? In the first half of the message, we see that there were no inherent advantages to being a Jew, but the fact that God gave them His oracles was a GREAT advantage! And that’s the same advantage we have today: the glorious word of God.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on August 4, 2024)
As we began to see yesterday, the Jews had received the sign of circumcision, which set them apart from all other peoples on the earth. But the sign of circumcision was supposed to be the mark of an inward spiritual work. Today, we are looking at the way in which circumcision points us to the new birth in the life of a child of God. And we learn that the TRUE Jew is one who is circumcised in the heart and not the flesh!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on August 4, 2024)
As we continue in the second chapter of Romans, we are looking at the fact that, contrary to their belief, the Jews are guilty before God. One of the reasons is that they had received the sign of circumcision, which set them apart as special people unto God. Today we begin examining this sign of circumcision, and we see that, contrary to the teaching of some denominations, it was NOT pointing us to New Testament baptism but rather to the new birth. It was supposed to be an outward sign of God’s inward work. Join us as we begin to look at circumcision and the Jewish people.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on July 28, 2024)
As we have seen, the Jews – who thought themselves to be more righteous than the Gentiles – were actually just as culpable in the sight of God as other nations. This was because they had received the special blessings of God, and had been shown the goodness of God. Today we see that the Jews were guilty before God because they had received the Law from His hands. Join us as we examine this important principle, that both Jew and Gentile are guilty before God.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on July 28, 2024)
In today’s sermon, we continue looking at the fact that the Jews – who thought themselves to be more righteous and holy than the Gentiles – were actually just as guilty in the sight of God. We start off seeing that the Jews were guilty before God because they had been shown that God’s goodness is what leads us to repentance, not the threats of legalism! The Jews had been shown this basis for true repentance, and yet they were still legalistic. We continue by looking at the fact that the Jews were guilty before God because they had been given the Law, unlike any other nation on earth. Join us as we continue looking at this idea of the guilt of the Jews before God.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on July 21, 2024)
In the first half of this sermon, we learned the difference between exercising proper godly judgment and being self-righteously judgmental. The Jews were looking down on Gentiles, believing themselves to be more holy and righteous, and deserving of God’s favor. However, Paul tells them plainly that they are not holier than others, but in many ways MORE guilty than the Gentiles because of all the blessings they had received from God. Join us as we continue this sermon, and see more of the judgmentalism and the guilt of the Jews before the Lord.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on July 21, 2024)
In Romans 2, we begin by looking at the difference between judgment and judgmentalism. There is no question that we are to exercise proper judgment in this life, but we are never to be judgmental in the exercise of that kind of discernment. Our judgment must be in accord with God’s standard of judgment! Paul then takes the Jews to task for being judgmental – i.e., looking down on the Gentiles and being self-righteous in their judgments. Join us today as we begin looking at chapter 2 of Romans.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on July 7, 2024)
As we conclude chapter 1 of Romans, we are examining the display of the depravity of man. The Apostle Paul shows us the underlying condition of depravity, along with the inward display of that depravity. He also examines the outward display of depravity – its manifestation in this world. Join us as we conclude our exposition of Chapter 1 of Romans today.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on July 7, 2024)
In this sermon, we move on toward the end of chapter 1 of Romans. In the first half, we review where we are at this point in our exposition of Romans, and remind ourselves that this book is truly a book of inspired systematic theology. Next, we move into an examination of the depravity of man that is displayed in the world. Join us as we continue looking at the theology of the Book of Romans.
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by Elder Chris McCool, pastor (preached on June 16, 2024)
As we continue our exposition of Romans, we are in the process of learning about the depravity of man, which is the reason for the wrath of God. Today, we begin looking at how God’s wrath interacts with man’s depravity, and we see that it is exercised not only at the end of time in the great Judgment, but also here and now in this present evil world. Join us as we dig further into these matters in chapter 1 of Romans.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on June 16, 2024)
As we dig further into chapter 1 of Romans, we are slowly being introduced to the concept of depravity. We have learned that God’s wrath is manifested against all ungodliness and unrighteousness, and today we begin to see that this ungodliness and unrighteousness is a universal human condition. Join us as we look deeper into the wrath of God as it is displayed against the depravity of man.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on June 6, 2024)
We continue today in Chapter 1 of the Book of Romans. As we began to see in the first half of this sermon, God’s wrath is real, and it is revealed to all the world “from heaven”. As we continue exploring this concept, we learn that God’s wrath is indeed a righteous wrath. It is never exercised indiscriminately; rather, in every instance, it is applied in just the right way! And finally, we see that although the elect children of God all deserve His wrath just like the non-elect, our sins were judged in Christ and we will never have to stand in eternal judgment for them. Join us as we continue our exposition of this inspired book of systematic theology.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on June 9, 2024)
In the verses under consideration today, we learn first that the wrath of God is “revealed from heaven”. While it is clear from Scripture that the spiritual message of the gospel is something that only a spiritual being can understand, the wrath of God is revealed to all – including the unregenerated non-elect! Secondly, we learn that His wrath is indeed real. It is not a fictionalized story made up to scare children: God’s wrath is very real, and is exercised from time to time in this temporal world. Join us today as we begin to see the reality of God’s wrath and its revelation to the world.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on June 2, 2024)
As we move on into the first chapter of Romans, we are examining Paul’s own description of his ministry to the Roman church. After declaring his loving care for them, he began to speak of the burden he felt to preach the gospel to them. Then he set forth the power of the gospel, which is NOT to save eternally but is rather to save the believer in a temporal sense. Join us as we continue looking at the great truths of this inspired writing.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on June 2, 2024)
As we continue our exposition of Romans, we are still looking at some preliminaries found in Chapter 1. In the verses today, we see Paul’s ministry to the Roman church. He had great love and care for them, which reminds us that dry theology is not enough: we must also have love one for another! Paul’s loving care for the Romans is evident throughout this epistle, and as he describes his ministry to them we see that it is a ministry based upon love. Join us as we continue looking at this book of inspired systematic theology.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on May 19, 2024)
Yesterday we began looking at the book of Romans, which is the only inspired systematic theology that exists in the world. We began to see that Paul, in his salutation to the saints at Rome, set forth first his credentials, and then his concern for them. He continues to demonstrate his conviction to preach the truth to them, as we will see in the rest of this amazing book.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on May 19, 2024)
At Zion PBC, we have begun a series on the Book of Romans. Today’s sermon is the first half of the first sermon from this book, which has aptly been called the only INSPIRED systematic theology in the world! Truly this book contains one of the most comprehensive statements of theology in existence. Join us as we begin looking at the Book of Romans.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on August 4, 2024)
As we come to the conclusion of our series on the book of Hebrews, the writer reminds us of some blessings that we have in the church Kingdom. We have been looking at the spiritual leadership God has provided through His called ministry. We continue with the spiritual worship that we engage in on a constant basis. And finally, the writer leaves us with the most important and comprehensive spiritual benediction that he could give us: “Grace be with you all. Amen.”
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on August 4, 2024)
As we reach the end of the Book of Hebrews, we are focusing on some spiritual blessings that we have in the church. We have discussed the blessing of spiritual fellowship, and today we consider the blessing of spiritual worship. God has given us pastors and preachers to lead us in our public worship, and we ought to submit to them when they lead us from God’s word. Join us as we examine the spiritual blessing of God-called leadership in the church.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on July 21, 2024)
As we began to see yesterday, chapter 13 takes us from “doctrine” to “duty”. In this last chapter of Hebrews, the writer reminds us of spiritual blessings that we have in the Church, and exhorts us to work to achieve those blessings. One of the first blessings – and duties – is engaging in fellowship within the church. Our fellowship in the Kingdom of God is spiritual fellowship, unlike anything we could ever find in the world!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on July 21, 2024)
As we approach the end of our series on Hebrews, we come to the last chapter of the book. Up to this point, we have dealt primarily with doctrine; in chapter 13, we find many admonitions to duty. The primary thrust of this chapter is to remind us of the spiritual blessings that we have in the church. In the first six verses, we find a reminder of the sweet spiritual fellowship that we ought to have in the church. Join us as we begin today looking at the blessing of spiritual fellowship.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on July 28, 2024)
In Primitive Baptist churches, you will often hear the terms “eternal,” “time”, or “gospel” salvation. In this powerful sermon, Elder Buddy Abernathy takes us through Scripture to show us what each of these concepts teaches. He focuses in particular upon “gospel salvation,” and the relief that understanding and believing the gospel brings to the regenerated child of God. Join us today as we learn about these three types of salvation that are found in the Bible.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on July 14, 2024)
In the first half of this message, we began to see the recurrence of the phrase “no man” in Scripture. What can we do when there is “no man” to help? The man laying at the Pool of Bethesda experienced this sense of helplessness; yet he encountered THE Man among men! Elsewhere we learn that “no man” can help in the job of eternal redemption; join us for the conclusion of this sermon about how Christ is the only Man who is always our helper, in eternal redemption and in every circumstance of life.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on July 14, 2024)
As Jesus came to the Pool of Bethesda, He found a certain man lying there with a decades-old affliction. When asked, the man responded, “Sir, I have no man” to help me into the pool. The phrase “no man” occurs several times in Scripture; join us today as Elder John Morgan Owens begins to teach us several biblical lessons about how we should look to no man on earth, but rather, we need to look to THE Man, Jesus Christ Himself.
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by Elder David Crawford (preached on May 6, 2012)
Several years ago, we had Elder David Crawford come and preach for us here at Zion on a Sunday night. He preached a glorious message from Proverbs about “conies.” Conies are a “feeble folk”, we are told, but they wisely make their homes in the rocks where they find safety. Does not this remind us of the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ? We indeed are feeble folk, but when we abide in the Rock of Ages, we are safe and can be strong! Join us for this encouraging message about the feeble conies.
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by Elder Chase Harrison (preached on July 14, 2024)
In the second half of this sermon, preached by Elder Chase Harrison recently at Zion Church, we learn that not only did God the Father give the Son a Kingdom, but that Christ then gave the Kingdom to us. What an amazing thought, that this spiritual Kingdom presently exists on earth! And the Kingdom that is being referenced is the Church Kingdom. Join us for the conclusion of this powerful sermon on the Kingdom of God.
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by Elder Chase Harrison (preached on July 14, 2024)
Recently we were blessed to have Elder Chase Harrison with us here at Zion Church. He preached a powerful message about the Kingdom of God. This Kingdom is not some future kingdom that is yet to be established, but rather was given to Christ by the Father and established by Christ on earth as his Church. Join us today for the first half of this powerful sermon on the Kingdom of God.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on July 7, 2024)
In the first half of this sermon, we were beginning to see that God “shook things up” when He sent Christ to the earth. The writer compares the “shaking” that occurred on earth at Sinai with the “shaking” that occurred of heaven and earth in Bethlehem. Join us as we continue examining how things were “shaken up” with the first coming of Christ.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on July 7, 2024)
As we continue our study of the Book of Hebrews, we come to the end of the twelfth chapter and one of the last admonitions from the writer: refuse not Him that speaketh! The point here is that we should listen to God and obey His word. In support of this command, the writer engages in a “grand summation” of all his prior arguments about why Christianity is superior to Judaism. He refers to a great “shaking” that has occurred with the advent of Christ; join us as we examine this rich exposition of the change that has occurred in the Person and work of Christ.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on June 9, 2024)
As we began to see yesterday, the contrast between the two mountains of Sinai and Sion is stark! Sinai represents the Law worship in Old Testament times; Sion represents grace worship in New Testaments days. Join us today for the conclusion of this sermon about the great blessing of public worship under grace as opposed to the old public worship under Law.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on June 9, 2024)
In the passage before us today, the writer paints a vivid contrast between public worship under the Law and public worship in the church by comparing two mountains: Sinai and Sion. Sinai represents the Law, Sion represents grace. This is the “grand summation” of all the arguments in the book of Hebrews regarding the supplanting of Old Testament Law worship and New Testament grace worship. Join us today as we begin to contrast the two mountains of Law and grace.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on June 2, 2024)
As we conclude this sermon on patience, which in Scripture simply means “keeping on keeping on,” we find that not only should we be encouraged by God’s chastening of us, but we also ought to be encouraged by His great love for us. That love was never more on display than when Jesus died on the cross for us! Join us as we continue to explore patience in our race of discipleship.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on June 2, 2024)
We have seen that the writer of Hebrews admonishes us to “run the race” with patience as he begins chapter 12. He goes on to encourage us to this same patience, which simply means “keeping on keeping on”, while giving us some important encouragement about that very kind of faith. First he tells us that Jesus is with us, so we ought to keep on keeping on. Then he tells us that even the chastening of God should encourage us, for that is evidence that we indeed ARE children of God! Join us today for the first half of this message on “patience.”
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on May 12, 2024)
As we saw in the last message, we are running a “race of discipleship” while here on earth. Like most runners, there are times when we get tired and feel like quitting. To whom can we look when we feel the exhaustion of the world overtaking us? There is only One: Jesus! Join us today as we see that we can look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, for help in the race of discipleship.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on April 21, 2024)
As we began to see yesterday, our life of discipleship is like a race. When running a race, we don’t burden ourselves down with weights; rather, we discard the weights so that we can run faster! Join us today as we continue looking at the race of discipleship, and learn some more about running that race with patience.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on April 21, 2024)
Having recently finished examining the “Hall of Faith” chapter in Hebrews 11, we come to chapter 12 and the admonition of the opening verse to “run your race with patience.” The writer compares the life of discipleship to a race, and gives some exhortations and admonitions regarding this race. Join us as we begin looking today at the race of discipleship, and the manner in which we should patiently run it.
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by Elder Kenneth Nowell (preached on July 3, 2024)
In this sermon, Elder Kenneth Nowell preaches about investing in the Kingdom of God rather than in the things of this world. The things of the world will become corrupted and pass away, while the Kingdom of God remains! Therefore, we should focus our efforts on laboring and living in the Kingdom of God here on earth. Join us for this powerful reminder of our duties in the church!
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on April 14, 2024)
In 1 Cor. 14:40, Paul admonishes us that the public worship service in the church ought to be done “decently and in order.” In this sermon, Elder Buddy Abernathy preaches about a subject that has caused much “disorder” in pubic worship in the religious world: the practice of “speaking in tongues.” Bro. Buddy shows us that this is NOT the “babbling” that we hear about today in some churches out in the world, but was a miraculous gift given to the early church that simply allowed people of different backgrounds to hear the gospel preached in their own languages.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on June 16, 2024)
In the first half of this sermon, Elder John Morgan Owens was teaching us about instances of physical hunger in the Bible where God provided miraculously. As we conclude this sermon today, we see that, in our spiritual hunger, we are only ever satisfied by the spiritual provision God has given us in His Spirit and in His word.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on June 23, 2024)
Have you ever been hungry? In this sermon, Elder John Morgan Owens takes us to several instances in the Scripture where people experienced physical hunger, but were ultimately fed. But what about spiritual hunger? Sometimes we can get to the point where we are spiritually starving! Join us today for the first half of this sermon, as we look at the topic of “hunger,” and God’s provision physical and spiritual provision for us.
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by Elder Tim McCool (preached on June 23, 2024)
Where is Judas? The question asked by Elder Tim McCool in this sermon is NOT about where Judas is spending eternity; rather, it is about where is the “Judas” in your life? Where is the “Judas” in your workplace? Where is the “Judas” in your family, or church? We learn that there are “Judases” in our lives, and that sometimes we ourselves may be in the spirit of “Judas”! We also learn how Jesus handles the Judases of the world, and how we should follow His example.
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by Elder Luke Hagler (preached on June 30, 2024)
As we began to see last time, every child of God has a testimony of some kind. The dear faithful saints of Scripture showed us examples of how we ought to live, so that our testimony would be as true and faithful as theirs. Join us today for the conclusion of this wonderful sermon about the testimony of the saints of God.
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by Elder Luke Hagler (preached on June 30, 2024)
In this marvelous sermon about the testimony of the saints of God, Elder Luke Hagler takes us through Scripture and shows us the testimonies of various biblical characters who stood firm on the truths of Christ. Join us today as we begin to see that our testimony ought to be as impactful as those dear old saints who lived out a good testimony for Christ.
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by Elder Donnie McPherson (preached on June 30, 2024)
On the Fifth Sunday evening in June 2024, we were blessed to have Elder Donnie McPherson come and preach for us. In this powerful message, Elder McPherson teaches us from Scripture about God’s providence and our duty to serve Him in all situations. We learn that, while God often guides us to the right place and the right time, we still have a duty to do the right thing! Join us for this important lesson about our experience in discipleship here in this life.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on July 2, 2023)
Since today is Independence Day, we want to re-post a sermon preached last year by Elder Chris McCool about revival in America. Revisionist historians today try to tell us that America was not founded upon Christian values, and that the Founders were not devout Christians. The historical record is clear, however, that our nation’s Founders were primarily predestinarian Christians who intended to establish a nation that would protect religious liberty! Join us today as we revisit this important topic of revival in America.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on
As we began to see last time, Hannah was a faithful mother in Israel who trusted God to bless her and to protect her child, Samuel. She prayed to God fervently, and trusted God implicitly. Join us today as we conclude our exposition of Hannah, a faithful mother.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on May 12, 2024)
Today, we take a look at an example from Scripture of a faithful mother. Hannah was barren, but she trusted God and prayed to Him for a child. When Samuel was born, she “lent him to the Lord” in faith, trusting God to take care of him as he served Him. Join us today as we look at Hannah, a faithful mother in Israel.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on May 1, 2024)
In Joshua, we read about a little harlot in Jericho named Rahab. When the spies came into the city, she aided them, and in return they told her to bind a scarlet line in the window of her house, so that they could save her alive when they sacked the city. As we will see from the sermon today, this scarlet line is symbolic of the safety that we have in Christ.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on April 7, 2024)
In the first half of this sermon, Elder John Morgan Owens began to teach us about the legal concept of “mediation.” While mediation is an essential part of modern legal practice, we see that there is no mediator among men to bring any case we might have before God. In fact, we have no case to present! But we see from Scripture that there is indeed a Mediator: the Lord Jesus Christ, Who is our Daysman! Join us as we conclude this sweet sermon on mediation today.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on April 7, 2024)
In this “loose series” on legal concepts found in the Scripture, Elder John Morgan Owens takes us to the concept of “mediation.” In the modern legal world, mediation is an important aspect of settling any legal case that is brought in court. But what about the legal case God has against us, for the sin that is present in the life of every child of God? The good news is that we DO have a Mediator, in the Person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ! Join us today as Bro. Owens begins to show us the legal concept of “mediation” in the Bible.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on March 17, 2024)
Yesterday we posted the first half of a sermon by Elder John Morgan Owens on the topic of justification. He began teaching us from Scripture that there are three different justifications taught in the Bible. Justification by grace is accomplished in the courtroom of Heaven by the sacrifice of Christ alone. Justification by faith occurs in the courtroom of our hearts and minds when we trust what Christ has done for us. And justification by works happens in the courtroom of mens’ opinions when we live out our faith in a righteous way in this time world. Join us today for the conclusion of this message, as we see this concept of justification rightly divided!
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on March 17, 2024)
In this sermon by Elder John Morgan Owens, we continue in a loose series on legal concepts in Scripture by considering the topic of justification. He shows us from Scripture that there are three different kinds of justification taught in the Bible: justification by grace, justification by faith, and justification by works. These different types of justification do NOT contradict one another; rather, they operate in different and distinct realms. Join us today as we begin looking at this threefold concept of justification.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on March 17, 2024)
In the first half of this sermon, Elder John Morgan Owens was beginning to teach us the elements of a “last will and testament.” We were also being shown how “veils” and “testaments” were often used in the same passages in Scripture. As we conclude this sermon today, we find that each one of God’s children are the beneficiaries of eternal life through the “last will and testament” of God! And we see that God’s testament was secured by the “veil of His flesh”, which is a reference to the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ!
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on March 17, 2024)
In this sermon, Elder John Morgan Owens begins a “loose series” about some legal concepts that appear in Scripture. Today, we begin looking at “testaments.” A testament is tantamount to what we would call a “last will and testament” today, and there are certain elements that universally apply to legal instruments of inheritance like these testaments. Bro. Owens lays out these elements for us, and ultimately shows us how Scripture often mentions a “veil” in the same passage as a testament. Ultimately we will see that God’s “last will and testament” leaves an inheritance for His children through the veil of flesh of Jesus Christ that was sacrificed on the cross. Join us as we begin looking at these important and related topics.
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by Elder James Allen (preached on May 26, 2024)
In the last post, Elder James Allen began preaching on the topic of biblical baptism. There are some basic requirements for baptism set forth in the Scriptures. Today, we conclude this message, learning that there is a proper mode and a proper understanding of what baptism does and does not do. Please join us for the conclusion of this outstanding message on biblical baptism.
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by Elder James Allen (preached on May 26, 2024)
In this outstanding message on the topic of baptism, Elder James Allen lays out the biblical case for those who are repentant sinners to obediently submit to the ordinance of baptism. He also sets forth the qualifications for baptism, as well as the way in which baptism should be performed. Join us today as we begin looking at this exposition of the topic of baptism.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on May 19, 2024)
As we saw yesterday, it is important to fight the good fight of faith. Paul writes these words to Timothy, admonishing and encouraging him to keep on keeping on in his ministry in the Kingdom of God. Join us today as we conclude this message, about fighting the good fight of faith and finishing the course that God has laid before us.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on May 19, 2024)
In Paul’s final letter to the young preacher Timothy, he tells him, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” In today’s message, we look at the idea of fighting, finishing, and “faithing”. (Note: “farthing” is simply a word that I made up to refer to living by faith as we fight the good fight and finish our course)! Join us as we see the last admonition of Paul to the young preacher, encouraging him to follow his own example of fighting the good fight in a faithful way.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on April 21, 2024)
As we began to see yesterday, Paul saw himself as a broken, undone sinner who daily struggled to do right. Paul seems to be saying that, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t quite make it to the level of godly living that he so desired. Isn’t that the struggle that we have? Don’t we cry out, like Paul, “O wretched man that I am? Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Our answer must be the same as Paul’s answer: “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on April 21, 2024)
In the 7th Chapter of Romans, Paul laments the curse of sin that he sees within himself as his flesh struggles against his spirit. In verse 24, he cries out, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Join us today as we consider the struggles of Paul in light of the struggle that we see within ourselves. Our cry, like Paul’s, is a cry that can only be answered in one way: “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on March 31, 2024)
Yesterday, we began to see that the perfect Lamb of God was numbered with the transgressors. That is, He was counted to be a transgressor of the Law, even though He NEVER transgressed the Law! We continue today seeing that His death indeed was a substitutionary death on the behalf of every single one of His chosen people.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on March 31, 2024)
In Mark 15:28, we read that Jesus was “numbered with the transgressors.” How could the holy, harmless, undefiled Son of God be counted with such sinners? Join us today as we begin to understand the substitutionary sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ, who became sin for us so that we would be eternally redeemed from sin.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on March 24, 2024)
As we saw yesterday, Naomi’s husband took their family to Moab when they should have stayed in Bethlehem. But God is good even in the face of our disobedience! When Ruth returned with her mother-in-law, she encountered a mighty man of wealth named Boaz, who ultimately redeemed her and took her to be his wife. Boaz is a clear type of the Lord Jesus Christ; join us as we continue learning about OUR Boaz (Christ) by examining the life and actions of the literal Boaz.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on March 24, 2024)
In the book of Ruth, we read about a man named Boaz. Bible readers will recall that he was the near-kinsman of Naomi, who eventually redeemed and married Ruth. But Boaz – like many characters in the Old Testament – is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. Join us today as we learn about OUR Boaz through the story of the literal Boaz.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on May 26, 2024)
As Elder Owens concludes his look at “thirst” from Scripture, we see several other instances of physical thirst described in the Bible. But ultimately, he takes us to the supreme example of thirst, which is our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross! He thirsted, that we might NEVER thirst! Join us today for the conclusion of this message.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on May 26, 2024)
Have you ever been thirsty? There are many instances of thirst described in the Bible. Beginning with Samson, Elder Owens takes us to several examples in Scripture of physical thirst, and relates it to spiritual thirst for the true word of God. Join us as we begin looking at this topic today.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on May 5, 2024)
As we finish up with our study of Sunday Schools and youth groups, we continue looking at (false) objections to children being present in the worship service, and then we begin to examine the benefits of families worshiping together. Family integrated worship is the biblical pattern, and it is the pattern exhibited by the true church throughout the centuries of time. That’s why families worship together in Primitive Baptist Churches!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on May 5, 2024)
In this sermon, the first half of which we are sharing today, we finish up with our study of the scripturality of Sunday Schools and youth groups. First, we finish looking at the role of children in the early church, focusing primarily upon the book of Acts. Then, we turn to some common objections to children being present in the worship service. We find that each of these objections are really baseless, and that Scripture supports family integrated worship.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on April 28, 2024)
As we began to see yesterday, the Bible is clear that families ought to be worshiping together. Family integrated worship was the pattern of both the Old Testament and the New Testament, and it is the pattern of public worship in Primitive Baptist Churches today. In the last half of this sermon, we take a look at specific portions of Scripture that show us this God-honoring pattern of worship. Join us today as we continue our study of Sunday Schools and youth groups.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on April 28, 2024)
We are considering the fact that Primitive Baptists do not have Sunday Schools or youth groups. In today’s message, we look at the history of Sunday Schools. Like musical instruments, Sunday Schools are a recent development in the church. We do not read about Sunday Schools until the late 1700s, and even then they were focused not on Bible education but upon secular education. More importantly, as we will begin to see today, Scripture does not support segregated worship: family integrated worship was the pattern of both the Old Testament and New Testament.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on April 4, 2024)
One of the first things you will notice when you come to a Primitive Baptist Church is that families worship together. Indeed, family-integrated worship has always been a characteristic of God’s true churches! We are engaged in a series about why we do what we do in Primitive Baptist Churches, and in the first half of this sermon, we began to see the problems with Sunday Schools and youth groups. Today, we begin looking at the origin of youth groups, and to see the problems set forth by Scripture when it comes to the youth hanging out only with youth. Join us as we continue examining the Scriptural lessons regarding Sunday Schools and youth groups.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on April 7, 2024)
In most modern churches, the members are segregated out at some point during the worship services in Sunday School classes and youth groups. But when you come to a Primitive Baptist Church, you find families worshiping together under the sound of the gospel being preached by a man who has been called into the ministry. In the series we are starting today, we will look at the modern concepts of Sunday Schools and youth groups, and see what the Scripture has to say about them. The answer we will find is that Scripture promotes family-integrated worship – families worshiping together – and NOT some type of segregated worship.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on April 14, 2024)
As we began to see in the first half of this message, contentment is a struggle in a life where discontent abounds. In this fallen world, we are constantly struggling against the desire to accumulate “stuff,” but God tells us that we must be content. Join us today as we conclude this message about godly contentment.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on April 14, 2024)
Do you struggle with contentment? I confess that I do! I believe lack of contentment is one of the sins that afflicts us in our day and age as much as any other sin. But what does the Bible say about “being content?” Join us today as we begin looking at the biblical definition of “contentment,” and how we can achieve it in our lives.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on March 31, 2024)
As we conclude our look at Hebrews 11 today, we come to a group of people that the writer says the world was not worthy of. These faithful martyrs gave their lives in the service of God. And remember, these are primarily Old Testament martyrs; we will see as we close out the chapter that these martyrs gave up their lives before they actually experienced the “fullness of the time” when Christ should come into the world. How much better do we have it, and how much more faithful should we be, having now seen the fulfillment of the promise! May we have such faith in the age in which we live.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on March 31, 2024)
As we approach the end of the “Hall of Faith” chapter, we find a list of some other heroes of faith from the Old Testament. Their accomplishments are summarized, but not listed specifically; nonetheless, they are examples of great faith. Moreover, we find a reference to other characters about which it is said that the “world was not worthy” of them. These great men and women of faith, who were NOT delivered from the persecutions here in a timely sense, chose faith over earthly deliverance. But nonetheless, they were delivered into the world to come! Join us as we begin looking today at the last part of Hebrews 11.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on March 3, 2024)
As we began to see yesterday, God inspired the writer of Hebrews to include someone in the Hall of Faith that we might not expect: Rahab the harlot. She was a very unlikely candidate for the Hall of Faith as men look at it, and yet we see a God-given faith manifested in her when the spies visited Jericho. Join us today as we conclude our look at this woman who is not only an example of great faith, but is also included in the lineage of Christ Himself.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on March 3, 2024)
In our study of the “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews Chapter 11, we have seen many characters that we would expect to see in such a Hall of Faith. But in today’s verse, we come to a name we would not expect to see alongside such giants of faith as Noah, Abraham, and Moses: the harlot Rahab. Rahab’s inclusion in the Hall of Faith, though, should encourage us, and remind us that every saint has a past, and every sinner who is an elect of God has a future! Join us today as we begin looking at the faith of Rahab the harlot.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on February 11, 2024)
When Joshua and the Israelites came upon Jericho, the city was shut up tight against all invaders and appeared to be impenetrable. But when God is in the matter, no fortress is impenetrable! Join us today as we see God’s deliverance of Jericho into the hands of the Israelites: He made the walls fall down flat!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on February 4, 2024)
As we conclude our examination of the faith of Moses, we find him leading the nation of Israel out of Egypt, but then immediately facing the obstacle of the Red Sea. Instead of panic, Moses chose faith, trusting God to deliver them in ways they themselves would never have imagined. Join us today as we finish up with the faith of Moses, which was a faith that overcame all obstacles.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on February 4, 2024)
In the verses under consideration today, we learn more about the great faith of Moses. Moses faced a wicked king with great power, but he feared the Righteous God Who has all power more! He followed God by faith when he left Egypt alone the first time, and he followed God by faith when he left Egypt with the entire host of Israel the second time. Join us as we see the faith of Moses as he faced obstacles that he could not surmount on his own.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on December 17, 2023)
As we began to see in the first half of this sermon, Moses had great opportunities for worldly advancement in Egypt. He was the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, and we learn through Scripture that he was learned in all the wisdom and teaching of Egypt. However, when the time came, he chose to suffer afflictions with the people of God rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Indeed, there is pleasure in sin – but only for a season! It is short-lived, and the consequences of sin are sometimes very onerous and burdensome. Join us as we see Moses’ faith-filled walk, choosing God’s way over Egypt’s way.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on December 17, 2023)
As we continue in the Hall of Faith of Hebrews, we come to one of the greatest of the Old Testament Patriarchs: a man named Moses. Last time, we saw the faith of Moses’ parents; today, we begin examining Moses’ own faith. We see in the verses today that Moses had great opportunities for worldly advancement had he remained in Egypt, but instead chose the afflictions of God’s people. The only way he could do this was through faith!
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by Elder Paul Blair (preached on May 5, 2024)
Have you ever heard of the “Roman Road to Salvation?” This road is taught as being the pathway to heaven among most denominational churches in the religious world. But is this road an accurate pathway to heaven? Does it cover all categories of children of God in this world, such as babies in the womb and the mentally incapacitated? Join us today as Elder Paul Blair teaches us about the problems with the “Roman Road” as taught in the religious world.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on December 10, 2023)
As we continue looking at the characters in the Hall of Faith, we come today to the parents of Moses. Moses certainly was a great hero of faith, but what about his parents? In today’s sermon, we look not at the faith of Moses, but the faith of his parents, who by faith saved him from Pharaoh’s murderous orders. They set the example for Moses for what his faith ought to be!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on November 5, 2023)
In the first half of this sermon, we were beginning to look at the faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph as they approached the end of their lives. Each man’s faith was different: Isaac’s faith was a complicated faith, Jacob’s faith was a conflicted faith, and Joseph’s faith was a continuing faith. But at the end of their lives, each man ultimately expressed a strong faith in the promises of God, even in the face of circumstances that were contrary to those promises. Join us as we conclude this message about the dying faith of these Patriarchs.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on November 5, 2023)
The most extreme version of faith is the faith that we exhibit in dying. In today’s message, we begin looking at the faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph as they approached the end of their lives. Each man’s faith was different: Isaac’s was a complicated faith; Jacob’s was a conflicted faith; and Joseph’s was a continuing faith. But each man ultimately had faith in God, even in the face of circumstances that seemed contrary to the promises of God. Join us as we begin looking at the faith that these three Patriarchs exercised at the end of their lives.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on October 22, 2023)
In today’s sermon, we see a faith that obeys in the midst of questioning. When God told Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac, there were surely questions in the minds of both Abraham and Isaac. But even in the midst of those questions, Abraham and Isaac both faithfully followed God’s commands. What a faith this demonstrated! Even when God demanded Abraham’s most prized possession – Isaac, his only son – Abraham obeyed by faith. Would we be willing to lay it all on the altar like Abraham, or submit in faith like Isaac? Join us today as we see the faith that obeys, even when questions abound.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on October 18, 2023)
In the last sermon, we saw in Abraham a faith that obeys without questioning, which is the kind of faith we all ought to possess. But is that really where we always start out? Is it not more common that we question God initially, even though we may ultimately do what He says? Thankfully, we have the example of Sarah, who obeyed God only AFTER questioning. And while it is certainly more preferable and profitable for us to obey God without questioning, I am so thankful that – even when we question – God doesn’t “throw us away”! Instead, He shows us mercy and allows us to repent and still serve Him. Join us today as we see Sarah’s faith, which obeyed God even though she initially questioned Him.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on October 8, 2023)
As we began to see yesterday, throughout most of his life – with very few exceptions – Abraham exercised faith in God without questioning. Whenever God said “go,” he went; whenever God said “move”, he moved! He was always a stranger and sojourner in a strang land, and kept his eyes on the prize of the heavenly home. This is the example that we should follow, keeping our focus upon the heavenly city instead of earthly things. Join us today as we conclude this message, reviewing once more the faithful life of Abraham.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on October 8, 2023)
As we move on into the 11th Chapter of Hebrews, we come to a man named Abraham. Abraham is often called the “Father of the Faithful,” and it is because throughout most of his life he obeyed God without questioning. In today’s sermon, we begin to look at this faith that does not question but rather obeys. How wonderful would it be if we too could possess such faith!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on October 1, 2023)
As we began to see yesterday, Abel, Enoch, and Noah are the first characters set before us in the great “Hall of Faith” of Hebrews 11. We saw that Abel approached God by faith; today, we will see that Enoch pleased God by faith and that Noah protected his family by faith. Ultimately, these men and women are great examples to us of the faith that we need in order to properly serve God in this life.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on October 1, 2023)
We are beginning today to look at the Old Testament characters listed In Hebrews Chapter 11, the great “Hall of Faith” of Scripture. None of these men and women were perfect, but all ultimately exhibited the faith that is the fruit of the Spirit. The first three characters mentioned are Abel, Enoch, and Noah. In today’s sermon, we begin by looking at Abel, who approached God by faith. While our initial faith is given to us in the new birth, the only way to please God and approach Him after being born again is by exercising that faith. Join us as we look at the faith that approaches unto God.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 24, 2023)
As we continue in the “Hall of Faith,” we find that the very first item that we must believe by faith is that the universe was created by God. While the world itself bears independent witness to its creation, it is by faith that we believe that God indeed actually created it. The problem is that the scientists of this world believe that everything that we see has always existed in the form in which we see it. Join us as we conclude today in examining why the Creation must be accepted by faith.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on September 24, 2023)
The very first item of faith that is mentioned in the great “Hall of Faith” in Chapter 11 is the Creation. Ultimately, if we cannot accept that the Creation account of Genesis is true by faith, then we will struggle with every other concept in the Bible. On the other hand, if we can believe that an omnipotent God created this universe, then it won’t be too much of a stretch to believe that this same God could suspend the laws of gravity, could cause the sun to stand still, or could even raise the dead! Join us as we begin looking at the starting point of our faith walk: the Creation.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/27/2023)
As we move into a new section of our study of the Book of Hebrews, we come to Chapter 11 and the Great Hall of Faith. Today, we look at an overview of what faith is, and why it is important here and now. There are many characters that we will look at in this chapter, but remember that each one of them walked to a greater or lesser degree by faith in the coming Christ. Join us as we begin looking at these encouraging verses.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on August 27, 2024)
As we conclude our look at Christ as a “better” sacrifice, we see in the latter part of Chapter 10 that a better sacrifice than bulls and goats was needed in order for us to have a true profession of faith. Truly we could have no confidence unless our profession of faith was based upon the completed and successful finished work of Christ! Join us today as see why the finished work of Christ is so necessary for our daily walk.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on August 27, 2024)
We are continuing in our study of the Book of Hebrews, particularly focusing on the ways in which Christ’s sacrifice was the “better” sacrifice that was needed. In today’s message, we find that ONLY the perfect sacrifice of Christ can bring us full assurance! Anything less than complete reliance upon the sacrifice of Christ will give nothing but fear and doubt. Join us as we see the full assurance that we have in Christ.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on August 20, 2023)
The “better” sacrifice of Christ was necessary for our eternal redemption. The application of that eternal life to us as individuals comes in the form of the new birth. The sacrifice of Christ was necessary for us to be born again. Join us as we continue looking at this important Bible truth.
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by Eldr Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on August 20, 2023)
We have been looking at the “better” sacrifice of Christ, and as we continue in our exposition of Hebrews we find that the sacrifice of Christ was necessary prerequisite for the regeneration of God’s people. Indeed, there would be no regeneration if there had never been justification on the cross! The sacrifice of Christ on the cross was essential to the new birth, and that new birth ought to be the operative fact of our lives. Join us as we continue looking at the “better” sacrifice of Christ.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on August 13, 2023)
How was Christ a “better” sacrifice? As we continue exploring this concept, we are beginning to see that Jesus not only came into the world to do the will of God the Father, but that He actually “finished” the work! This means that every elect child of God has been perfected before God, because his sins have been put away eternally. But this also means that there has been a fundamental change in the order of public worship under the age of Grace: in a very real sense, the public worship has been “perfected.” The old ceremonial worship is over, and the new liberty of worship under the age of grace has begun!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on August 13, 2023)
As we continue our study of the “better” sacrifice of Christ in the Book of Hebrews, we find that the Old Testament sacrifices could never make the people of God perfect. Indeed, those sacrifices were but a “shadow” of the true: they were an imperfect “remembrance” of sin, but Christ’s sacrifice was the perfect forgiveness of sin! Christ’s perfect sacrifice perfected us before God. Join us as we continue our study of the many ways in which Christ was a “better” sacrifice.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on July 9, 2023)
In the first half of this sermon, we were examining the necessity of Christ’s sacrifice for our heavenly purification. The sacrifice of bulls and goats in the Old Testament was symbolic and superficial, and could NEVER put away sin, whereas the sacrifice of Christ was substantive and powerful, putting away our sins and purifying us even from a heavenly standpoint. In the last half of this sermon, which we post today, we see that the perfect sacrifice of Christ was needed for the permanent propitiation of the wrath of God upon sin!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on July 9, 2023)
As we continue our study in the Book of Hebrews, we learn more about how Christ is a “better” sacrifice. In the first half of this sermon, which we post today, we find that a better sacrifice than the sacrifices of bulls and goats was needed for heavenly purification. The blood sacrifices of the Law only purged the “patterns” of the heavenly things, but the pure blood of Christ purified us for the heavenlies themselves! Once again, we see that the old economy of Law worship has been changed by the death of Christ on the cross, and the new way of worship in the age of grace has been implemented. Christ’s sacrifice actually put away sins in substance instead of in symbol! Join us as we continue looking at our “better” sacrifice.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on June 18, 2023)
As we move on in the Book of Hebrews, we come to the heart of Hebrews. In the latter part of the ninth chapter, we learn that Jesus Christ was a better sacrifice than the Law sacrifices of bulls, goats, and sheep. This concept is emphasized from this point through chapter ten, and builds upon the whole theme of Hebrews, which is “better” – everything we have in the age of Grace is better than what they had under the Law service! In this sermon, which we post in its entirety, we see that a better sacrifice was needed for our divine reconciliation with God. Christ indeed was that “better” sacrifice!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on June 4, 2023)
In this first half of the sermon we are concluding today, we had begun looking at the ninth chapter of the Book of Hebrews. The focus of this chapter is the “better sanctuary” that we have under the age of Grace. The “shadow worship” of the Old Testament has been replaced with the substantive worship of the New Testament. Join us as we conclude this sermon regarding the better sanctuary that we have today.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on June 4, 2023)
As we continue our exposition of the Book of Hebrews, we have come to the ninth chapter which teaches us that we have a “better sanctuary” than that of the Old Testament. The passage under consideration today compares the “shadow worship” of the Old Testament with the substantive worship of the New Testament. The old economy of ceremonial Law has passed away with Christ, and we have everything better in the age of Grace.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on March 24, 2024)
As we come to the conclusion of our short series on musical instruments in the pubic worship of the church, we continue to examine what the New Testament says about their use. The inescapable conclusion of our examination of Scripture is that NOWHERE does the New Testament authorize the use of musical instruments in the church! In many places, we are commanded to “sing,” but never to “play musical instruments.” Clearly God knows the difference between singing and playing instruments – He demonstrated this by His specific commandments for each in the Old Testament. His silence in the New Testament in regard to these instruments is deafening! And ultimately, the first true New Testament worship service concludes with the singing of an a cappella hymn, which sets the pattern for us in the Church Age.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on March 24, 2024)
Having now looked at the history of musical instruments in the church, as well as what the Old Testament says about them, we now turn to the most important place of authority for our public worship today: the New Testament. What does the New Testament say about the use of musical instruments in the worship service? The answer is that the New Testament is COMPLETELY SILENT regarding their use in the public worship of the church! This silence should be deafening for us, and tells us that God has not authorized them to be used.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on March 3, 2024)
As we continue looking at God’s commands regarding musical instruments in the public worship, we find that He was specific in the Old Testament as to the details of the use musical instruments. Furthermore, as we see the continual cycle of apostasy and reform throughout the history of the nation of Judah, we see that in days of reform the leaders never added to the commandment of God but always rather returned to the “commandment of David,” which was authorized by God. Join us as we continue seeing what the Old Testament says about musical instruments, and learn that God is specific and detailed in His commandments.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on March 3, 2024)
In the last message, we looked at the history of musical instruments in the public worship of the church, and learned that Primitive Baptists are NOT some strange, outlier group, but that a Capella singing was the primary mode of worship throughout the vast majority of the church age! Today, we begin to look at what the Bible itself says about musical instruments, beginning with the Old Testament. In the Old Testament, God prescribed certain instruments to be used at certain times by certain people. When He did this, the people were NOT authorized to change or add to the word of God! Join us as we begin to see that God had specific instruction for the public worship in the Old Testament, and we will see that He has specific instructions for the public worship today.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preacher on February 18, 2024)
In the first half of this sermon, we began establishing the biblical fact that God cares how we conduct our public worship services. Today, we wrap up this discussion, and move into the history of musical instruments in the public worship of the church. We start with the era immediately following the Apostolic Church Age, and examine the history of the use of instrumental music in the church all the way up until the present time. As we will see, Primitive Baptists may differ greatly from the rest of religious world today, but in truth we are in the majority position for most of church history!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on February 18, 2024)
One of the first things visitors to a Primitive Baptist Church notice is that we do not employ musical instruments in our public worship services. Rather, we sing a Capella congregational hymns, using only our voices lifted up in song. Why do we worship in this way? Join us as we begin looking at the use of musical instruments in the public worship of the church, beginning today by establishing the biblical fact that God cares about our public worship. As we move on through this series, we will learn the history of musical instruments in church worship, and see how the Old Testament and New Testament deal with them as they pertain to public worship services.
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by Elder Neil Honea (preached on March 9, 2024)
As we began to see in the first half of this sermon, God-called preachers are compared to oxen in Scripture. Elder Honea began to tell us about oxen, and how they are trained and what they do, and pointed us to the fact that a pastor is indeed like an ox. He continues to teach us from the Bible how the people of God are supposed to take care of their “ox” (the pastor), both materially and spiritually. Join us today as we conclude this message today.
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by Elder Neil Honea (preached on March 9, 2024)
During our 2024 Annual Meeting, Elder Neil Honea preached a powerful sermon concerning the way in which the churches are to provide for their pastors and preacher. Preachers are compared in Scripture to “oxen,” and we are told to take care of their material and spiritual needs. In the first half of this message, Bro. Honea teaches us about oxen, and compares them to God’s called servants who pull the gospel plow. Join us as we begin to learn about some of the things a preacher needs as he tries to fulfill his calling by God.
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by Bro. McNeil Honea (preached on March 9, 2024)
In this message from our 2024 Annual Meeting, Bro. McNeil Honea tells us about a day of “small things.” In this passage, Zerubbabel is tasked with the duty of going back to the “insignificant” place called Jerusalem on an “insignificant” building project. Of course, we understand that it was the fulfillment of God’s will for him to do this, and thus was not insignificant at all! Join us as we learn of the importance of these “small things” in the purpose of God.
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by Elder Neil Honea (preached on March 9, 2024
Today’s sermon by Elder Neil Honea was preached at our 2024 Annual Meeting. It is a powerful message about the need to wait upon God rather than relying upon the horses and chariots of this world. Join us as we continue our Annual Meeting sermons, and we learn that God’s way is always the best way!
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by Elder Neil Honea (preached on March 8, 2024)
In Luke 11, we find a story about a man who was emptied of devils, but didn’t fill himself back up with anything else. We learn that, ultimately, he took unto himself seven devils to fill the void, and the latter end of that man was worse than the first! Join us today as Elder Neil Honea, preaching at our 2024 Annual Meeting, teaches us that we ought to fill ourselves up with godly things as we journey in our discipleship on earth.
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by Bro. McNeil Honea (preached on March 8, 2024)
In this message, which is the first sermon preached at our 2024 Annual Meeting, we find a sober warning about “falling away.” Bro. McNeil Honea, who is exercising a preaching gift under the authority of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church in Echola, Alabama, reminds us that there is a marring effect of habitual sin in our lives. There is a sense of condemnation that we feel when we continue in sin rather than walking in discipleship. Join us for this clear reminder that we should hold fast to the things of God, and not let them slip!
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As we began to see in the first half of this message, there is a cycle throughout history of the rise and fall of evil. Revelation 17:8 prophesies this, and Chapter 11 illustrates it as well. The devil rises from time to time from the bottomless pit to torment God’s people, but then the Lord intervenes and puts him down. One day, God will put him down permantley! That is the good news of the Book of Revelation; join us today as we continue looking at this encouraging truth from God’s word.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on June 21, 2023)
In today’s message, Elder Buddy Abernathy takes us first to Revelation 17:8, which gives a basic summary of the prophecy of the entirety of the Book of Revelation: “The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition:and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.” This verse describes a cycle of evil rising and falling throughout the course of history, and the ultimate demise of the devil at the end of time. The basic message is this: we may experience tribulation and persecution on earth, but Christ wins in the end! Chapter 11 demonstrates this principle; join us as Bro. Abernathy takes us through this “good news” of Revelation!
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on June 7, 2023)
As we continue in this interlude between the blowing of the sixth and seventh trumpets, we come to Chapter 11, where we read that John is given a “reed like unto a rod.” This reed is simply a measuring rod, which God tells John to use in measuring the temple, the altar, and the participants in the worship. This is symbolic of the need for us to measure the church, and ourselves, by the word of God, and see if what we preach and teach, and how we worship, measures up! Join us as we look at this “measuring rod” of the word of God.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on May 14, 2023)
As we began to see yesterday, the “little book” in the hand of the angel (which is the word of God) is sweet to the taste, but bitter to the belly. Why is that? Elder Buddy Abernathy was beginning to show us why this must be so, beginning with Jesus’ reminder that, if the world hated Him, it will surely hate us! Join us today as we continue looking at this topic and see how it relates to our daily experience.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on May 14, 2023)
In the previous sermon, we began looking at the “little book” in the hand of the angel. This little book is the Bible, and the gospel message contained within it. In today’s message, we consider the statement that, when John “ate it up,” it was “sweet as honey” in his mouth, but “bitter” in his belly. What does this mean? Join us today as Elder Buddy Abernathy begins to “rightly divide” this passage for us.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on May 14, 2024)
As we began to see yesterday, the “little book” brought down by the mighty angel from heaven is the Bible, and the message is the gospel contained therein. Elder Buddy Abernathy taught us that only the regenerate can hear this message, but that when the regenerate hear it they find comfort therein! Join us as we continue looking at the “interlude” between the sixth and seventh trumpets, and see the comforting message of the gospel.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on May 14, 2024)
As we continue in the “interlude” between the blowing of the sixth and seventh trumpets, we are first reminded that our interpretation of Revelation must NEVER conflict with clearly-taught doctrine elsewhere in Scripture. In the sermon today, we look at the last half of Chapter 10. We saw last time that a “mighty angel” came down from heaven with a “little book”. We learn that the “little book” is the Bible, and the message is the gospel. Join us today as we learn about the gospel preached under the anointing of the Holy Spirit – which does NOT regenerate the unregenerate, but which delivers the regenerate from struggling to try to get themselves to heaven.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 4/19/2023)
As we began to see yesterday, we are at a part of our study in Revelation where we have reached an “interlude” between the blowing of the sixth and seventh trumpets. Elder Buddy Abernathy has begun to show us by Scripture that the “mystery” referred to in verse 7 is the preaching of the gospel message in its truth during the age of the Church. Join us as we continue looking at this interlude, and see the rich blessings we have in understanding the true gospel message.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 4/19/2023)
In today’s sermon, Elder Buddy Abernathy begins looking at the “interlude” between the blowing of the sixth and seventh trumpets, found in Revelation 10 through Revelation 11:14. We read in Revelation Chapter 10 about a “mighty angel” standing upon the earth and sea and declaring “that there should be time no longer.” Then in verse 7, the Lord speaks of the “mystery of God.” What is this “mystery”? Moreover, what is a “mystery” in the Bible? Join us today as Bro. Abernathy begins to expound upon this concept.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on July 2, 2023)
In the last podcast episode, we began to look at the topic of “revival” in America. We initially explored the faith of the Founding Fathers of this nation, then began to see that true revival doesn’t come from the “top down,” but starts at the grassroots level. Today, we continue looking at revival, and we learn from Scripture that revival applies to God’s children and God’s children alone, for truly only one who has been made alive initially can ever be revived!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on July 2, 2023)
The United States of America was founded on Christian principles. Contrary to popular modern revisionist history, almost all the Founders were Christians, and most were predestinarian in their beliefs. In fact, one Hessian soldier called the American Revolution “the Presbyterian Revolt”! In today’s culture, it is clear that our nation needs a revival – a return to its Christian roots. But how does that revival occur? Join us today as we begin to see that revival starts at the grassroots level, not at the highest levels of government.
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by Elder Kenneth Nowell (preached on 2/25/2024)
When it comes to our discipleship, do other people see God in Us? In order for them to see Him in us, we must be living godly lives! Join us today as we hear from Elder Kenneth Nowell about living in such a way that other people will see God dwelling in us.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 2/25/2024)
We began yesterday looking at “me-ology” versus theology. As we learned yesterday, “me-ology” is not a real word, but is a convenient way to refer to the worship of oneself. We learned how this self-worship began in the Garden of Eden with the Fall of Adam, and continues full blast today. But we also learn that God should be the sole focus of our worship, and that He is worthy of it!
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 2/25/2024)
In the modern culture, “me-ology” is the prevailing religion, as opposed to theology! Theology is the study and worship of God, whereas “me-ology” is a made-up word referring to the study and worship of self. This is not a modern problem, however; men have been worshiping themselves since the Fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden! Join us today for the first half of this sermon, describing the problem of self-worship versus God-worship.
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As we conclude this sermon today, we continue looking at the struggle within every regenerated child of God. The flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. Paul tells us elsewhere that the flesh is “contrary” to the spirit, and works against it constantly. Join us for the conclusion of this message, which describes our condition but gives us hope in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 1/7/2024)
Do you ever find yourself in the condition described by Paul in Romans 7, that “when I would do good, evil is present with me”? In this sermon, Elder Buddy Abernathy takes us deep into the understanding that our carnal man, which is still present within us, is in constant warfare against the spiritual nature. Join us as we explore this fundamental theological principle, and find comfort in the truth of the gospel message!
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We at Zion Primitive Baptist Church wish to extend an invitation to all to our upcoming 2024 Annual Meeting. The church is located at 9487 County Rd 49, Gordo AL. That is about 8 miles north of Gordo on Highway 159, and about 10 miles northeast of Reform on County Rd 49.
The schedule is as follows:
-7 p.m. Friday 3/8/24 – preaching service (no supper)
-10 a.m. Saturday 3/9/24 – preaching service, followed by lunch and an afternoon service
-5 p.m. Saturday 3/9/24 – supper and fellowship at the church
-10 a.m. Sunday 3/10/24 – preaching service, followed by communion and lunch
There will be NO SERVICE on Sunday evening. Elder Neil Honea and Bro. McNeil Honea are our invited preachers. Please spread the word, and come worship with us if you can!
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor, 205-399-6989 jchrismccool@gmail.com
by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 1/14/2024)
In a previous message, Elder John Morgan Owens preached to us about biblical manhood. He told us primarily what a man DOES according to Scripture. Today, he moves deeper into the subject, and teaches us HOW a man should do those things that God requires. Join us for this very timely message today.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/3/2024)
As we conclude the sermon begun yesterday, we continue to see the similarities between the Trumpet of the Jubilee year, and the gospel message. The Jubilee year was the year that all captives were freed, and the trumpet proclaimed that liberty. The gospel trumpet declares liberty to all those who have been in bondage to sin, and as such we ought to blow it with great zeal and fervor!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/3/2023)
In the Book of Leviticus, chapter 25, God tells the children of Israel to number seven sabbaths of years, after which – in the fifitieth year – they were to proclaim a year of “Jubilee.” In this Jubilee year, all property became unencumbered, and all captives were liberated. In the beginning of that year, a trumpet was to be blown declaring this Jubilee. The Jubilee trumpet is a very apt symbol of the gospel message. Join us today as we begin to learn about the Trumpet of the Jubilee.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 6/25/2023)
As we began to see yesterday, Peter denied Christ three times and ultimately wept bitter tears over his sin. But there were some reasons Peter got into this position in the first place. Instead of walking close by Jesus’ side, he began to separate himself from Christ little by little, until finally he was warming himself by the world’s fires instead of staying next to Christ. The problems of denial in our lives begin that way as well: the more we distance ourselves from Christ and His Kingdom, the more we risk denying Him in our actions.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 6/25/2023)
We are all familiar with the account of Peter and his three-time denial of Christ. But what about in our own lives? Is it not true that we deny Him daily, maybe not explicitly and verbally, but implicitly in our actions? Join us today as we begin looking at this problem of denying Christ. Through Peter’s example, we can find both warnings and hope for our case.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 1/28/2024)
As we continue looking at the topic of “burdens,” we go to the account of Jesus in the home of Martha and Mary in Luke chapter 10. Here we see Martha “cumbered about much serving,” while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened raptly to His words. Which one of these two sisters enjoyed the greater blessings? Mary, of course, who put aside her burdens and soaked up the presence of Jesus. Join us today as we learn some important lessons about laying our daily burdens at the feet of Jesus.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 1/28/2024)
As we began to see yesterday, there are many burdens in life. The most onerous burden of all is the burden of sin, which Jesus Christ Himself has borne on our behalf. But there are other burdens that we too often place upon ourselves in this walk of life. Join us today as Elder John Morgan Owens expounds further upon “burdens.”
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 1/28/2024)
In this life, we bear many burdens, don’t we? The burdens of life so often overwhelm us. But there’s one burden we should never try to shoulder ourselves: the burden of sin! Our sins have been put away as far as the east is from the west, and although many preachers in the religious world try to place the burden of putting them away upon the back of sinners, only Christ could bear these sins. And praise God, He has put them away completely! Join us as Elder Owens begins to teach us from the Scripture about “burdens.”
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by Elder Kenneth Nowell (preached on 1/21/2024)
In this sermon, Elder Kenneth Nowell reminds us that God is a very present help. He has not only saved us eternally, but He also daily watches over us. When trouble comes, He is present and able to help us, and to strengthen us for the battle! Join us as we learn some valuable and comforting lessons about God’s constant care for His children.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 2/11/2024)
As we began to see yesterday, our hearts will deceive us, and so we must guard them diligently! Unfortunately, King David did not do that, and he fell into a grievous sin with Bathsheba. As we conclude the sermon today, we find that there were ways David could have insulated himself from this sin, and ultimately we see the lifelong consequences of what he thought would be just “a one night stand.”
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 2/11/2024)
In every age of time, there has been a prophet or preacher who has been charged by God to be the “watchman on the wall.” It is his job to warn God’s people of the enemy’s approach; the sermon today is shared in the nature of the watchman on the wall! God tells us that you are not to “follow your heart,” but rather to “guard your heart.” In the message today, we explore the story of David and Bathsheba, and learn about the terrible consequences of NOT guarding our hearts!
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 11/12/2023)
Yesterday we began to see that our focus should be on the Lord, and not on the “stuff” of our lives. As we conclude the message today, Elder John Morgan Owens teaches us from Scripture how to re-focus on the Lord and His Kingdom.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 11/12/2023)
In the book of Haggai, God (through the prophet) asks the children of Israel to consider their ways. They had begun the work of rebuilding the Temple, but then quit due to persecution. The work then stopped for many years, while they focused on their own houses and “stuff.” God told them to evaluate where they are, and how much they really are suffering because their hearts are focused on the wrong things.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/15/2023)
In the message today, we conclude the thoughts we began yesterday about the great hope we have in Christ. You see, our experience in this present life is not all that there is to life for the child of God. And aren’t we glad that is the case! In fact, we have a glorious resurrection and an eternity waiting for us, wherein we will be forever with the One Who loves us most – the Lord Jesus Christ! Join us as we conclude these uplifting thoughts today.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/15/2023)
In early October 2023, we lost a precious church member to an unexpected death. On the following Sunday, the Lord led us to a passage in 2 Corinthians that emphasizes our eternal hope in Christ. What a help it is to us to know that Christ died for us, and this life is not the end! Join us today as we begin looking at the great hope we have in the good news that Jesus died for our sins, and completely put them away.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 1/21/2024)
As we continue in our series on Baptism, we have begun to learn that infant baptism is not proper baptism. Pastor Chris McCool has already gone through the historical evidence regarding infant baptism, and continues today in looking at the Scripture itself for proof that infant baptism is not proper. Join us as we continue looking at this important issue.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 1/21/2024)
Throughout the centuries, Baptists have generally refused to accept infant baptism as valid baptism. We as Primitive Baptists certainly hold to this position! But why is it that we do not practice infant baptism? Join us today as Pastor Chris McCool delves into this issue, and we see why Scripture does not support the baptizing of babies.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 1/7/2024)
In today’s sermon, we are posting the conclusion of a message preached recently on the proper mode of baptism, and the proper candidates for baptism. We have begun to see that the word “baptism” itself means “to immerse,” and that further Scriptural evidence points to immersion as the only proper mode. We will continue today on this topic, as well as beginning to look at the fact that only believers are proper candidates for the baptismal pool.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 1/7/2024)
In today’s message, Elder Chris McCool continues looking at the topic of baptism as taught in Scripture. We have already seen that there is a “salvation” in baptism, albeit not eternal; today we look at the method by which we are to baptize. We as Old Baptists believe in baptism by immersion, and that baptism is ONLY for believers.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/31/2023)
In the second half of this sermon, Elder Chris McCool continues to teach us from Scripture that there is indeed a salvation in baptism. However, this salvation is NOT eternal salvation! Join us as we continue looking at the ways in which baptism saves us in this time world.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/31/2023)
Today, we are sharing the first part of a sermon by Elder Chris McCool, preached on the last day of 2023 on the occasion of the baptism of one of God’s little sheep that was led our way. As we learn from this message, there is salvation in baptism! But what kind of salvation? Scripture teaches that the salvation we find in baptism is not eternal, but is nonetheless important in the discipleship of the child of God!
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 4/16/2023)
As we saw in the first part of this sermon, God is now dealing with the wicked on earth. He has suffered demonic spirits to be released upon the earth, primarily to torment the wicked. In today’s conclusion of the sermon begun yesterday, we see that the wicked will NOT repent, no matter how desperate the circumstances get! But thankfully, those who are children of God are able to repent when God’s chastening falls upon them.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 4/16/2023)
Today we begin looking at the blowing of the sixth trumpet. You may recall that the blowing of the first four trumpets were followed by natural disasters; after the blowing of the fifth trumpet we begin to see how God deals with the wicked. The “first woe” following the fifth trumpet demonstrate how wicked influences torment wicked men; the blowing of the sixth trumpet continues this same theme, illustrating how God deals with the wicked here on earth.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 4/5/2023)
As we continue in the ninth chapter of Revelation, we see that when the first trumpet was blown by the angel there appeared a star which unleashed demonic forces from the bottomless pit. In the first half of this sermon, Elder Buddy Abernathy was beginning to teach us that God has allowed some wicked demonic spirits to be released on this world primarily in order to torment the wicked upon the earth. But we will see that these forces can afflict God’s people as well! Ultimately, God’s people will be vindicated because God will banish the wicked from His presence in the final judgment; in meantime, He protects His children with His providential care.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 4/5/2023)
As we continue examining the blowing of the fifth trumpet, we learn that there are demonic forces in this world – a kingdom of Satan, just like there is a Kingdom of God! In this case, God allows some demonic spirits to be released from the bottomless pit to torment the wicked. These evil spiritual forces also afflict the people of God in this time world, but of course they cannot affect their eternal destination. Ultimately, God’s people will be eternally saved, although they may experience troubles here and now!
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 3/15/2023)
As we continue in the Exposition of Revelation by Elder Buddy Abernathy, we come to Revelation 9 and the blowing of the fifth trumpet. You will recall that, when the seventh seal was opened, seven angels with seven trumpets appeared on the scene and began to blow their trumpets one by one. Bro. Buddy describes the scene in Revelation 9, as the blowing of this fifth trumpet shows us how God sometimes protects us indirectly by suffering wicked men to tear down other wicked men!
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 3/1/2023)
We have already seen that, immediately after the seventh seal was opened, there was silence as the prayers of the saints ascended up before God. Now, we begin to see other results of the opening of that seal, and we see seven angels with seven trumpets beginning to blow their trumpets. Join us as we see what judgments arise from the blowing of these trumpets.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 2/26/2023)
In today’s sermon, Elder Buddy Abernathy moves into the eighth chapter of Revelation, where we see the opening of the seventh seal. As soon as this seal is opened, there is silence in heaven as the prayers of the saints on earth are offered up before the throne of God. Prayer is a powerful weapon and refuge for the child of God, as we see depicted visually in these verses. Join us today as we look at the topic of prayer from this chapter.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 2/5/2023)
We continue today in Chapter 7 of Revelation, looking at a visual depiction of the doctrine of election. This depiction of the doctrine is accomplished by showing us who occupies heaven, how they got there, and what they are doing there. We find that there is perfect peace, perfect fellowship, and a perfect view of God in heaven! And we learn once again that the inhabitants of heaven got there only by the shed blood of Christ. Join us as we continue examining John’s vision of heaven in Revelation 7.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 2/5/2023)
After the opening of the sixth seal, and before the opening of the seventh seal, we get another glimpse into heaven. Basically, Chapter Seven of Revelation teaches us the doctrine of election in a visual form. We see who is occupying heaven, how they got there, and what they are doing there. This is encouraging to those of us still enduring tribulation on earth, because it reminds us of the great reward that awaits each and every child of God!
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 1/15/2023)
As we continue looking in Chapter 6 of Revelation at the opening of the seven seals, we are considering what happened when Christ opened the fifth and sixth seals. We have already been reminded that Jesus cares for and protects His children in a timely sense, and now we are reminded that He also does so in an eternal sense. Join us as we continue to examine these intriguing visions that John experienced.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 12/10/2023)
What does it mean, to “be a man”? In the world’s way of thinking, a “real man” is aggressive, violent, and self-sufficient. But what does God say a “real man” is? In today’s sermon, Elder John Morgan Owens takes us through some examples from Scripture about how NOT to be a man, and how TO be a man. Join us for this important exposition of biblical manhood.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 1/15/2023)
As we come to the fifth and sixth seals, Elder Buddy Abernathy reviews where we are up to this point in the Book of Revelation. He reminds us that the Book of Revelation teaches that Jesus intervenes in the lives of His children, both by protecting them and by judging the wicked in a timely sense. Remember, this was written to persecuted Christians in the 1st Century, but it applies to persecuted Christians in every century! Now, as the fifth and sixth seals are opened, we see more and more how Jesus protects and provides for His children both in a timely and eternal sense.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 1/1/2023)
As we move forward in Elder Buddy Abernathy’s exposition of the book of Revelation, we have come to a new section dealing with the tribulation that we experience on earth. First, we see the Lamb beginning to open the seven seals, and we learn what each seal means. We are also reminded that the language of Revelation is very figurative, and that He has many ways in which He conquers the enemies of His people!
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 12/4/2022)
Today we continue looking at the Throne Room of Heaven as described in Chapter 5 of the Book of Revelation. As the chapter opens, we see God seated on the throne, and a Book in His hand. As John watches, he learns that there is no man worthy to open the book, and he sinks in despair. But then it becomes clear that there IS a Man who can open the Book: the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, who is the Lamb of God! Join us today as we continue looking at this Book and what it means.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 12/4/2022)
As we continue with this section of the Book of Revelation, we see in Chapter 5 another vision of heaven and the throne room of God. In this vision, however, there is a book in the hand of God that no man is worthy to open. As John continues to observe the scene, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah – the Lamb of God that was slain from the foundation of the world – prevails to take the book and open it! We will see as we go forward what this book is, but the focus here is on the worthiness of the Lamb!
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 11/6/2022)
Today we continue looking at Revelation chapter 4, which gives us a view of the throne room of God. This throne room is the centerpiece of heaven, and will be the primary focus of our worship throughout eternity. Join us as Elder Buddy Abernathy shares with us some of the glorious sights that John saw in heaven’s throne room.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 11/6/2022)
In this message, Elder Abernathy continues his exposition of the book of Revelation by taking us to the throne room of Heaven in Chapter 4. Much of the language is symbolic, but the gist of it all is that God and His throne are the center of EVERYTHING in heaven!
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 10/2/2022)
We are continuing today in our study of Revelation by Elder Buddy Abernathy. In the first half of this sermon, Bro. Buddy reviews what we have seen so far in chapter 4, which gives us a view of heaven itself. In the second half of this sermon, he continues looking at this grand and glorious view, and in particular examining the work of the Holy Spirit in this time world.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 10/2/2022)
In today’s message, Elder Buddy Abernathy continues looking at the view of heaven set forth in Revelation Chapter 4. He engages in a brief review of what we have seen in Chapter 4 so far, specifically looking at the functions of the Spirit of God. Join us for this brief review of our Revelation study today, followed by further exposition of Chapter 4.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 8/21/2022)
Yesterday we began a new segment in Elder Buddy Abernathy’s exposition of the Book of Revelation. We switched views from earth to Heaven, and began to take in the glory of the heavenly places. Remember, we are to see this view of heaven as an encouragement, and not something scary! If we understand the book of Revelation properly, we will see that it is a way to help us “keep on keeping on.”
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 8/21/2022)
In his exposition of the Book of Revelation, Elder Buddy Abernathy has looked at the introduction to Revelation in chapter 1, and then the letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor in chapters 2 and 3. Today, we begin a new section in Revelation, wherein we change views from earth to heaven. In particular, chapters 4 and 5 give us a view of heaven itself! Remember, the Book of Revelation was written to encourage and uplift those First Century Christians, not frighten them! And this view of heaven will encourage us if we will understand that it is given as a way to help us “keep on keeping on.”
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We want to invite everyone to come visit on Sunday, December 31, 2023, at 5 p.m. for a New Year’s Eve Singing. We will begin as usual at 5 p.m., and the singing will be followed by food and fellowship at the church fellowship hall.
Zion Primitive Baptist Church is located at 9487 County Rd 49, Gordo Alabama. This is about 8 miles north of Gordo, and 10 miles north east of Reform.
Please come and bring a friend!
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 8/6/2023)
Yesterday we began examining the Parable of the Tares and the Wheat in Matthew 13. We were beginning to see that, although it is tempting, we are not qualified to separate the two from one another! Instead, God Himself will separate the elect from the non-elect at the end of time. Join us as we continue learning this important Kingdom truth.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 8/6/2023)
In Matthew 13, we read several parables about the Kingdom of God. The second parable is the Parable of the Tares and the Wheat. In this parable, Jesus explains to His disciples that it is not for them to determine who is or is not a child of God, but rather that He will sort them all out in the end of time! Join us as we learn this very important lesson about the Kingdom.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 9/10/2023)
As we conclude today with this sermon examining the different degrees of faith, we learn that while some men do NOT have faith, others (who are children of God) do indeed have faith! And they exercise it in order for it to grow. In fact, there are some characters in Scripture who have become great icons of faith. Join us as we examine this timely topic.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 9/10/2023)
The prevalent teaching in the religious world is that everyone has a kernel of faith, which they can exercise in some way to become a child of God. But what does the Bible say about this? In fact, the Bible teaches us that there are some who have NO faith. Thankfully, there are others who DO have faith that is implanted in the new birth, and of these some have “little” faith, but some have “great” faith! Join us as we look at this matter of faith in all its manifestations.
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Since today is a holiday that most of the Christian world celebrates as the birth of Christ, I am going to take a break from our normal “Monday Minutes” devotions. I pray the Lord’s blessings upon all of you and your families, and pray you have sweet fellowship with those you love! May the joys of Christ be with you in this holiday season!
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/24/2023)
In Luke 2:11, we find nineteen words: “for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” These nineteen words contain a message of great hope! Join us today as we look at the message given by the Angel to the shepherds.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/17/2023)
As we continue looking at the fact that Christ’s birth came at the exact right time in history, we see that both the time and place had been prophesied. His first coming should not have been a surprise to the Jews of that day! Join us as we look at some of the prophecies of His birth.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/17/2023)
In Galatians, Paul says that God sent Christ into the world in the “fullness of the time.” The idea here is that Christ’s first advent was at the perfect time that had been set by God, and fulfilled the time period leading up to this event. Join us as we look at the fact that Christ’s birth was at the perfect time, fulfilling the Old Testament time, and ushering in a new time.
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We want to let everyone know about a few changes to our worship schedule during the holiday season in December 2023:
Wednesday 12/20/23 – NO SERVICES
Sunday 12/24/23 – Morning services at 10:30 a.m.; NO EVENING SERVICE
Sunday 12/31/23 – Morning services at 10:30 a.m.; Evening services at 5 p.m.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE EVENING SERVICE ON NEW YEAR’S EVE WILL BE A SINGING, FOLLOWED BY REFRESHMENTS AND FELLOWSHIP AT THE CHURCH.
Please come join us for any and all services during the holidays, or anytime in 2024!
We here at Zion church wish all a very Happy Holidays. May the joys of Christ be with you in this special time of the year!
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
by Elder Tim McCool (preached on 10/29/2023)
Many theologians in the world believe that God has preordained everything that happens. But is that Scriptural? Elder Tim McCool takes us to an episode in the life of David which demonstrates to us that there are many possible choices we can make in this world. But indeed, God is the God of ALL the possibilities of life!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/3/2023)
As we continue today on the topic of employer-employee relations, we learn that in every aspect of our life, the Lord should reign! The principles of authority and submission permeate the Bible, and give us guidance into the basic relationships of life. Join us as we continue looking at this timely topic.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/3/2023)
In this message, we learn from the Book of Colossians that the principles of the Kingdom of God apply even to the master-servant, or employer-employee, relationship. There is NO aspect of our lives that is not covered by Scriptural mandate! Join us as we learn Who our “Real Boss” is!
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We are currently looking at the Articles of Faith of Zion Primitive Baptist Church, which were adopted in 1847. Article One sets forth our fundamental belief that God is the true God! Today, we want to look at another aspect of God: the Trinity.
The word “Trinity” does not appear in Scripture. However, the concept is replete throughout the word of God! Today, we are going to look at the fact that God, although “One God,” is nonetheless a Trinity.
In order to understand the Trinity, we must first understand that God is ONE God, not many! This concept of God being “One God” begins in Genesis. In the very first verse of Chapter One, we read, “In the beginning GOD” – not “gods!” Ours is a monotheistic religion, unlike the religions of the pagans of ancient times who had a pantheon of gods. Isaiah reminds us that God is the only true God: “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me. . . .” Isa. 46.9. In the great Shema, which is still quoted today by faithful Jews to express the essence of their Judaistic beliefs, we read the following: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord. . . .” Deut. 6:4. Jesus Himself reaffirms this declaration in Mark 12:29: “And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord. . . .”
However, even though God is “One God,” He exists as a Trinity: He is the great “Three in One!” God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are the three Persons of the Godhead, and although we may not completely understand this, we need to believe it because Scripture teaches it. Interestingly, in Genesis 1:1, the very first Hebrew name of God – Elohim – is in basic construct a plural noun in the Hebrew language. I believe this is a hint from the very beginning of Scripture that God, although One, is a Trinity.
The clearest statement, however, of the Trinity is contained in 1 John 5:7: “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. . . .” And let us not forget John’s gospel: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Jesus Himself declared, “I and my Father are one.” John 10:30.
I want to make two last points before closing. First of all, one of the problems I have with most of the modern translations of the Bible is that they leave out so many verses, including 1 John 5:7. As I have said, this verse is the clearest statement of the Trinity contained in Scripture, and yet it is left out of most of the newer Bibles! This fact alone is enough for me to stick with the King James Translation and avoid these newer “translations” of Scripture!
Finally, I find it very interesting and amazing that God exists as a Trinity. This tells me that God is a social God! He chooses to exist in this way because He clearly desires fellowship with Himself. As His children, we are social creatures who need fellowship as well! That is one of the reasons that I believe church is so important – as His children, we need to be seeking fellowship with one another on a constant basis.
May the Lord bless you is my prayer!
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/26/2023)
In the last post, we began looking at the reasons we ought to get the message of the gospel right. It matters to God whether we preach about Him correctly: He is God, and beside Him there is no other! But it also matters to us, because without the right message we cannot approach ministry in the right way. Join us today for the conclusion of the sermon entitled “The Message Matters.”
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/26/2023)
In the Galatian letter, Paul tells the Galatians that the message matters! In fact, he says that anyone who preaches “another gospel” (which really is NOT really a “gospel”, or “good news”) should be accursed! So why does the message matter? And what is the message of the gospel? Join us today as we begin looking at this timely topic.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/3/2023)
Most of the religious world teaches that, in order to go to heaven, a person must hear and believe the gospel. But is this what the Bible teaches? Actually, the answer is “no,” the Bible does not teach that! Join us today as we continuing answering the question about whether each and every one of God’s chlldren will actually hear and believe the gospel.
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*Due to illness, I was unable to post “Monday Minutes” on Monday (yesterday). I apologize for the tardiness, but here is the Monday Minutes post for this week.
Last week, we began looking at the Articles of Faith for Zion Primitive Baptist Church. Article One states as follows:
ARTICLE ONE: WE BELIEVE IN ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD, AND THAT THERE ARE THREE PERSONS IN THE GODHEAD, THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY GHOST, AND THESE THREE ARE ONE.
Our God is the TRUE God. Every true church ought to have a “Big God” theology, and that’s what we believe here at Zion Church! If He is the true God, this means that He is TRULY God. Many cultures have set up many different gods, all of which are merely idols of man’s own creation. But the God of the Bible is the True God!
Incidentally, this means that HE is God and You are NOT! As Hosea writes, “. . . for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee. . .” (Hos. 11:9). The Psalmist tells that “our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased” (Ps. 115:3). Are you a “Big God” Christian or a “little god” Christian? The theology of the Church should be a “Big God” theology, not a little “god” who relies on man for His purpose to be fulfilled.
Out God is also a LIVING God. All the writers of the Old Testament affirm this, as these examples prove:
Moses: Deut. 5:26 – For who is there of all flesh, that hath heard the voice of the living God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived.
Joshua: Josh. 3:10 – And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
David: 1 Sam. 17:26 (also 36) – . . . who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?
The Apostle Paul, who wrote most of the New Testament, affirms this: 1 Tim. 3:15 – But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. The Book of Hebrews (which I believe was written by the Apostle Paul) also affirms this: Heb. 10:31 – It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God (Heb. 10:31).
Even more importantly, the Lord Jesus Christ affirmed this! Listen to these verses:
Mat. 16:16-17 – And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ,the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
John 8:58 – Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you,Before Abraham was, I am.
Rev. 1:17-18 – And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
The fact that He is a LIVING God is essential to the Church! Without the Resurrection of Christ, He would be no better than the “little gods” of this world, and we would have little hope in the world. But the Resurrection is the operative fact of our existence, which proves to us that He is greater than all the other gods of this world! You see, all the other so-called gods of earth are dead; the gods of money, fame, pleasure, sex, drugs, alcohol, work, play, video games – even the ubiquitous iPhone – are made of material things. “But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased” (Ps. 115:3)!
And because He is a Living God, we have a refuge in Him. Ps. 42:1-2 – As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? (Ps. 42:1-2). Does your soul pant after God? My soul does not pant after the little so-called gods of this world, but it indeed pants after the One True and Living God!
Next week, we will take a look at another aspect of our God: God is ONE God, but He exists as a TRINITY. We will see that this truth about God is an essential Bible doctrine that every true church ought to believe.
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/3/2023)
In Romans 3:3, the question is asked, “What if some did not believe?” The answer to this question separates most in the religious world from those of us who are Primitive Baptists. All Arminians, and most Calvinists, teach that a sinner must hear and believe the gospel or there is no chance for him or her to go to heaven. Primitive Baptists, on the other hand, stand on the Scriptural ground that our belief is not what gets us to heaven! Rather, it is the faith of God – no the faith of the elect – that saves them from their sins. Join us today as we explore the Bible answer to this question, and the Bible reasoning for preaching the gospel.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 5/28/23)
Yesterday, we began to look at the topic of being “dead” in sins. We have seen that “dead” means “dead,” not “a little bit alive”! In fact, being dead means that there is no movement, no desire, no thought, and no activity whatsoever in the realm to which one is dead. So what is the remedy for those who are spiritually dead? The answer is “but God” – God Himself has to make the difference! Join us as we see the glory of grace in the quickening of a dead alien sinner.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 5/28/2023)
In Ephesians 2:1, we read that we are “dead” in trespasses and in sins. What does this mean for us? How does this affect us? What is the remedy for this condition? Join us today as we begin to look at what it means to be “dead” in sins.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 10/29/2023)
In the last post, we began looking at situations where people in the Scripture had nothing left within themselves. They faced desperate circumstances, with apparently no hope for deliverance – and yet, God delivered them! You see, when we come to the end of ourselves, we have arrived at the point where God delivers in ways we never expect. Join us as we conclude this sermon about “nothing left.”
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 10/29/2023)
Have you ever felt like you just had nothing left? Facing desperate circumstances, have you despaired even of life? There are many characters in Scripture who faced situations like this, where they had come to the end of themselves. But God was always there to fill them up! Join us today as Elder John Morgan Owens teaches us Whom we should look to when we feel like we have nothing left.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 5/19/2019)
As we continue answering the question, “What do Primitive Baptists believe?”, we continue examining what we do NOT believe. Ultimately, we see that we are neither Calvinists nor Arminians, but believers in the simple message that God chose His people before the foundation of the world, that Christ died for His people on the Cross, that the Holy Spirit quickens His people in time, and that ultimately He is coming back to get us one day!
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Zion Primitive Baptist Church was constituted on the Saturday before the third Sunday in May, 1847. On that date, seven charter members adopted Articles of Faith for the church that stated in writing what the core beliefs of Zion Church were.
Interestingly, these Articles of Faith are almost identical to the articles of faith of nearly all Baptist churches – Primitive, Missionary, or otherwise – that were constituted during the 19th and early part of the 20th centuries. Unfortunately, most of the non-Primitive Baptist churches have either amended these articles, or moved so far away from them that they would be completely foreign to their modern congregations!
However, Zion Primitive Baptist Church has neither amended nor moved away from these original Articles of Faith! Last year, we celebrated our 175th year since the church constitution, and we still believe and teach these same Articles of Faith today.
Is this because those seven charter members were so smart, or so educated? Was it because they got together and devised these Articles so that they would last? The answer is a resounding “No!” The reason these Articles of Faith have endured for nearly two centuries is that they were founded upon the clear teachings of the Word of God. No man could have devised such writings, only God!
These Articles of Faith are listed below. In the last article, due to the illegibility of the handwriting, you will see that I have supplied the word “eternity”, which is apparently what the writers intended to use. In any event, it fits within the context and does no harm to the original intent. I have encased the word within brackets to make it clear that it has been supplied.
Over the next few weeks, I am going to try to deal with each of these Articles, and establish from Scripture that these statements of faith are indeed the truth of the Word of God. Please join us as we look at these time-honored, biblical statements.
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
ARTICLES OF FAITH OF ZION PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH
(adopted May 15, 1847)
ARTICLE ONE: WE BELIEVE IN ONE TRUE AND LIVING GOD, AND THAT THERE ARE THREE PERSONS IN THE GODHEAD, THE FATHER, THE SON, AND THE HOLY GHOST, AND THESE THREE ARE ONE.
ARTICLE TWO: WE BELIEVE THAT THE SCRIPTURES OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT ARE THE WORD OF GOD AND ONLY RULE OF FAITH AND PRACTICE.
ARTICLE THREE: WE BELIEVE IN THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION, PREDESTINATION, AND THE FINAL PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS THROUGH GRACE AND THAT GOD CHOSE HIS PEOPLE IN CHRIST BEFORE WORLD BEGAN.
ARTICLE FOUR: WE BELIEVE IN THE DOCTRINE OF ORIGINAL SIN AND IMPOTENCY OF MAN[’S] RECOVERY IN AND OF HIMSELF FROM THE FALLEN STATE IN WHICH HE IS IN BY NATURE
ARTICLE FIVE: WE BELIEVE THAT SINNERS ARE JUSTIFIED ONLY IN THE SIGHT OF GOD BY THE IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS OF JESUS CHRIST
ARTICLE SIX: WE BELIEVE THAT GOD’S ELECT SHALL BE CALLED AND REGENERATED AND SANCTIFIED BY THE HOLY GHOST
ARTICLE SEVEN: WE BELIEVE THAT BAPTISM AND THE LORD’S SUPPER ARE ORDINANCES INSTITUTED BY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND TRUE BELIEVERS IN HIM ARE THE ONLY SUBJECTS CHRIST INSTITUTED THESE ORDINANCES FOR, AND THAT BAPTISM BY IMMERSION IS THE ONLY PROPER MODE.
ARTICLE EIGHT: WE BELIEVE IN A RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD AND A GENERAL JUDGMENT AND THAT THE FELICITY OF THE RIGHTEOUS AND THE PUNISHMENT OF THE WICKED SHALL BE IN [ETERNITY].
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 5/19/2019)
Have you ever been asked, “What do Primitive Baptists Believe?” In the message today, which is the first half of a sermon preached by Elder Chris McCool back in 2019, we begin answering this question by looking at what Primitive Baptist do NOT believe. Join us as we answer this all-important question from Scripture.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/26/2023)
Parenting is a fulfilling but difficult job. It is easy to neglect our responsibilities as parents, or even to go about it in an unbiblical way. But when we establish biblical goals, and employ biblical methods, we will have a much better chance to raise godly children who excel in accordance with biblical principles. Join us as we wrap up our series on “Family Matters” by finishing up our discussion of parenting.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/26/2023)
As we approach the end of our series on marriage and the family, we are looking at the role of parents. Parenting is a fulfilling job, but it is not an easy job! It is easy to provoke our children to wrath if we aren’t careful; but if we follow the mandates of Scripture, we can properly discipline them without discouraging them. Join us as we wrap up this series with a look at what it means to bring our children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/12/2023)
Parenting is one of the most important tasks we ever perform. It is imperative that we know what the Bible says about how to “train up” our children! Today, we continue looking at proper biblical goals in parenting, as well as proper biblical methods to employ in achieving those goals. We will see that the worlds’ philosophies often directly contradict God’s plan for parenting, and that when these two approaches conflict, we should ALWAYS opt for the scriptural approach!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/12/2023)
As we continue looking at the responsibilities of parents, we are seeing that proper goals must be set if childrearing is to be successful. And these goals must be BIBLICAL goals, not worldly goals! Success must be judged by Scripture, not by worldly standards. Also, we must have a proper understanding of theology, particularly of the fact that even children are subject to the Fall of Adam. We are not raising little “angels,” but little sinners who must be shown the right way to live!
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I hope everyone had a blessed Thanksgiving! We ought to always be thinking about the things that God has blessed us with, but especially at this time of year we are reminded about being thankful.
Having been the pastor of Zion Primitive Baptist Church for the past twelve years or so, I am well-acquainted with the ups and downs of the pastoral ministry. There are great mountaintops of spiritual blessing; but there are also many valleys of spiritual depression! The church I pastor is one of the most loving, supportive, and spiritual congregations I have ever encountered, and their precious prayers and support of my as pastor mean so much! I could not have been shown more love and respect, and prayerful intercession, by any people except my own dear wife! And yet there are difficult times, even in the best of circumstances!
Today, I want to share some thoughts I read on social media regarding pastors and the relationship they have with their flock. Yes, I know this came from social media, but nonetheless I see myself in each of these situations from time to time! Especially the last statement, regarding just being a “regular guy.” Pastors and preachers are subject to all the trials and temptations that non-preachers endure, and we should never elevate them to a status they cannot bear.
To my own dear church, I say that I hope you know how much you mean to me! I hope you know how important your spiritual growth is to me! And I hope you know how much I need your daily prayers! I love the congregation of Zion Church dearly!
Read the list of statements below, in light of the burden the minister has. And pray for your pastor daily; he sure does need it!
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT YOUR PASTOR
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He loves God and you a lot. Be mindful!
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He is a painfully limited human being. Be realistic!
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He probably has a pretty low view of his “performance”. Be kind!
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He wishes he were a better preacher. (Amen!) Be awake!
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He really does want God’s best for you and your family. Be open-hearted!
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His work knows no time or locational boundaries. Be patient!
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He hears much more negative information than positive. Be encouraging!
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He labors in a ministry in which few remain today. Be praying!
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He serves in a highly leadership-intensive call. Be leadable!
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He needs help. Be available!
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His God-given vision is bigger than himself and the church. Be filled with faith!
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He wants to personally meet all the needs, but knows he can’t. Be understanding!
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He’s going to say some dumb things every now and then. (Amen to this as well!) Be forgiving!
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He is greatly encouraged by your faithfulness. Be there!
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He is passionate for God’s Word to be made practical to you. Be hungry!
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He longs for church to be your spiritual oasis. Be loving!
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He dreams for your and your family’s spiritual health. Be receptive!
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He needs to hear that you prayed for him. Be interceding!
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He’s just a regular guy. Be real!
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/5/2023)
We continue today looking at parents and their responsibilities in the family. Parenting can be a daunting task, especially when done apart from the biblical pattern. We continue looking at proper goals that should be set in parenting, as well as biblical instruction on priorities in child-rearing.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/05/2023)
As we approach the end of our study on the family, we come to the all-important topic of parenting. What is the parent’s role in the family? How should parents interact with their children? What kind of parenting philosophy should they adopt? Join us as we examine these topics and more, from a biblical perspective.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/22/2023)
In the last post, we began looking at the responsibilities of children within the context of the family. We saw that children – particularly younger children who are still living at home – have a duty to “obey” their parents in all things. Today, we turn to the requirement of “honoring” our parents. All children – not just the younger ones – have a duty throughout their lives to “honor” their parents. We will see today what it means to do so, and learn once again that “it’s not about us,” but about honoring God with our lives!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/22/2023)
As we continue looking at God’s pattern for the family, we have come to the responsibilities of the children in the context of the home. Children are to obey and honor their parents according to Scripture. We begin today by examining the requirement of “obedience,” which particularly applies to the younger children. But we will see that ALL children are to “honor” their parents, no matter their ages!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/8/2023)
A husband is to love his wife like Christ loved the church. But what does Christ-like love look like? We have been looking at this love from a biblical standpoint, and yesterday we began to look at the ways in which this love is to manifest within the family dynamic. Join us today as we conclude our study of the husband’s loving leadership of his family.
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Today we will conclude our study of “time” versus “eternal” salvation. First, we will finish looking at “gospel salvation” as described in Romans 10, and then sum up our study to this point.
I pray our discussion has been edifying. If we get nothing else from these articles, may we remember always to ask the question “saved from what?” when we read the terms “saved” or “salvation” in the Scripture!
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
ARE WE SAVED BY CHRIST, OR DO WE SAVE OURSELVES? (Cont.)By Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
Zion Primitive Baptist Church
Mat. 1:21: . . . for he shall save his people from their sins.
Acts 2:40: And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
C. Gospel Salvation: Rom. 10 (cont.)
The problem is stated in verse 2, however: they had this zeal of God, “but not according to knowledge.” Their zeal was an “ignorant” zeal, not informed by the truth of the gospel. In fact, they were “going about to establish their own righteousness,” and had “not submitted themselves” to God’s righteousness (which is found only in the imputed righteousness of Christ). The gospel clearly teaches that Christ has already imputed His righteousness to us (v. 4), yet they were still trying to “work their way to heaven.”
The bottom line is that the “salvation” under consideration here could NOT be eternal salvation, since they were already eternally saved and already regenerated. So what kind of salvation IS being taught here? What is it that Paul is desiring them to be “saved” from? I believe he is referring to a conditional salvation in this time world: salvation from ignorance of the gospel! They are regenerated, but instead of resting in the good news that Christ has done it all, they are wearing themselves out trying to work their way to heaven.
To put it another way, these people were “saved” eternally, but they were lost in a timely or temporal sense because they refused to believe the gospel. As we keep reading in this chapter, we find that Paul emphasizes this point by telling them that the Law service required them to keep the Law (v. 5), but the righteousness that is of faith doesn’t ask if we have to work our way up to heaven (v. 6), nor does it ask if we have to figure out how to cheat death (v. 7), but rather it (faith) speaks as follows:
8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
In verse 8 he tells the that the word of faith is already in their mouth and heart, and they are able to speak this word of faith. Why? Surely not because they have to do so in order to be born again! No! The reason the word of faith is present in their mouths and hearts is that they have ALREADY been born again!
Then, in verses 9-13, he sets forth the clear path to deliverance through believing the gospel message, culminating in the admonition to believe, confess, and call on Christ. Once again, the idea is NOT to call on Him in order to get born again, but rather to call on Him because they have ALREADY been born again. A dead man cannot call on anyone for anything! But a living man can and should call upon the One Who has already delivered him from eternal damnation, and is able to deliver him from the continual condemnation of the sin burden here and now.
Ultimately, the answer to our question, “Saved from what?”, is “saved from ignorance and unbelief.” This is a conditional time salvation here in this time world, sometimes called “gospel salvation” or “gospel deliverance” or “conversion” by Primitive Baptists.
CONCLUSION
There are other examples in Scripture of those who are children of God in possession of eternal salvation, but who did not enjoy the conditional time salvation in certain areas here in this life. King David comes to mind; due to his unfaithfulness in the matter of Bathsheba, his family was shattered and fell apart. King Solomon is another example; as wise as he was at the beginning of his reign, by the end of it he had “loved many strange women” and not only slipped into idolatry himself, but permitted the nation of Israel to do so as well.
We began this article by asking, “Are we saved by Christ, or do we save ourselves?” The answer is that BOTH are true! We are saved eternally by Christ, but we “save ourselves” from many troubles of life by being willing and obedient!
Thankfully, the eternal destiny of God’s children is in the sovereign hands of God. But our salvation from many things here on earth – such as the consequences of sin, the struggle of trying to work our way to heaven, the despair of not grasping the full extent of the finished work of Christ, and even the failure to walk in faith in His blood – is in large part dependent upon our faithfulness to God’s word.
As a final thought, perhaps the best advice I could give anyone who is studying to “rightly divide” the Scriptures is something I’ve already stated: when you see the word saved, ask “Saved from what?” And if the salvation in question has an “if” in it – i.e., if it depends in any way on the efforts or participation of man – it is NOT eternal!
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/8/2023)
We are continuing today in our study of “family matters.” We have been looking at the responsibilities of the husbands in the marriage relationship, and have seen that husbands are to “love” their wives with a Christ-like love. But what does this Christ-like love look like? Today, we begin to explore some ways in which this biblical form of love manifests in the realm of the family.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/1/2023)
The primary command to husbands is to “love” their wives. But what does “love” mean? Is it a feeling? Is it dependent upon the object of the love? Join us today as we continue looking at the biblical definition of “love,” or “charity” as it is more properly translated, and see that love is an action and not a feeling.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/1/2023)
As we continue looking at the responsbilities of the husband in marriage, we have seen that his primary duty is to “love” the wife. But what does love really mean, from a biblical standpoint? Join us today as we look at 1 Cor. 13, the “love chapter,” and we learn that love really has little to do with feelings and everything to do with actions!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/24/2023)
Husbands are instructed to love their wives as Christ loved the church. The kind of love we are supposed to have for our wives is a Christ-like love, which is an active love. Love is a verb, not a noun; whether the feelings are there are not, we must demonstrate loving leadership in our families. Join us as we continue looking at the responsibilities of husbands in the marriage relationship.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/24/2023)
As we continue looking at “family matters,” we now come to the role of the husbands in the marriage. The husband is to be the loving leader of the family. His primary command is to love her, not lead her – the idea is that he must love BEFORE he can lead! Join us as we explore the responsibilities of husbands according the Scripture.
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As we continue examining this topic “time” versus “eternal” salvation, we will begin looking today a particular type of time salvation: gospel salvation. The best example of this type of “time” salvation is found in Romans 10.
I pray our discussion on this topic has been edifying. May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
Last week, we began looking at the topic of “eternal salvation” versus “conditional time salvation,” as regularly taught in Primitive Baptist churches. Today, we continue that thought by looking at the “eternal” side of salvation. Remember, whenever we see the word “saved” or “salvation” in the Bible, we must ask ourselves, “Saved from what?” And we will learn that the defining characteristice of eternal salvation is that it is wrought by Christ alone, without conditions!
Join us as we continue the discussion today. May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
ARE WE SAVED BY CHRIST, OR DO WE SAVE OURSELVES? (Cont.)By Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
Zion Primitive Baptist Church
Mat. 1:21: . . . for he shall save his people from their sins.
Acts 2:40: And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
C. Gospel Salvation: Rom. 10
In Romans 10, we find one of the clearest examples of conditional time salvation in Scripture. Unfortunately, many people mistake the Apostle Paul’s writings in this chapter for “eternal salvation.” This chapter actually contains one of the most misunderstood and misapplied verses in the Bible: “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Rom. 10:13). Our Arminian friends believe that this verse teaches that you must call upon the Lord in order to be saved eternally. That is, before you are born again, and IN ORDER TO get born again, you must call upon the name of the Lord.
However, I suggest that when we apply our frame of analysis for eternal versus time salvation, and ask ourselves, “Saved from what?”, we will find that this verse (along with the entire chapter 10) is speaking of conditional time salvation instead of eternal salvation. Let’s look at the context of the entire chapter in order to answer this question.
(*NOTE: This type of conditional time salvation is also often referred to as “gospel salvation”, or “conversion,” and rightly so. I mention this because it might be helpful to some who have never heard of the term “time salvation” to correlate these terms together as they attempt to rightly divide the word.)
Earlier in this chapter, we read about a people with a “zeal” for God, whom Paul desires to be “saved”. This is what Paul says about them:
1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Notice that Paul describes these Jews as having a “zeal of God.” The word “zeal” means an “ardent feeling” or an “eager desire” (The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary On Historical Principles, Third Edition 1952). It comes from the Greek word ζῆλος zēlos, which literally means “heat,” and figuratively denotes “zeal” or “ardor” in a favorable sense, or a “fervent mind” (Strong’s Concordance). It connotes the idea of pursuing something with fervor.
In the KJV translation from the Greek phrase, it is rightly translated “zeal OF GOD”. The newer translations miss this; in fact, every other translation I have seen renders this, “zeal FOR God” instead of “zeal OF God.” The problem with this rendering is that it is NOT the sense of the Greek phrase at all! The Greek word “God” in this passage is in the genitive case, which denotes “possession” – i.e., it belongs to God. In this case, then, the point that Paul is making is that their zeal comes from God! It is not just a “fire in their bellies” FOR God, but rather something that has been given to them FROM God. This zeal that is within them emanates from God, and was placed within them in the new birth.
Which brings us to a critical point: the fact that these Jews possessed a zeal that had been given to them from God means that they were already regenerated. We know that the “natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:14), and therefore these were not simply “natural men.” Rather, they were men who possessed a spiritual nature and were zealous to learn more about God!
To be continued. . . .
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/17/2023)
As we continue looking at the “virtuous woman” of Proverbs 31, we see that she is the epitome of the godly wife. Often in today’s world, we hear the feminists’ and the chauvinists’ view of womanhood, and it is completely contrary to the teachings of Scripture! Join us as we continue looking the godly wife, who is the virtuous woman.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/17/2023)
As we continue our study of the family, we are currently looking at the role of wives in the marriage relationship. Today, we review briefly what Paul tells the Colossians about wives, and then we turn to Proverbs 31 to look at the virtuous woman. It is so important to understand the proper role of the wife in a world that perverts the roles of the genders!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/10/2023)
Today we continue looking at the wife’s role in the marriage relationship. We have begun to see what godly submission is NOT, and today we conclude by examining what godly submission truly IS. We should never be afraid to dig into God’s word to find the pattern for all things in our lives, especially marriage and family!
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by Elder Chris McCool (preached on 9/10/2023)
As we continue looking at the biblical pattern for the family, we come today to the role of wives in the marriage relationship. What does God say about the wife’s role? When He mentions “submission,” what does that mean from a biblical perspective? How are we to model this before those who are not in the Kingdom of God? Join us today as we begin to look at this biblical commandment for wives.
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In today’s post, we turn to the topic of “conditional time salvation,” also sometimes called simply “time salvation.” This is a doctrine taught almost exclusively by Primitive Baptists, although I have encountered at least one independent Baptist church that also teaches this. Today, we search the scriptures to see if, indeed, time salvation is a biblical doctrine. We will see that there are many examples in the Bible of this type salvation.
We will also discover that time salvation is a conditional salvation; it depends largely upon the choices we make in life! Remember that eternal salvation is unconditional; Christ accomplished our eternal redemption on the cross, without conditions. However, as we will see today, there are conditions on time salvation.
I pray our discussion today is edifying. May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
ARE WE SAVED BY CHRIST, OR DO WE SAVE OURSELVES? (Cont.)By Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
Zion Primitive Baptist Church
Mat. 1:21: . . . for he shall save his people from their sins.
Acts 2:40: And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
IV. TIME SALVATION
So what about conditional time salvation? What do Primitive Baptists believe the Bible says about this type of salvation? Does such a concept exist in Scripture?
A. Time salvation is a Scriptural doctrine.
The first question we must ask when dealing with any doctrine is, “Does the Bible teach it?” In the case of “conditional time salvation,” the actual title of the doctrine does not appear in Scripture. The title is simply a convenient way to refer to the teaching, but the question is not whether the title itself appears in Scripture, but whether the Scripture teaches the doctrine. The term “Trinity” never appears in the Bible either, but it is clearly taught!
In Exodus 14, we find the children of Israel facing the Red Sea before them, and the Egyptian army behind them. Their situation looked desperate, but Moses told them, “Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.” Ex. 14:13. Later on, we read that “Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore.” Ex. 14:30.
Clearly the Israelites here were not clamoring for “eternal salvation”. Had they wanted to be eternally saved, they could have run back upon the spears of the Egyptians, or drowned themselves in the Red Sea! The salvation under consideration was not eternal, but temporal: it was called a “today”, or a “that day”, salvation. This is a clear reference to a type of salvation that was timely and not eternal.
In Matthew 8, we read of a similar situation. Verses 23 through 27 give the account of the disciples on the sea in the midst of a storm, while Jesus was asleep in the ship. When they woke Him up, they cried, “Lord save us: we perish!” Mat. 8:25. Were they asking Him to save them eternally? No! They were afraid of drowning in the sea, and needed to be delivered from the stormy waters!
One final passage that we should examine is found in 1 Peter 3:21. In this verse, Peter has been discussing Noah and the Flood, and makes the comparison that “The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us.” Does this mean that a child of God must submit to water baptism in order to go to heaven? No! This passage is speaking of another type of salvation, and NOT eternal salvation!
B. Time salvation IS conditional.
Simply put, conditional time salvation is indeed “conditional.” This means that a child of God CAN achieve it, or can fall short of it! This type of salvation is conditioned on our obedience to God in this life. This was what Peter was speaking of in Acts 2:40, when he told them to “save yourselves from this untoward [crooked] generation.” He was speaking NOT of eternal salvation, but of a “time salvation” that was conditional on what they did or did not do.
Let us look at some examples of “conditional time salvation,” that is dependent in large part upon whether we are obedient to God or not. Perhaps nowhere in Scripture is this summed up better than in Isaiah Chapter 1: “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land: But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” Isa. 1:19-20. In other words, there are blessings in obedience here and now, but these blessings are conditioned upon our willingness to be obedient to God! This is a conditional blessing (salvation) that is contingent on our actions.
What about membership in church? There is certainly a conditional time salvation in becoming a member of the visible aspect of the Kingdom of God! In Luke 16:16, Jesus makes the following statement: “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.” The word “presseth” means “to force” or “to crowd oneself into” (Strong’s Concordance). Can a person “force” or “crowd himself into” eternal heaven? No! But he CAN “press into” the Kingdom of God that is “here and now” – i.e., the Church Kingdom. This is another example of conditional time salvation: a blessing that we will only experience if we are obedient to God and join one of His churches.
We have already mentioned 1 Pet. 3:21, wherein we read that baptism “saves” us. Once again, we must ask, “saved from what?” In this case, the salvation is clearly not “eternal”, but rather involves conditional time salvation – a “here and now” deliverance that occurs when we are baptized. We are told here that baptism is an “answer”: it is “the answer of a good conscience toward God.” If we never submit to baptism, we will never have relief from this nagging question of conscience; when we DO submit, we are “saved” from our conscience’s continual prodding to be obedient to God.
There are many other examples of conditional time salvation. We can save ourselves from alcoholism by abstaining from alcohol, or only drinking in moderation. We can save ourselves from drug addiction by avoiding the use of any drugs. We can save ourselves from the breakup of our marriages by following the biblical pattern for our homes. The list goes on and on.
But before we leave this topic, I want to look at one more issue and examine one more set of Scriptures found in the 10thchapter of Romans, which give us another important example of “conditional time salvation.”
To be continued. . . .
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 8/20/23)
God’s pattern for marriage involves one man and one woman, for life! And the primary relationship within the family is NOT parent-child, but husband-wife. We must seek to follow this pattern if we have successful homes, and honor God in the process!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 8/20/2023)
As we continue our study on the family, we look today to the biblical pattern for marriage. God established the marriage relationship in the Garden of Eden, and His pattern for the family still works! We should seek out the pattern for marriage in the word of God, and follow it in our lives.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 8/6/2023)
As we continue in our introduction to this new series, we will see that there are many attacks upon the biblical family today. But God has established a pattern for marriage and the home, and if we follow it we will be much better off!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 8/6/2023)
We are beginning a new series today, entitled “Family Matters.” We are examining this topic because, well, family MATTERS! It matters today more than ever! Today, we begin by looking at an overview of the family. What is a family? What is its place in our modern society? Join us as we begin looking at this very timely topic.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 7/30/2023)
Today, we conclude our series on “mortifying your members.” Paul has told us the things we need to put to death in our lives, and the things we need to “put off;” he has also told us the things we need to “put on,” or clothe ourselves with. Now, he concludes by telling us about some things to “let into” our lives, and ultimately gives us the secret of life: do ALL things for Christ!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 7/30/2023
As we come to the conclusion of our series on “Mortifying Your Members,” we are now encouraged by Paul to “let” some things into our lives! If we will heed his warnings, we will be in a place to serve God prosperously in the Kingdom of God.
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As we continue looking at the topic of “eternal salvation” versus “conditional time salvation,” we are continuing to expound upon “eternal” salvation. As I always remind you, whenever we see the word “saved” or “salvation” in the Bible, we must ask ourselves, “Saved from what?” Today, we learn that eternal salvation is unconditional, whereas time salvation is largely dependent upon our choices in life.
Join us as we continue the discussion today. May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
ARE WE SAVED BY CHRIST, OR DO WE SAVE OURSELVES? (Cont.)By Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
Zion Primitive Baptist Church
Mat. 1:21: . . . for he shall save his people from their sins.
Acts 2:40: And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
B. Eternal Salvation is unconditional.
By necessity, then, if eternal salvation is solely of God, it must be unconditional on the part of man. We understand that God the Father chose His people in Christ “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4), that “whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom. 8:29). Children of God are called “elect according to the foreknowledge of God” (1 Pet. 1:2).
We understand that Christ went to Calvary to die for those same people who were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. See John 17:1-2: “These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him**.” When He died on Calvary, He died for a specific people, not some undefined mass who might or might not make it to heaven one day. “Moreover whom he did predestinate, . . . them he also justified: and whom he justified” (Rom. 8:30). This justification occurred by His death on the cross.
But what is most important for us is the application of this eternal salvation to our lives here in this world. We have already seen that an unregenerate man – even though he may be a child of God – cannot receive, or even understand, the spiritual things that God has done for us. We have to conclude, then, that each and every child of God who has been chosen in Christ, and for whom Christ died, MUST be regenerated at some point in their existence here on earth. To put it another way, at some point between conception and death, each and every elect of God WILL be born again! The question becomes, “How does this occur?” The Bible answer is that it occurs by the direct operation of the Holy Spirit, and without any means of man whatsoever – i.e., it is unconditional.
The Arminian view is that a person must “accept” eternal salvation (in the form of the new birth) in order for it to apply to that person. If he never “accepts” it, he will die and go to hell. Many who are called “Calvinist” or “Reformed” hold the view that, before even the elect child of God can be regenerated, he must hear the gospel message, and will of necessity receive and believe it upon being born again. Both of these views are sometimes called “gospel means of regeneration”, or simply “gospel regeneration”. But what do we read in Scripture about the new birth?
(*NOTE: I want to point out that this is a different issue than the question whether all the elect of God will hear and believe the gospel; many of those who believe in sovereign grace hold the position that God will somehow get the gospel message to every elect child of God at some point in the lives, and that they will then believe it if they truly are children of God. That is a topic to elaborate on at a later time, but suffice it to say that Primitive Baptists do not generally believe that the gospel will necessarily get to every regenerated elect child of God.)
In the third chapter of John, we find a man named Nicodemus coming to Jesus by night. He salutes Him, but before he can even really begin questioning Jesus about His ministry, Jesus jumps right into the theological truth of regeneration: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). He emphasizes this fact a couple of verses farther along: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God” (John 3:5). Jesus then explains to Nicodemus how the new birth occurs: “The wind bloweth where it listeth [wishes], and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit” (John 3:8).
Notice what Jesus is saying here: the new birth does not occur at the behest of men! Rather, it is subject ONLY to the sovereign will of the Holy Spirit. Furthermore, every single new birth occurs in exactly the same way: “so [thus, in this way] is EVERY ONE that is born of the Spirit!” This means that, if we find any example anywhere in the Scripture where one was regenerated apart from hearing the gospel, or any other means of men, then everyone who is ever born again is regenerated without any means of men. We such an example in the first chapter of Luke.
After the angel revealed to Mary that she was to be the earthly mother of the Christ, she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was carrying John the Baptist in her womb. When she came into Elizabeth’s presence and greeted her, “the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost” (Luke 1:41). Elizabeth further explained what happened: “For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy” (Luke 1:44). Remember, the “natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God” (1 Cor. 2:14), and since “joy” is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22), this means that the babe in her womb – John the Baptist – must have been born again, otherwise he would have had no joy!
John the Baptist was regenerated without ever having heard the gospel message. He had not even formed the capacity to think or speak words, and he certainly had no ability to “accept Christ” or otherwise exercise his own will in any way that would have been effective in achieving his own eternal salvation. The Bible does not teach “innocence” until a certain “age of accountability”; rather, David says that even infants are corrupted by the sin of Adam: “Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Ps. 51:5). The only conclusion we can reach is that John the Baptist was regenerated in his mother’s womb, apart from any of his own efforts or any other means of men, including hearing the gospel.
The bottom line is that eternal salvation – which includes regeneration – is accomplished by the direct, immediate, and sovereign action of the Holy Spirit, and is unconditional.
To be continued. . . .
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 7/16/2023)
We continue today looking at some things that we need to “put on” in our lives. Paul adjures the Colossians to act in such a way that they would be seen as “Christians,”, or “Christ-like.” These things will promote harmony in the Kingdom and will avoid strife!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 7/16/2023)
Having discussed the things we need to “mortify” or “put off,” we now turn to the things that we need to “put on.” There are several things that Paul tells them they should put on, but the basis of all of them is charity, or love. Join us as we begin to see the things that we need to “put on” in our lives.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 7/9/2023)
The sins we are considering are sins that divide us, and they include blasphemy, filthy communications, and lying. We must “put off” these sins as part of our effort to “mortify” our members! Join us as we continue looking at how to put off these sins.
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Last week, we began looking at the topic of “eternal salvation” versus “conditional time salvation,” as regularly taught in Primitive Baptist churches. Today, we continue that thought by looking at the “eternal” side of salvation. Remember, whenever we see the word “saved” or “salvation” in the Bible, we must ask ourselves, “Saved from what?” And we will learn that the defining characteristice of eternal salvation is that it is wrought by Christ alone, without conditions!
Join us as we continue the discussion today. May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
ARE WE SAVED BY CHRIST, OR DO WE SAVE OURSELVES? (Cont.)By Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
Zion Primitive Baptist Church
Mat. 1:21: . . . for he shall save his people from their sins.
Acts 2:40: And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
III. ETERNAL SALVATION
We have already seen that “eternal salvation” refers to the salvation we have from the penalty of sin. One of the most basic verses referring to this type of salvation is Matthew 1:21: “for He shall save His people from their sins.” Notice that there are no conditions placed upon this eternal salvation: HE shall save; His people have no active role in eternal salvation!
A. Eternal Salvation is wrought by God alone.
Without getting too deep into other doctrines, our basic understanding of the depravity of man in nature dictates that unregenerate man can plan no part in his own salvation, including his own regeneration. 1 Corinthians 2:14: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Notice what Paul is saying here: the “natural man” (i.e., the man who is only born naturally and has never been born spiritually) not only WILL NOT receive anything that is of (or originating from) the Spirit of God, but he CANNOT receive such things! Why is he unable to receive them? Because he is “dead in trespasses and in sins” (Eph. 2:1). A dead man cannot perform any actions or exercise any will within the realm to which he is dead. Thus, as the physically dead corpse cannot move or think within the physical realm, the spiritually dead man cannot move or think within the spiritual realm.
This means that a spiritually dead man cannot even receive the gospel message! It must be a basic principle that the gospel message is a spiritual message. If a man is spiritually dead, he cannot receive any spiritual thing – especially a spiritual message such as the gospel!
So how is eternal salvation accomplished? Hebrews 1:3 tells us that “. . . when he [Jesus Christ] had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” How were our sins purged? By Himself. Isaiah 53:5 tells us that “with his stripes we are healed.” How were we healed? With HIS stripes. Romans 5:10 states that “when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son. . . .” How were we reconciled to God? By the death of His Son. Hebrews 9:12 tells us that it was not “by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” How was eternal redemption obtained? By His own blood. Later on in this same book, in Hebrews 9:26, we are told that “once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” How were our sins put away? By the sacrifice of Himself. Finally, Hebrews 10:14 is clear that “by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” How were we perfected? HE perfected us.
I could go on and on, but these Scriptures show us that our eternal salvation is solely in the hands of God! He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4; Rom. 8:29), justified us by the precious blood of Christ (1 Pet. 1:18-21; Rom. 8:29), and He quickens us by the direct operation of the Holy Spirit at some point between conception and death (Rom. 8:29-30; Eph. 2:1-3; John 3:1-9). We must conclude that eternal salvation is unconditional, and is solely and completely in the hands of God!
To be continued. . . .
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 7/9/2023)
As we continue looking at “putting off” sins, we come to sins of division – i.e., sins that divide us. The previous sins of anger, wrath, and malice, originate in the heart, and are sins of desire. The sins under consideration today – blasphemy, filthy communications, and lying – are the result of the desires of the heart. And these sins divide us! Join us as we begin looking at these sins of division.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 7/2/2023)
We continue today looking at anger, wrath, and malice. Paul tells the Colossians that they need to “put off” anger! This is a sin that afflicts many of us, and we all need to deal with it in our lives by “putting it off.”
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 7/2/2023)
Having looked at the things we must mortify, or “murder”, in our hearts, we begin today looking at things we must “put off.” The sins we’ve been dealing with have been primarily sins of the heart; today, we begin looking at sins of the hands – i.e., the actions that result from those illicit desires and emotions. We will be looking at attitudes of division, and later will look at the actions of division that result. We start out by looking at anger, wrath, and malice, lumping them all together under the topic of “anger.”
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 6/18/2023)
Today, we conclude a sermon begun yesterday regarding the rest of the “members” we need to “mortify,” or “murder.” These sins of the heart lead to sins of the hands, or actions that are iniquitous. Join us as we learn more about the things we need to eliminate from our sinful thinking.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 6/18/2023)
As we continue looking at the things we need to “mortify,” we are going to consider some more sins of desire – that is, sins that primarily dominate in our hearts. We have looked at fornication; today, we take up the problems of uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness. These problems originate in our hearts, and will ultimately result in sinful actions! We must learn to mortify – or “murder” – these members!
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Recently, I wrote an article attempting to “rightly divide” the terms “saved” or “salvation” in the Scripture. Primitive Baptists believe that there are two different types of salvation taught in the Bible. We call these types “eternal salvation” and “conditional time salvation,” or sometimes “time salvation” for short. I want to begin sharing this article today in hopes that it will help us better understand that God has saved us eternally, but we must be obedient in order to experience His blessings upon our lives here and now.
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
ARE WE SAVED BY CHRIST, OR DO WE SAVE OURSELVES?By Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
Zion Primitive Baptist Church
Mat. 1:21: . . . for he shall save his people from their sins.
Acts 2:40: And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
I. INTRODUCTION
These two verses present what appear to be conflicting concepts on their faces: are we saved by Christ, or must we somehow save ourselves? The answer to this question can be quite confusing, until we understand that the answer itself revolves around the type of salvation under consideration in the context of each scripture. Ultimately, we will see that we are indeed saved by Christ with regard to eternity, but we must also save ourselves “here and now”! The bottom line is that these Scriptures are dealing with two different “types” of salvation taught in the Bible.
The fact that there are two different types of salvation taught in Scripture is a VERY important principle! Depending on our understanding of this concept, we will either be prevented from “rightly dividing the word of God” or we will be greatly assisted in doing so. There will be endless confusion and contradiction found throughout the Bible if we do not see this important point.
One very pertinent example of this is found in Romans 10:13: For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. This verse has caused untold confusion in the religious world! It can only be clearly understood, however, if we keep in mind this primary principle of bible study: THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF SALVATION TAUGHT IN SCRIPTURE! We will come back to this verse later on, after we have examined this concept more fully.
II. TWO TYPES OF SALVATION
Primitive Baptists usually refer to the two types of salvation as “conditional time salvation” (or “time salvation” for short), and “eternal salvation”. This distinction is essential in “rightly dividing” the word of God; without it, many people end up thinking that efforts of man are a part of our eternal salvation. In reality, there ARE many situations wherein salvation can only be achieved through the efforts of man. However, these situations do NOT involve eternal salvation.
In order to understand this distinction, we first need to understand what the terms “saved” or “salvation” really mean. We can go to the Greek, or the Oxford English Dictionary, but I believe it is always best to let Scripture interpret Scripture. To that end, let’s look at Acts 2:21 and Joel 2:32. In Acts 2:21, we read that, “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” This verse is quoting an Old Testament passage from Joel 2:32: “And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered.” In this case, “saved” and “delivered” are interchangeable; thus, we can conclude that salvation is a “deliverance” from something. The question is, what are we being delivered from?
If I came running into your house with your toddler in my arms, and said, “I just saved her!”, you would immediately want to ask, “Saved her from what?” Likewise, when we read the words “saved” in Scripture, we should ask, “Saved from what?” Clearly, not every
When it comes to eternal salvation, the answer to “saved from what” is clear: we are saved from the eternal penalty of sin. When it comes to conditional time salvation, it is further clear that we can be “saved” from many things: from divorce (by being faithful to our wives); from drug addiction (by never taking drugs); from specific sins in our daily lives (by studying the word of God and staying faithful to its teachings).
Let’s examine each type of salvation.
To be continued. . . .
by Elder Chris McCool (preached on 6/11/2023)
As we finish our examination of the issue of fornication, we learn how to “mortify”, or “murder”, this member. Fornication is NOT a sin you can fight – you must FLEE from it! Join us as we conclude our discussion of mortifying fornication in our lives.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 6/11/2023)
We continue today looking at fornication, the first member that we are told to “mortify,” or “murder.” Fornication is an uncomfortable topic to talk about, but it is SO necessary for God’s people to hear today! Join us as we continue to see the problem with fornication, and the ways in which we can mortify this member.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 6/4/2023)
We continue today looking at the sin of fornication. This sin is rampant today, and it has led many children of God to ruin. Join us as we continue looking at mortifying – or “murdering” – this sin of fornication.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 6/4/2023)
As we continue looking at the topic of “Mortifying Your Members,” we are at the point of looking at the things we need to “murder” in our lives. In today’s sermon, we begin looking at sins of the heart, or sins of desire. These “members” have to do with the heart’s motives, but they often lead to action – ungodly actions that will cause problems in our lives. The first of these is fornication, which we deal with in this sermon.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 5/7/2023)
As we continue looking at the topic of “mortifying your members,” we learn that our focus should be on things above, and not things below. As we continue to grow in the Kingdom of God, and try to learn more and more about “Kingdom living”, we realize that it takes effort and the mortification of certain fleshly traits and desires.
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A couple of weeks ago, we began sharing an article by Elder Buddy Abernathy regarding the three types of justification taught in the Bible. We have already learned about “justification by grace” and “justification by faith,” and today we turn to “justification by works.”
May the Lord bless you is my prayer!
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
Three Kinds of Justification, Part Three
I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? (Job 9:2)
by Elder Buddy Abernathy
What does it mean to be justified by works? Works do not justify us before God: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law…for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Gal 2:16 KJV). Our works justify us in the estimation of others. Jesus taught that a tree is identified by the fruit it bears (Mat. 7:15-20, 12:33, Luke 6:43-44). This principle of justification by works was clearly illustrated in the life of the Gentiles that Paul referenced in his epistle to the church at Rome. (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) (Rom 2:13-15 KJV). The outward behavior of these Gentiles manifested to others the spiritual nature they possessed.
Both Abraham and Rahab were justified by works. Their actions testified to others that they were God’s children. Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? (Jas 2:21-25 KJV)
All of God’s children are justified before God in Christ because they have been made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). Some of them are also justified by faith because they have come to understand they have been made the righteousness of God in Christ (Rom. 10:4, Gal. 3:24). Some of them are also justified by works because they live a life of obedience to God. In other words, their manner of life “becometh the gospel of Christ” (Phl 1:27). Interestingly, some of God’s children are justified by works even though they are not justified by faith (Rom. 2:13-15). The Apostle Paul referred to Gentiles who “have not the law”. They have not been exposed to the written word of God; nonetheless, they have a sense of right and wrong. That’s because they have “the law written in their hearts” (Heb. 8:10) when they are given spiritual life. This law in their hearts serves as a moral compass, even though they may never hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. This explains why there are people all over the world, in different cultures and religions, who have a desire to live righteously. They are doing “by nature the things contained in the law” In this context, “nature” refers to the divine nature that a child of God receives when he’s born of the Spirit (2 Pet. 1:4, 2 Cor. 5:17)
Primitive Baptists believe that God’s people are chosen in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world, predestinated unto the adoption of children, called by the Spirit, justified by Jesus Christ and preserved unto glory in Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:3-6, Rom. 8:29-30, Jude 1:1, Isa. 49:14-16, John 10:29, Eph. 1:3-6, Heb. 9:11-12, 10:14). They believe when God’s children are born of the Spirit they possess a new spiritual nature in conflict with their old fleshly nature (2 Cor. 5:17, 1 Pet. 1:23, Gal. 5:17, Rom. 7:21-25). They believe the child of God can allow his fleshly nature to ruin his life in this present world (Isa 1:19-20, Gal. 6:7-8, Rom. 6:12-13, 1 Cor. 6:18-20, 7:23, 1 Th 4:3-7, Heb 6:4-9). They believe nothing can separate them from the love of God (Psa. 89:30-34, Isa. 54:7-10, 2 Sam. 23:5, Mark 10:17-22, Mat. 13:18-23, Gen. 19:30-36, 2 Pet. 2:7-8, 2 Tim. 2:16-19, Rom. 8:38-39). They believe many of them will never hear or obey the gospel (Mat. 23:37-39, Rom. 10:1-3, 11:7-32). They believe hell is a place of everlasting punishment for the unredeemed and it will be populated by the unregenerate wicked (Mat. 7:21-23, Mat. 25:41-46, John 5:28, Acts 24:15).
The doctrines of grace as taught by Primitive Baptists are the only doctrines which give me hope and comfort. I rejoice in the same truth David rejoiced in about 3,000 years ago, Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow. (2Sa 23:5 KJV).
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 5/7/2023)
In his letter to the Colossian Church, the Apostle Paul begins in Chapter 3 to teach them about “Kingdom Living.” In order to live and prosper in the spiritual Kingdom of God (the church), we must “mortify” – or “murder” – some aspects of our natural lives. Join us as we begin to look at mortifying our members.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 5/21/2023)
In the 69th Psalm, we read about a man who was hated without a cause. Who is this Man? Surely He has done SOMETHING to merit the hatred of so many? Join us today as we learn that the Lord Jesus Christ never did ANYTHING wrong in His earthly life, but that man by nature hates Him – yet He loves His people, and died to redeem them!
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by Elder Tony Lester (preached on 7/30/2023)
In this powerful sermon, Elder Tony Lester reminds us that even though Christ had the power in His voice to calm storms and destroy kingdoms, nonetheless He “opened not His mouth” before the authorities who were about to crucify Him. And why would He be willing to remain silent in the face of certain death? Because He loved His children with an everlasting love, and was willing to go to the cross for them.
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by Bro. McNeil Honea (preached on 4/30/2023)
In today’s message, we conclude the sermon begun yesterday on examples from the Book of Philippians. Bro. McNeil Honea, who has been exercising a preaching gift for several years under the authority of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church, has shown us that Christ is the ultimate example. But we also have godly men and women whom we know as examples, and whom we ought to emulate inasmuch as they emulate Christ. Join us today for the conclusion of this powerful message.
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by Bro. McNeil Honea (preached on 4/30/2023)
In this outstanding message, Bro. McNeil Honea, who has been exercising a gift under the authority of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church for several years, preaches to us about “examples” that we find in Paul’s letter to the Philippians. We need role models in our lives! Join us as we begin looking at this bible principle.
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with Pastor Chris McCool (10/2/2023)
Last week, we began sharing an article by Elder Buddy Abernathy regarding the three types of justification taught in the Bible. We dealt with “justification by grace,” and saw that this justification is accomplished by Christ alone.
Today, we turn to “justification by faith.” Bro. Buddy examines this type of justification, and shows us where it applies.
May the Lord bless you is my prayer!
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
THREE KINDS OF JUSTIFICATION, PART TWO
I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? (Job 9:2)
by Elder Buddy Abernathy
In Paul’s epistle to the church at Rome, he describes the conflict experienced by children of God who are ignorant of their justification in Christ: for they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (Rom 10:3 KJV). We are not justified (declared righteous) by the law of Moses (Acts 13:39, Rom. 3:20, Gal. 2:16). If we evaluate ourselves according to the law, we see ourselves condemned in the sight of God.
Unless a child of God understands he was justified by Christ, he will continue trying to find a way to justify himself. He needs to hear the gospel of his salvation and place his confidence of salvation in the redemptive work of Christ (Eph. 1:7, Col. 1:14). Then he can answer Job’s question, “How should man be just with God?” He now understands he’s righteous before God because he has been made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21). Now he’s justified by faith, Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Rom 5:1 KJV).
When a child of God understands he has been justified by Christ, he has assurance of salvation. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Eph 1:13 KJV). The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Rom 8:16 KJV).
With these thoughts in mind, consider the following verses. The expressions, “justified by faith” and “justified by the faith of Christ”, are simply describing the mindset of a child of God who believes he has been made the righteousness of God in Christ (2 Cor. 5:21):
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (Rom 3:28 KJV)
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Gal 2:16 KJV)
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. … Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. (Gal 3:11, 24 KJV)
One of the best illustrations of justification by faith is the parable concerning the pharisee and the publican: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (Luk. 18:10-14 KJV).
Justification by faith is experienced when we hear and embrace the wonderful news declared by the prophet Isaiah, Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins. (Isa 40:1-2 KJV)
by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 7/23/2023)
Have you ever thought about what it must have looked like as Jesus hung there on the cross? I’m sure the people standing around thought that Christ was quite a spectacle. But the REAL spectacle that day was not the Lord Jesus Christ hanging there, but rather the spectacle that God was making of sin and death through His perfect sacrifice! Join us as Elder John Morgan Owens teaches us about the “spectacle” of the cross.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 8/13/2023)
Have you ever been overwhelmed by the storms of life? In Mark 6, we read of an account where the disciples were overwhelmed by an actual storm on the Sea of Galilee. They were not outside the will of God – in fact, Christ had “constrained them” to get into the ship and go to the other side! But Jesus was not taken by surprise by the storm, and in fact He overwhelmed that storm in a very vivid and remarkable way!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 5/21/2023)
In the last post, we began looking at Jesus’ statement from the cross, “It is finished.” We saw that many in the crowd believed that He indeed WAS finished, but in the sense that He was “done for”! This was NOT what Jesus meant, however; actually, He was far from being “done for”! Instead, Jesus was declaring that He had finished the work that He had been sent by His Father to do, which was to save His people from their sins.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 5/21/2023)
Often when we say that someone is “finished,” we mean that they are “done for” – i.e., they have lost the battle, and there’s nothing more they can do. But that is NOT the case with Jesus! His cry from the cross did NOT mean He was “done for,” but rather that He had finished the work that He had been sent to do: to save His people from their sins. Join us as we begin to look at this glorious statement from the cross.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 8/7/2022)
Today, we conclude this portion of the Exposition of Revelation, dealing with the letters to the seven churches in Asia Minor. In this sermon, we learn more about lukewarmness, and that Rev. 3:20 is a discipleship verse and not an eternal salvation verse!
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with Pastor Chris McCool (9/25/2023)
In today’s post, I want to begin sharing an article by Elder Buddy Abernathy regarding the three types of “justification” taught in Scripture. These three are justification by grace, justification by faith, and justification by works. Each type of justification has its place and fills an important role in our lives, but only justification by grace gets us to heaven!
Join us today as we begin looking at this concept of justification as taught in the Bible.
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
THREE KINDS OF JUSTIFICATION, PART ONE
I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? (Job 9:2)
By Elder Buddy Abernathy
The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy, Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Tim. 2:15 KJV). In his first letter to the church at Corinth, he emphasized the necessity of the Holy Ghost in comparing spiritual things with spiritual. (1Cor. 2:13). In the book of Nehemiah, Ezra, the Levites, and others, “…read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. (Neh. 8:8 KJV). The prophet Isaiah wrote, Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little (Isa 28:9-10 KJV). All these verses identify the reason why the Bible may appear to have contradictions unless it is rightly divided, i.e., “cut straight” or “handled aright” (2 Cor. 2:17, 4:1-2). It is unlike any other book in the world. As a seamstress must cut cloth so that the pieces fit together, such is the case with the infallible word of God (Psa. 12:6 & 2 Tim 3:16).
Justification is a subject which exemplifies the importance of rightly dividing the word of truth. Justify means, “to render, declare, or exhibit one to be righteous”. The Bible teaches that God’s people are justified by Christ. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2Co 5:21 KJV). We were made the righteousness of God in Christ; therefore, we are justified (declared righteous) before God in Christ. God has accepted his people in Christ (Eph. 1:6). We are acceptable to God based on what Christ has done for us. Consider the following verses which attribute our justification to Christ.
Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. (Rom 5:9 KJV)
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Rom 3:24 KJV)
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. (Rom 4:25 KJV)
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1Co 6:11 KJV)
But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Tit 3:4-7 KJV)
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Rom 8:29-30 KJV)
Thousands of years ago, Job said, “I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God? (Job 9:2). Job is asking the same question that many of God’s children ask today. How can a sinner so vile as I be made righteous before God? The gospel answers this question, …by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.…but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Heb 9:12, 26 KJV). For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Heb 10:14 KJV)
To Be Continued. . . .
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 8/7/2022)
In the sermon today, Elder Buddy Abernathy begins to review what it means to be “lukewarm.” He reminds us that, of all times in history, we are living in a day when it is more of a risk than ever that we might become lukewarm!
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 6/26/2022)
As we continue looking at the “lukewarm” church (Laodicea), we are dealing with the concept of chastening. The chastening of God should be an encouragement to us, because it is a sign of sonship!
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 6/26/2022)
The sermon today continues our study of the Laodicean church, which was lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot. In Rev. 3:19, Christ begins speaking about chastening, and Bro. Buddy expounds upon this concept, showing us that we should be encouraged rather than discouraged when chastening occurs in our lives!
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 6/19/2022)
We continue today to look at the letters to the seven churches in Revelation, specifically looking at the church at Laodicea. We are in the second half of the second sermon regarding this church, that was neither “hot” nor “cold,” but rather “lukewarm.” Hopefully, through this series, we can learn how to avoid this condition that God says He cannot stand!
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 6/19/2022)
As we continue to look at the letter to the church at Laodicea, we see the problems within this church, and recognize that they can afflict us today! Elder Buddy Abernathy delves into what it means to be lukewarm, and continues to give us encouragement and admonition about NOT becoming like Laodicea!
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On September 11, 2001, Brian Sweeney, a 38-year-old aeronautics consultant and former Navy pilot from Massachusetts, left these words in a voicemail to his wife:
“Jules, this is Brian. Listen, I’m on an airplane that’s been hijacked. If things don’t go well, and it’s not looking good, I just want you to know that I absolutely love you. I want you to do good, go have good times — same to my parents and everybody — and I just totally love you … and I’ll see you when you get there.”
A few minutes later, the plane he was on was intentionally crashed into the World Trade Center in the most deadly terrorist attack ever on American soil.
Each year, as I reflect on this horrible event, I am always reminded of Brian Sweeney’s words on that fateful day, especially the last part of his voicemail. In fact, those words never fail to bring me to tears! In the last few moments of his life, this man expressed in simple, poignant earnestness a heart of faith in the simple gospel message: “I’ll see you when you get there!”
Certainly, there is much more to the gospel message than just a promise to see our loved ones again. As we learn more and more about our Savior and what He did for us, we can rejoice even more deeply in the fact that He accomplished our salvation on the cross. We can savor the joys of being called from darkness into His marvelous light, into a life in Christ that is filled with peace and comfort! We can look forward with great hope and anticipation to the time we will be in heaven, not just with our loved ones, but with THE Beloved One! Many joys will attend us when we study the Scripture and learn more about the gospel.
But in its most basic form – in its simplest iteration – the gospel message tells us that death is not the end, and that life eternal awaits even those who perish in tragic events like 9/11. In a similar vein, I remember a story my brother related recently, about the death of our great-grandmother when he was a little boy.
My great-grandmother Lula Crowley came to live with my grandmother (her daughter) in the waning years of her life. During that time, my brother Tim became very close to her. She doted on him, and he spent a lot of time with her. He was a little fellow, only six years old when she died in 1977. In those days, the visitation for the deceased was held at home, and during that evening when everyone was coming by to express their condolences, my brother was standing at the casket, sobbing in his grief over her death. As he stood there crying, my grandmother reached over and hugged him, and said, “Don’t worry son, we will see her again!”
At that simple message of promise, hope blossomed in his little heart. The idea that this moment of death was not actually the end of our fellowship was uplifting to that little boy in a time of great grief! And while he had much, much more to learn about the details of the true gospel message, the simple statement of hope was enough to pick him up and set his mind a little bit at ease.
In the case of Brian Sweeney, I see such similar hope. Although I have no idea about his religious persuasion, his simple statement of promise displayed a faith in the grace of God that applies to every single one of His children. What grace we have in Christ! What a promise we have to cling to, the solid truth that Jesus paid the sin debt for every single one of His children, and they WILL be there when we get there! And more importantly, the One Who purchased our redemption will be there, and we will be with Him forevermore!
We should never forget that awful day some twenty-two years ago. We should continue to pray for God’s blessings upon the families of all those who lost loved ones that day. But more than that, we should remember and cling to the precious promise that, because of the finished work of Christ, we will see our loved ones again!
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 6/5/2022)
We continue today in the letter to the Laodicean church. This “lukewarm” church had lost its zeal for God, and its members were living like the world! Elder Buddy Abernathy teaches us what it means to be “lukewarm,” and how we can avoid it in our churches today!
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 6/5/2022)
In this message, we begin examining the Laodicean church. This church was “lukewarm,” which God hates. Bro. Buddy discusses what it means to be “lukewarm,” and how we can avoid it in our own churches. Join us as we begin our look at the letter to the church at Laodicea.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 5/15/2022)
As we conclude our look at the letter to the church at Philadelphia, we see that Christ encourages and admonishes this church to continue their service to God. This church had no real problems, and yet they still needed Christ in order to continue their work in the Kingdom. Like them, we need Him as well! Join us as we examine this letter.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 5/15/2022) In this sermon, we begin looking at the letter to the church at Philadelphia. It is notable that Christ levels no criticism against this church, but rather encourages them to “keep on keeping … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 5/1/2022) As we wind down the lesson from the letter to the church at Sardis, we recognize that we have spent several sermons on this topic. But it is important to us today to … Read More
with Pastor Chris McCool (September 11, 2023) How could the thief on the cross know that Jesus was his only hope of help? How could he go from cursing and mocking Him one minute, to crying out to Him the … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 5/1/2022) As we wind down our study about the church at Sardis, we continue to see the problem with “deadness” in the church, and the remedy provided by the Lord. Join us as we … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 4/17/2022) Today, we continue our look at the church at Sardis. Jesus has told the church that they may have a reputation of being alive, but in reality they are dead! Bro. Buddy reminds … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 4/17/2022)
As we continue looking at the letter to Sardis, we see more about the sorry state of affairs that this church was in. Elder Buddy Abernathy continues to explore how this situation can arise in our own churches today!
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 4/3/2022)
The church at Sardis had a reputation for being alive, but it was really dead according to Christ! This letter contains the Lord’s admonition to “Wake up!” We conclude this sermon today by examining what it means for a church to “wake up,” and how it applies to us today.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 4/3/2022)
In today’s message, we begin looking at the letter to the church at Sardis. This church had a reputation for being alive and well, but God said that there were problems in this church! Essentially, the message to Sardis is, “Wake up!”
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In today’s edition of “Monday Minutes,” I want to share an article by Elder Michael Ivey about the the way in which God’s people should live. I pray we will take heed and try to order our steps according to God’s will for our lives!
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
The Steps of a Good Man
by Elder Michael Ivey
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.” Psalms 37:23
This text indicates God has established how those who are born again should walk.
The Hebrew word for “steps” is מצעד (pronounced mits-awd’). Twice this word is translated as steps and once as goings. It is from a root word which means to go, to march. Also, מצעד (mits-awd’) can include a connotation of companionship as if to march with others.
The verb “ordered” is translated from the Hebrew word כון (pronounced koon). It means: established, prepared. The Hebrew conjugation of this verb is pual which is the passive voice of piel (with an added concept of intensity). It is perfect tense. Passive voice indicates the subject (a good man) is the recipient of the action. Perfect tense indicates a completed action.
With these meanings in mind this verse can be inferred to say: God has prepared and established steps for the goings (as if to march together in step) of good men.
However, this use of “ordered” does not suggest this verse teaches God predetermined how those who are born again specifically will behave; that He foreordained each step, every decision and move we make. Such an assertion then must also include God having established, prepared and fixed sinful behaviors. This would be so since David was a child of God whose steps led him to commit fornication and murder. Gideon, one of God’s judges in Israel engaged in false worship toward the end of his life, which led to Israel engaging in Idolatry (See Judges 8:27). Solomon’s wives turned him to idolatry at the end of his life. (See 1 Kings 11:4) Furthermore to suggest the text means God controls only our good steps also cannot be correct. For this interpretation to be true the passage would need be stated as: “the good steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD.”
A more likely interpretation of this verse is God before ordained how we should walk; that, he before prepared the ethics of godly walking for those who are born again. This explanation corresponds to statements made by Paul in Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” and in Philippians 2:13 “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” These texts suggest regeneration, being born again by the Holy Spirit, gives us the will and ability to do good works. But neither support a notion that God specifically controls the behaviors of those he quickens.
What manner of walk then did the LORD establish or prepare for those who are born again, who now have the will and ability and thereby should “walk in them”? Nearby verses (which supply contextual continuity for our study verse) identify the manner of walk, the goings, God before prepared and established by which we should walk. They include:
Psalms 37:
Verse 1 -Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.
Verse 3 -Trust in the LORD, and do good
Verse 4 -Delight thyself also in the LORD
Verse 5 -Commit thy way unto the LORD
Verse 7 -Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him
Verse 8 -Cease from anger, and forsake wrath
These then are the steps the LORD established. They were prepared by Him as an ethical guide for a godly walk (of life) for good people.
Scripture is its own interpreter.
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 3/6/2022)
As we conclude with the letter to Thyatira, we hear what Jesus says about its internal immorality and error. This letter, which is the longest of the seven letters, concludes with admonitions from Christ to those who remain faithful within an erring church.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 3/6/2022)
We begin today looking at the letter to the church at Thyatira. This church needed instruction on how to deal with immorality and error from within the ranks of the church. As in the case of the other churches, Jesus gives them guidance on how to deal with it and purge it from their ranks.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 3/6/2022)
Today, Elder Buddy Abernathy concludes our look at the church at Pergamos. We have seen that this church is located in a particularly pagan city, and has experienced much persecution – even the martyrdom of one of her faithful members! Bro. Buddy concludes by sharing some of the exhortation of Christ that will help to keep this church pure.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 3/6/2022)
As we continue looking at the letters to the seven churches, we come to the Letter to Pergamos. The believers in Pergamos were dwelling in a very pagan city. In this portion of the message, Elder Buddy Abernathy describes the situation of this church in the pagan environment, including the martyrdom of one of its members.
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We are finishing up with our series on “discerning the will of God.” We have seen that, in order to figure out God’s will for our lives, we must study God’s word, pray for God’s wisdom, and listen to godly counsellors. Today, we take a look at one final admonition: to know God’s will, we must practice God’s commandments!
We often bemoan our estate here in this world, where we are constantly struggling to find “direction” in our lives. Isn’t it often the case that, when faced with two equally moral pathways, we don’t really know which one to take? And sometimes, we are tempted to “lay down and wait” – sort of putting things into spiritual “neutral’ until we get clear guidance from God. But the “lay down and wait” approach is the wrong approach for a Christian to take when faced with decisions in life: rather, we should adopt the “keep on keeping on” approach!
You see, when we put God’s commandments into practice – even when we do not feel like it – Proverbs 16:3 assures us that our minds will eventually come around to His way of thinking: “Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.” This includes God’s guidance! Nowhere in the word of God are we permitted to “lay down” on the job! Even when unsure of the next step in our path of life, we ALWAYS have the confidence that we should be doing God’s will while we wait, and in doing so our thoughts will ultimately be conformed to His will for us.
Remember, friends, that God requires YOU to follow Him! His leading is very personal, focused not only upon His Creation in general, but upon each child individually. Let’s read a very familiar Psalm in a way that emphasizes the “me’s” and “I’s”:
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the daysof my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
It makes a difference, doesn’t it? No doubt the Lord leads ALL of His children, and that’s all well and good – but He leads YOU, child of God! He doesn’t require you to figure out what everyone else’s pathway is, only YOURS! He doesn’t require you to wait until everyone else starts being faithful to Him, either. Remember Job’s wife, who in anger or despair encouraged him to “curse God and die”? Should Job have waited until SHE was faithful to be faithful to God himself? NO! My beloved friend, YOU must follow Him, even if no one else does!
We should also note that God requires us to walk by FAITH, and not by sight. Five times in Scripture, Jesus rebukes those who seek after signs. In Matthew 16:4, He declares that those who seek after signs are a “wicked and adulterous generation.” Why is that? Maybe it’s because when you’re seeking a sign, you’re not walking in faith! Four times in Scripture, we read that “the just shall live by faith” (see Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11; and Heb. 10:38). Paul tells the Corinthians, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor. 5:7. Although this is written in a parenthetical, it is a BIG principle!
Finally, remember that God does NOT require you to work it all out by yourself! Walking by faith is by definition a scary thing! It means you can not see the entire path ahead, but you simply trust God for the next step! When you leave a restaurant to drive home at night, you do not need your headlights to shine all the way from the restaurant parking lot to your garage at home: you only need the headlights to illuminate the immediate path ahead! Do you remember Gideon? God told him to lose the majority so he could win with the minority. That didn’t make any natural sense to Gideon, but it sure made heavenly sense! Do you remember Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego? God didn’t tell them how He would deliver, they just knew He would!
Let’s remember Proverbs 3:5-7: “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.” The word “direct” in verse 6 means “to make straight or even;” figuratively, it means to make right, pleasant, or prosperous; to make level, or to smooth out. The idea here is that the path may be crooked, strewn with obstacles, but God bull-dozes the way clear for you!
Ultimately, God leads us by a sense of His peace, rather than by signs and wonders. The world gives only stress and turmoil; “[b]ut the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated. . . .” James 5:17. And always remember, beloved friends: no matter how difficult the journey, the ultimate destination is already set!
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 1/16/2022)
As we continue looking at the persecuted church at Smyrna, we focus upon a phrase that Christ uses to encourage them that is in a parenthetical, but which means everything to those who are being persecuted like the Smyrna church: “but thou art rich.” Join us as we see that we are rich in the things that matter, regardless of the circumstances of our lives.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 1/16/2022)
As we continue today in our exposition of the Book of Revelation, Elder Buddy Abernathy takes us to the letter to the church at Smyrna. This church was under great persecution, and today Bro. Buddy demonstrates the extent of that persecution. Ultimately, we will see how Christ Himself comforts this church in the midst of their trials.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on
Today we continue in the second part of Elder Buddy Abernathy’s exposition of the Book of Revelation, which deals with the letters to the seven churches in chapters two and three. We began this message yesterday, regarding the church at Ephesus. This church had left its first love, and today we conclude by seeing what it means to leave your first love, and how to avoid it and to rekindle that love.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 12/5/2021) In today’s message, we are beginning a new section of the Book of Revelation. We have already heard Elder Buddy Abernathy’s “Introduction to Revelation”, and now we are listening to the portion of … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 11/21/2021) As we come to the conclusion today of this segment of Elder Buddy Abernathy’s series on Revelation, we are given a vision of Christ in the “midst” of the candlesticks. We learn that … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 11/21/2021) As we near the conclusion of chapter 1 of Revelation, Elder Abernathy reviews the chapter up to this point, and then delves into the last few words of Jesus regarding His position in … Read More
We have been examining the issue of discerning the will of God in our lives. We have seen that, in order to know God’s will, we must study His word and we must pray to Him for guidance. Today, we … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 10/3/2021) In the Book of Revelation, we have seen the encouragement given to John in his exile on the Isle of Patmos. In today’s message, Elder Buddy Abernathy continues looking at the vision of … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 10/3/2021) As Elder Abernathy continues his introduction to the Book of Revelation, he digs deeper into the encouraging vision of Jesus given to John on Patmos. Jesus Christ is our hope and consolation, especially … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 10/3/2021) In this introduction to the Book of Revelation, Elder Abernathy is teaching us about the encouraging nature of the message. John and all of the Christians of his day were under dire persecution. … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 10/3/2021) In this message, we continue to explore chapter 1 of the Book of Revelation. We are seeing that this book, which many in the world think is “scary” and mysterious, is in fact … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 9/12/2021) As we continue looking at the introduction to the Book of Revelation, we look at Jesus Christ as John saw Him on the Isle of Patmos. We find some sweet, fundamental truths about … Read More
In the last “Monday Minutes” post, we began looking at the problem of discerning the will of God. We saw that, in Acts 9:6, during his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, Saul (soon to be the Apostle … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 8/15/2021) In today’s post, Elder Buddy Abernathy continues dealing with the first several verses of the Book of Revelation. In these verses, we find some of the fundamental truths of Scripture, which should never … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 8/15/2021) As we continue in this introduction to the Book of Revelation, Elder Buddy Abernathy shows us how God inspired John to write a message of encouragement to the Christians under persecution. Contrary to … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 8/1/2021) In this message from chapter 1 of Revelation, preached by Elder Buddy Abernathy, we continue to look at the encouraging words of this last book of the Bible. As he makes clear in … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 7/7/2021) In today’s message, Elder Buddy Abernathy further expounds upon the uplifting message of Revelation. Blessed are we when we read this book, and understand that it contains an encouraging message for us today! … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 7/7/2021) In this second message in his series on Revelation, Elder Buddy Abernathy begins to expound further upon the hopeful message of Revelation. While many see this book as a mysterious vision to be … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 7/7/2021) A few years ago, Elder Buddy Abernathy began a series on the Book of Revelation. We posted many of those sermons, but in no particular sequence or consistency. We have decided to go … Read More
by Elder Tom Corley (preached on 5/28/2023) In many pulpits, we hear that one day we will have to stand before the judgment seat and account for every sin we have committed, and that our eternal destiny depends on whether … Read More
by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 6/25/2023) In this sermon by Elder John Morgan Owens, we look at the account of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane as presented by Matthew. We see that Jesus, while He was in … Read More
by Elder Mike Rogers (preached on 7/16/2023) In this powerful message, Elder Mike Rodgers, formerly of San Antonio Texas, takes us through the Twenty-Third Psalm. He focuses upon the Lord being our Shepherd, and shows us how He provides for … Read More
by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 6/11/2023) In the first part of this sermon, we began to see how God was merciful to Israel, even in the midst of their sin. As we read further into this chapter, we … Read More
by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 6/11/2023) Even while Israel is in the midst of sin, God comes and “interrupts” the sin and brokenness, and redeems His people! And this passage makes it clear that there is no other … Read More
by Elder Michael Gowens (preached on 5/7/2023) In this conclusion to the message begun yesterday, we see that the enemy is not flesh and blood, but spiritual wickedness in high places. We are encouraged not to give up in the … Read More
by Elder Michael Gowens (preached on 5/7/2023) In this sermon, Elder Michael Gowens of Bethel Primitive Baptist Church in Calabash, North Carolina, reminds us that wrestling is a very personal, very difficult task, and that our opponent is none other … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on the occasion of the Constitution of Blooming Grove Primitive Baptist Church, 5/27/2023) As many of you may already know, Blooming Grove Primitive Baptist Church was recently constituted at a special service held at … Read More
by Elder Ronald Lawrence (preached on 5/27/2023) In this excellent message, preached at the constitution service for Blooming Grove Primitive Baptist Church, Elder Ronald Lawrence reminds us what we should be looking for in a church. Spoiler alert: it’s not … Read More
In Acts 9:6, during his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, Saul (soon to be the Apostle Paul) exclaimed, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” This is an easy question to ask, but it’s not always … Read More
by Elder Ricky Harcrow (preached on 5/27/2023 at the Constitution Service for Blooming Grove Primitive Baptist Church) In this powerful message, Elder Ricky Harcrow reminds us that the gospel message was a mystery in many ways to the Old Testament … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 2/15/2023) Today, we conclude our study of the Book of Job. You may recall that James sums up the case of Job as follows: “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 2/15/2023) As we come to the end of God’s response to Job and his friends, we see the latter end of Job. Although he has lost everything in his life, he never lost … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 2/1/2023) Today we conclude our look at God’s response to Job. In the last podcast episode, we examined the Behemoth, which was the greatest of God’s created land animals. Today, we look at … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 2/1/23) In today’s message, we begin looking first at Job’s initial response, which is basically to close his mouth! Then we take a look at one of the pinnacles of God’s creation: the … Read More
Five years ago today was one of the most bittersweet days of my life. Many of you know that I have spent most of my secular career in jobs that require me to run for office in the political realm, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 1/25/2023) In today’s message, we continue looking at how God takes care of His Creation. His providential care for the universe displays His majesty and glory, and God points Job and His friends … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 1/25/2023) As we continue looking at God’s response to Job, we have seen that He directs them toward the majesty of His Creation. Today, we begin to see how God takes care of … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 1/11/2023) God has appeared to Job, and is in the process of reminding him and his miserable comforters that He indeed is God, and they are not! We are seeing that God is … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 01/11/2023) As we continue looking at Job 38, we are learning that God is the answer to every question that Job and his friends had. My friends, that is still the case today! … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/7/2022) One of the biggest problems in my life is that I often forget that He is God, and I am not! That one basic fact of life ought to inform every aspect … Read More
As you may have noticed, “Monday Minutes” has been AWOL for a few weeks. I apologize for the absence, but I’ve been traveling a lot, and unable to keep up with the weekly devotion. However, we are back as of … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/7/2022) Many times, as we face the trials of life, we begin to seek for answers. But for the child of God, the answer to EVERY question he has is “God!” God is … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/16/2022) We now come to the end of Elihu’s attack upon Job, and we find that he indeed is correct: God is a GREAT God! But Elihu still doesn’t understand all that he … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/16/2022) As we come to the last part of Elihu’s response to Job, we see him affirm that God is indeed a great God! In fact, He is the great God of the … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/19/2022) We began last time to look at the portion of Elihu’s response that posits that God is a good God. Job had leveled the complaint against God that it does not benefit … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/5/2022) Elihu is Job’s fourth friend, younger than the rest, and he finally speaks up and begins to share his “wisdom” with Job as well. But Elihu got many things wrong as well, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/5/2022) As we continue looking at Elihu’s response to Job, we see his answer to Job’s allegation that God is somehow unjust. Job has basically said that there is no profit to serving … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/21/2022) As we continue looking at Elihu’s response to Job, we see that he focuses upon the mercy of God in the sense that suffering can be a corrective measure. He is generally … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/21/2022) In the last sermon, we began looking at the response of Elihu, the youngest of Job’s friends. Elihu waited his turn, and actually had some good thoughts about what was going on. … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/7/2022) As we continue looking into the Book of Job, we come to the fourth of his “miserable comforters”: a man named Elihu. Elihu has some good things to say, but even he … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 8/3/2022) As we finish looking today at Job’s pride, we see that Job feels himself to be wronged and demands an audience with God. But does he really want that? We will see … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 8/3/2022) As we continue in the book of Job, we are beginning to see Job’s pride creep into the discussions. He believes he has been done wrong by God, and he believes he … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 7/20/2022) As we continue looking at Job’s response to Bildad’s second attack, we see that Job focuses first on his own pitiful circumstances. He then points us to the only hope he had: … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 7/20/2022) As we continue looking at the further attacks on Job by his “friends,” we come to Bildad’s second argument against Job. Bildad accuses Job once again of being a wicked sinner, and … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 7/6/2022) In the second half of this sermon, we continue to look at Job’s answer to Eliphaz’s second attack upon him. Job pleads for justice from God, and we are reminded that his … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 7/6/2022) As we get back to the attacks and answers in the Book of Job, we come to Job’s answer to Eliphaz’s second attack. In this answer, Job makes three basic pleas: first … Read More
Do you ever feel like you just don’t fit in? Have you ever wondered why you don’t identify with the multitudes who seem to be right at home with all the goings-on in this world? The reason for this is … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 6/15/2022) We conclude this message today with a look at the ways we should get to “know” God. The primary way to do this is through the study of His word! Join us … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 6/15/2022) As we continue looking at some specific truths within the attacks made upon Job, we come to a verse that we would all do well to heed: “Acquaint now thyself with Him!” … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 6/1/2022) As we continue looking at some specific verses from the attacks upon Job, we come to a statement made by Zophar in one of his arguments against Job: “the triumphing of the … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 5/4/2022) Today we begin looking at some specific verses in Job, involving statements made by Job’s attackers. Even though they were generally wrong in the way they applied their understanding of God to … Read More
In the modern-day church, there is perhaps no more serious problem than a lack of unity among the members. Here at Zion Primitive Baptist Church, we have been blessed with a unique sense of love and unity that has persisted … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 4/20/2022) As we stated yesterday, we are in the midst of a summary of the arguments and responses by the three miserable comforters and Job. These further discourses build upon the first, and … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 4/20/2022) Beginning today, we are going to be looking at chapters 15 through 31 of Job in summary fashion. The reason for this is that the arguments of the three friends, and Job’s … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 4/6/2022) As we come to the conclusion of Job’s answer to Zophar, we find Job asking some very important questions. The answers to these questions are ultimately the only hope Job has, and … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 3/16/2022) As we continue looking at Job’s answer to Zophar, we come to the thirteenth chapter where Job begins to defend himself personally. Here, we begin to see some of Job’s pride creep … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 3/2/2022) Job continues his response to Zophar in today’s sermon. His response, which is the longest thus far, carries us from God’s majesty through Job’s own pride, to questions that need answers (in … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 3/2/2022) As we continue looking at Job’s answer to Zophar, we see Job first referencing the sovereignty of God, and then defending his own righteousness. Some of his pride begins to seep in, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 2/2/2022)
In this sermon, we begin with a review of where we are to this point. Next, we begin looking at Job’s answer to Zophar’s first attack. We see that Job, while right on many things, nevertheless eventually lets pride and self-righteousness show through.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/12/2021)
As we began to see in the last podcast, Zophar attacks Job based upon Job’s purported guilt before God. Today, we will continue looking at Zophar’s arguments, where we find that although he has some knowledge of truth, he misapplies it just like everyone else.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/12/2021) In today’s sermon, after a review of where we are to this point in the Book of Job, we begin looking at the attacks of Zophar against Job. Zophar accuses Job of … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/7/2021)
In the first portion of this sermon, we looked at the arguments that Bildad had against Job. Today, we turn to Job’s answer. We will see that, even though none of these characters got it all just right, Job had a much better understanding of God than Bildad ever had!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/7/2021)
In this message, we begin looking at how Bildad attacks Job based upon what he deems to be “ancient” wisdom. We will see that his idea of “Christian Karma” – i.e., that every sin requires a “one for one” punishment in this life – is erroneous. He “gets” the idea of justice, but he forgets the grace of God!
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Having just concluded a study in “Monday Minutes” regarding the spiritual armor we have in the Kingdom of God, I found it providential to run across the following article by Elder Michael Ivey on the same topic. I felt it appropriate to share it with you here. It succinctly summarizes what we have been studying for the past several weeks.
May the Lord bless you is my prayer!
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
Christian Warfare
by Elder Michael Ivey
“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Ephesians 6: 12-13
The strategy and tactics of Christian warfare (and we ARE engaged in a war) are not intended to defeat other people. Their purpose and design are to resist evil by defending ourselves; and, to win victories over the power and influence of the spiritual wickedness of the devil. In this regard, we are to engage the enemy by equipping ourselves with the whole armour of God; which includes:
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Girded with Truth: Strengthen ourselves with the core governing principle of the immutable, eternal truth of God’s Supreme Being who is Creator of all that exists and the source of all moral authority.
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Breastplate of Righteousness: Set our hearts, our dearest affections, on God ‘s just authority according to His morally impeccable righteousness.
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Feet shod with the Gospel: We are to engage in a godly walk relying on the principles and examples contained in the gospel to guide us in all aspects of life, including opposing Satan and those who do his bidding.
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Shield of Faith: We are to protect ourselves (and others) with a body shield of confidence and trust in God by believing in His holy and righteous Being, love, wisdom and power; and so, withstand all attacks by the forces of evil.
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Helmet of Salvation: In response to every peril we are to frame our thinking with the knowledge we are saved by God’s grace; by which we can joyfully anticipate deliverance in this life and the life to come through our hope of eternal life.
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Sword of God’s Word: We are to defend ourselves and counter the powers of Satan using the knowledge, tactics and skills presented in God’s word as befit followers of Jesus Christ.
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Prayer: Using prayer, we are to stay in continual contact with God, who as the “captain of our salvation” guides and supplies us according to our specific needs; and we are to seek His help and supply for all others so engaged in the Christian warfare.
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/17/2021)
In the last post, we began to look at Job’s first answer to his friends’ tirades against him. We saw that, while he initially appealed to his friends for sympathy, he ultimately appealed to God for mercy from the toils of this life. Join us as we continue our look at the first answer of Job.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/17/2021)
After Eliphaz’s tirade, Job dares to answer him. His primary response is an appeal to his friends first for mercy, and then an appeal to the vanity of life. He ultimately concludes that he would not want to live forever in a life that is as miserable as his own!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/17/2021)
As we continue looking at Eliphaz the Temanite’s first argument against Job, we see that his experiences and observations don’t always pan out. What a lesson for us! We should never let what we see by our earthly vision cloud our spiritual sense as we live and walk in this life.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/17/2021)
We come now to the first argument made by one of Job’s friends. Eliphaz the Temanite basis his argument on his own experience and his own observations, two very faulty grounds for any argument! Rather than trusting God and understanding His true nature, Eliphaz begins to rebuke Job. Join us as we begin to look at his initial argument against Job.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/10/2021)
We began looking yesterday at the “miserable comforters” who were supposedly Job’s friends. We continue today looking at the mistaken suppositions that they had, and the ways in which their attempts to comfort failed.
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Last week, we came to the end of the items of spiritual armor listed in Ephesians 6. We saw that “prayer” is our supply line, which is absolutely necessary for a successful warfare. Today, we want to look at prayer as our “secret weapon.”
We often say that the Sword of the Spirit (the word of God) is our only “offensive weapon.” That is not exactly true, because prayer is actually a “secret weapon” for the Christian! There was a movie out when I was much younger entitled “Navy Seals,” which was about the real-to-life adventures of a combat unit of Navy Seals. In this movie, one of the team members was a sniper with a powerful rifle. He would always set up far away from the immediate intensity of the battle, where he could “oversee” the fighting and answer when called upon to help out. Ironically, the call-name given to this sniper was “god.”
Much like the sniper, the true God is overseeing the whole battlefield, and is available whenever needed to intervene in a mighty way. As Isaiah says, “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him.” Isa. 59:19. And while our God is able to – and often does – intervene of His own volition, He commands us to offer prayer to Himself, that He might answer in miraculous ways from time to time!
Prayer is indeed our secret weapon. But like any weapon, you must use it in order for it to be helpful to you! How do we engage our “secret weapon” of prayer?
First of all, we must engage in perpetual prayer. Paul tells the Ephesians, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit. . . .” There is never a time when prayer is not appropriate! “Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” 1 These. 5:17-18. Paul did not mince words, but admonished us always to maintain an attitude of prayer: “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:6-7. There is no time when prayer is not appropriate!
Secondly, we must engage in petitionary prayer. That is, we should be specific in our prayer life! The first use of the word “prayer” in Ephesians 6:18 is the general Greek word for “prayer.” The second word, translated by the KJV translators as “supplication”, is the Greek term for specific petitions. My friends, we should never think that God is dealing with too many things to be bothered with “little” things. Rather, He hears each and every one of our SPECIFIC prayers!
If we think about it, the idea of “big” and “little” prayers is kind of foolish anyway when it comes to God. What “big” problem could you really bring to Him? There is NOTHING too big for God! Do you need the sun to stand still for a day? He’s done that! What about making axe head to float? Checked off the list! Do you need a dead person to rise? A new star, or even a new universe? God can do ALL these things with the flick of a finger! Child of God, don’t wait for the situation to “blow up in your face” and then have to cry out to God for an emergency escape hatch!
Thirdly, our prayers should be powerful prayers. Going back to Ephesians 6:18, we read that we are to be praying “in the Spirit”. This means that we are to pray with the Spirit, and in line with what the Spirit wants. And if we don’t really know what to pray for, I have good news for you: Paul told the Romans that “the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.” Rom. 8:26-27.
James tells us something extremely important about prayer: “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16. The Greek word for “effectual” is ἐνεργουμένη, which is a form of ἐνεργέω, where we get our English word “energy.” It means to be active, or efficient: to do, to be effectual (fervent), to be mighty in, or to work effectually in (Strong’s Concordance). And before you object that you just can’t pray like those “super-saints” of olden times, remember the context of this verse in the Book of James: “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.” James 5:17-18. This man Elias is the same prophet Elijah who wound up depressed under the juniper tree – just like we do from time to time! And yet his prayers were powerful and effective.
Finally, our prayer must engage in persevering prayer. Back to Ephesians 6:18, we find that we are to pray “with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”. You see, my friends, persistence is the key to a successful prayer life. Remember the woman who petitioned the unjust judge over and over and over (Luke 18)? He finally granted her request, just to make her stop bothering him! Don’t you think the God who loved us with an everlasting love will pay much more attention to our petitions?
As we conclude our examination of the spiritual armor that we should take up, let us not neglect the supply line of prayer, nor the secret weapon of prayer! I’ve heard it said that we should pray when we feel like it, pray when we don’t feel like it, and pray until we DO feel like it! I believe this is sound advice.
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/10/2021)
Today, we begin looking at Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar, who are Job’s “friends” that brought him only more pain and suffering. The lesson of these miserable comforters is that sometimes the best comfort is to simply “be there,” and be silent. Join us as we begin looking at these men who were mistaken – like Job – on what was going on.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/26/2021)
In today’s message, we finish up a sermon on the sorrow that Job experienced. No doubt his grief was great, and clearly it overwhelmed him. But we learn that in the midst of grief and sorrow, God is still with us even when we cannot see Him.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/26/2021)
We have seen how Satan has assaulted Job; today, we see how much sorrow he brought upon him. Join us as we look at the unspeakable sorrow that Job felt through these unprovoked assaults upon Job.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/19/2021)
As we continue exploring the issue of suffering, we are learning that God often gets blamed for things He hasn’t done! The common belief in the world is that God is orchestrating all the problems of life somehow for our benefit. But is that really true? Join us as we find out the true origin of suffering in this present evil world.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/19/2021)
Today, we deal with the question of “suffering.” What about suffering? Where does it come from? Does God send it, or is there another source? Join us today as we deal with this basic question of life.
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As we come to the end of the list of the items of spiritual armor in Ephesians Chapter Six, we come to verse 18: “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints. . . .” It is important that we understand this verse to be part of Paul’s discourse on the spiritual armor, because prayer is the supply line for the battle!
“Logistics” is the art of moving and quartering troops, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. It refers to the complex process of coordinating and moving resources (people, material, inventory, and equipment) from one location to another; the term originated in the military, referring to the movement of equipment and supplies to troops in the field. This principle is of utmost importance: an army is only as good as its supply line!
In fact, logistics often determines the course of the war! In other words, prayer is a wartime activity. It is the supply line of the church in enemy territory! We must NOT neglect this essential aspect of the spiritual armor of God!
The supply line of prayer is a direct line. What does a platoon do when it is under heavy fire? They call in air support! In Hebrews 4:14-16, we are encouraged as follows: “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Notice that his is a direct line into the throne room of God! And we are to come “boldly” – that is, with free and fearless confidence, with cheerful courage – into His presence through the medium of prayer. And this boldness is a “holy boldness,” secured not by our own good works but by the finished work of Christ on our behalf.
The supply line of prayer is also a secure line. The enemy has no power to stop our prayers! All other pieces of armor can be touched by the enemy: he can corrupt the girdle of truth, dent the breastplate of righteousness, trip up the boots of the gospel, diminish the shield of faith, crack the helmet of salvation, make you drop the sword of the Spirit, but he can NEVER interfere w/our prayers! Remember Hebrews 4:16? This is a direct line into the throne room of God; Satan has no place nor power there! John wrote about “the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us. . . .” 1 John 5:14-15.
Finally, the supply line of prayer is an all-sufficient line. Everything we need is available to us through the medium of prayer! There is NOTHING that God cannot do – “But my God shall supply all your need according to hisriches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Phil. 4:19. Jesus Himself put it this way: “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?” Luke 11:9-13.
We will return next week to this topic of prayer, and see that not only is prayer our supply line, but it is also our “secret weapon.” In the meantime, let us seek the throne room of God through this amazing supply line that He has provided us in prayer!
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/5/2021)
As we continue looking at the assaults of Satan on Job, we see the depth of Job’s loss. He loses his livelihood, but more importantly he loses all of his children. Join us as we see these attacks and how they prompt Job to confess faith in God.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/5/23)
Today, we move into the heart of the problems that Job faces. The genesis of his suffering is the assault of Satan upon his life. Remember, Satan – by his own testimony – had been trying to get at Job, but God had a hedge around him. We see that, as God removes the hedge to a certain extent, Satan begins to assault him and Job begins to suffer.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/5/2021)
We continue today looking into the book of Job, as we are introduced to the characters of his story. Job is the oldest written book of the Bible, and it is amazing that it deals with issues that we still deal with today: the sufferings of this life. Join us as we finish up our introduction to this key book of the Bible.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/5/2021)
As we move into the heart of the book of Job, we are introduced to the characters in his story. Job himself is an honest and upright man, who nonetheless suffers from some pride. God is introduced to us as the great “Keeper of the Hedge,” whereas we find Satan as the afflicter of God’s children. Join us as we examine the account of Job’s life and see that God is a merciful and pity-filled God.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/1/2021)
The Book of Job is the oldest written book of the Bible. According to historians, it was written even before Moses penned the Book of Genesis! And Job deals with the hard issues of life: suffering, the role of God, the role of Satan. As we begin a new series, we talk a look at the overview of this book and its themes, and discover that, ultimately, we will find God to be a merciful and loving God even in the midst of the trials of life!
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by Elder Philip Dukes (preached on 4/30/2023)
In John 5:39, Jesus tells the Pharisees that the Scriptures “testify of Me.” The Scriptures He was referring to were the Old Testament, of course, and Jesus was affirming that the entire canon of OT Law, Prophets, and Psalms were written to point us to Himself. Join us for this powerful message by Elder Philip Dukes regarding the ways in which the OT points us to Christ.
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by Elder Chris Taylor (preached on 4/29/2015)
In this message from back in 2015, Elder Chris Taylor, pastor of Antioch Primitive Baptist Church in Vero Beach, Florida, brings a powerful message from the life of Moses about facing impossible tasks. We learn that, when God is in the matter, there is no limit to the possibilities!
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 4/23/2023)
In the first part of this message, Elder Owens takes us to Psalm 42 and begins to deal with the issue of “discouragement.” Many of us get discouraged too easily in this world. The reason we become “cast down” in soul is that we forget the great promises that we have in God! Join us today as we conclude this message about discouragement.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 4/23/2023)
Do you ever find yourself “cast down” in spirit and soul? When you do, just remember that you have forgotten the promises of God! Join us today and tomorrow as Elder John Morgan Owens deals with the problem of discouragement, and reminds us that we should always be encouraged in the Lord.
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by Elder Kenneth Nowell (preached on 4/16/2023)
Yesterday we began listening to a powerful sermon by Elder Kenneth Nowell regarding being “watchful.” He was using the acronym “W A T C H” to expound upon this subject. Join us today for the conclusion of this sermon, which teaches us how to be careful in this wicked world.
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*I apologize for not posting last week; I have been traveling a lot lately, and was not able to get it done last Monday.
We have been looking at the items of spiritual armor listed in Ephesians 6. We are now considering the first weapon that we have: the sword of the Spirit. We don’t have to wonder what this sixth item of armor, the “sword of the Spirit,” is: this passage tells us plainly that it is “the word of God.” The reference here is to the written word, the Scriptures that have been divinely inspired and preserved for us. These Scriptures are a powerful tool that is too often neglected by the Christian soldier.
This sword of the Spirit is absolutely essential for the warfare that we face! The comparison here is to the short sword of the Roman legionnaire which was designed primarily for hand to hand combat. It was held constantly at the soldier’s side for immediate use when necessary! The sword of the Spirit – the word of God – is like this short Roman sword! It should be held close to our side on a daily basis so that we can use it whenever the attacks of Satan come upon us.
We often say that this sword is the only “offensive” weapon, but in truth its purpose is both offensive and defensive. There are many assaults of Satan in this warfare, and we need the sword of the Spirit to parry his thrusts! For example, the sword of the Spirit can parry the attack of temptation: Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. Ps. 119:11. It can parry the attack of affliction: This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. Ps. 119:50. It can parry the attack of depression: My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word. Ps. 119:81.
This sword of the Spirit also has an offensive purpose. With this sword, we sometimes must go on the offensive to repel the devil. James tells us to “[r]esist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7. To “resist” means to set oneself against, or to stand against. It is an action verb, meaning we must take action to resist Satan! Occasionally, we must go on the offensive to win back ground that we may have lost through lapses in our daily devotion to Christ. The Psalmist declares, “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word.” Ps. 119:9. Furthermore, we are encouraged that the word of God “is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Ps. 105:105.
There is no question that the Bible is our most powerful weapon in our daily battles. And yet so many of God’s children don’t know what they have! Sadly, instead of cleaving to their sword, many of God’s children have laid down their weapon in the midst of the battle! We make many excuses for dropping our sword. Often we say, “I can’t find the time.” But the truth is, we never will “find” the time: we have to MAKE time! Think about how much time we spend texting, or watching TV; we can stream a marathon of Yellowstone but can’t spend an hour in reading the word! It has been estimated that you can read through the entire bible in 74 hours and 28 minutes. That’s 25 minutes per day to complete it in 6 months; 12 minutes per day to complete it in 1 year; 6 minutes per day to complete it in 2 years! And yet, more often than not, we neglect this spiritual weapon.
Sometimes we are simply exhausted in the battle. But even when you are tired and worn out, DON’T DROP YOUR SWORD! Jesus Himself clave to the sword of the Spirit – the word of God – when He was tempted by the devil in the wilderness. Can you imagine the physical condition He was in after 40 days of fasting ? Yet it was in that weary condition that the devil himself came and tempted Jesus three times! And as weary as He was, He did NOT let go of the sword of the Spirit – three times He unsheathed it and answered the devil’s temptations and lies with the word of God. Every temptation was defeated and the evil one lay slain at His feet because Jesus took the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God, and used it against the enemy. In His weariness He didn’t drop that sword – He clave unto it!
My dear friends, let the sword of the Spirit cleave to your hand; use it, study it, cling to it – it will deliver you in the weariness of battle!
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
by Elder Kenneth Nowell (preached on 4/16/2023)
In this sermon, Elder Kenneth Nowell takes us through the acronym “W A T C H” to teach us what it means to be watchful in this wicked world. Join us as we learn more about the things we should be watching out for, and how we can protect our spiritual walk in this wicked world.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 4/9/2023)
In the first part of this message, we began looking at the Resurrection, which is absolutely essential for the child of God to understand. In fact, the Resurrection is the next great event – indeed, the ultimate culminating event – in all of human history! Join us today as we conclude this look at the glorious resurrection of the body.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 4/9/2023)
The Resurrection is the next greatest event in the history of the world, and is the great hope of the child of God! In 1 Cor. 15, Paul lays out the doctrine of the Resurrection and sets forth the importance of believing in it. Join us as we begin to look at this great hope of the Christian.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 4/9/2023)
On the Road to Emmaeus, two disciples were doubting and downcast. When Jesus appeared to them, they did not recognize Him because He did not want to be recognized, but He began to teach them about the resurrection. He asked a question: “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and entered into His glory?” In today’s message, we answer this question from Scripture, and find that yes, indeed, Christ had obligated Himself to suffer on behalf of His children, but not one of His children deserved it!
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 2/26/2023)
In the last podcast episode, we began to see that our eternal salvation is secured by Christ and not subject to being lost. Join us today as Elder John Morgan Owens continues to teach us from Scripture about the eternal security of the child of God, which is a glorious comfort to God’s children!
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 2/26/2023)
In this message, Elder John Morgan Owens teaches us about the eternal security we have in our salvation. He teaches us that not only was our eternal destination purposed from the foundation of the world, but that God has also secured us in Christ! Every single one of His children are safe in His arms for eternity.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 4/2/2023)
As we began seeing yesterday, to discern the will of God, we must study the word of God! We must also look to God on a daily basis. Join us today as we conclude our discussion of how we can figure out the will of God for our lives.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 4/2/2023)
One of hardest things to do in life is discern God’s will for our lives on a daily basis! While the Bible gives clear instructions on doctrine and many guiding principles, the specifics are left to us as we navigate the murky waters of this life. In this message, we look at some of the guiding principles that will help us as we try to find and follow the will of God for our lives.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 3/26/2023)
In the conclusion to the message begun yesterday, we see that this parable is often misapplied, yet is so important for our evangelistic efforts! Join us as we hear the parable of the sower and the seed rightly divided by Eld. Owens.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 3/26/2023)
In this message, Elder Owens rightly divides the truth with regard to the well-known parable of the sower and the seed. Most people in the world believe that this parable is teaching us who is or is not a child of God. But on the contrary, this parable is showing us how children of God often react to the preaching of the gospel!
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As we continue looking at the spiritual armor provided for us in Ephesians 6, we come today to the “helmet of salvation.” The purpose of this helmet is to protect the head, which houses the mind – which MUST mean it has something to do with our understanding and how we think!
There was a lady named Florence Chadwick, who was a long-distance swimmer born in 1913. In her lifetime, she swam the English Channel twice, as well as other great lengths of ocean. In 1952, she attempted to win the twenty-one miles between the coast of California and the Catalina Islands. On the day she began to swim, the fog was so dense she could not even see the supporting boats that traveled along with her. After 15 hours and 55 minutes in the water, Florence gave up even though her supporters encouraged her to go on. She came out of th water into the boats, but then quickly discovered that she had only been a half a mile from the shore! After she discovered her mistake, she said, “I think if I could have seen the shore, I would have made it.” You see, the problem for Florence Chadwick was NOT that she lacked the ability to continue, but that she lost hope in the fog!
Do we sometimes feel like Florence Chadwick? Do we sometimes get lost in the fog of this sin-cursed world? Do we sometimes despair of ever reaching that heavenly shore? Do we sometimes wonder if the Lord is EVER coming back? That’s why we need a helmet of salvation! We need something to help us think clearly in the fog of the spiritual warfare in which we are engaged.
The helmet of salvation is provided to us to protect us from losing hope in this life. It truly is a “helmet of hope”! In 1 Thessalonians 5:8, Paul sheds more light on this item of armor: “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” This hope gives us assurance in an uncertain world, and points us to the imminent return of the Lord as its focus!
Notice that this hope is NOT self-centered confidence. Most preaching about “hope” in the religious world focuses upon some action YOU have performed, some decision YOU have made. This is not the kind of hope that helps me at all! True gospel hope is not based upon some decision we have made or some experience we have had here in this life. It is not based upon what we know, or what we’ve done, or how we persevered; rather, true hope is based upon the promises of the word of God – i.e., the finished work of Christ!
I realize that some Primitive Baptists in the past have gotten off-track in a different way when talking about “hope”. The idea that “all we have is a little hope” prevailed in some churches, i.e., the teaching that our hope is some fleeting, wispy wish rather than an anchor of our souls. Elder Sonny Pyles, a giant among our ministers, once said that if a man doesn’t have SOME idea that he is one of God’s children, he has no business getting up in the pulpit! True gospel hope is more sure and steadfast than that! It is not some “wish” or “fantasy;” true gospel hope is the sure and steadfast anchor of our souls (Heb. 6:19)! Job very succinctly summarized this hope: “I know that my redeemer liveth”! Job 19:25. Was his “knowledge” based upon some action or decision on his part? NO! It was based upon the sure and steadfast knowledge of the promises of God.
Job’s “knowledge” was based upon “hope”! And his “hope” was based upon knowledge: knowledge NOT of what he himself had done, but knowledge of the promises of God in Christ! It was based upon Bible assurances that God would redeem His people. Beloved, our hope is based upon what the Bible tells us that Jesus has done to save His people from their sins. It is based upon the knowledge of the finished work of Christ. It is based upon the promise we have in Him, not in the works we have done ourselves.
Yes, my friends, the helmet of hope points us to a confident expectation, not a fanciful wish. It gives us a Christ-centered biblical assurance in the One Who fully accomplished our salvation! The writer of Hebrews calls it a “better hope” (Heb. 7:19), and indeed it is a much better hope than anything you find in the world! Ultimately, it is the hope that, even though the fog of spiritual warfare may blind us from time to time, the heavenly shore is near! This hope points us to the Second Coming of Christ and the bodily Resurrection, which will bring an end to all our battles and deliver us into the heavenly presence of God Himself. Friends, can there be any greater hope than this?
Don’t get lost in the fog, my friends! The shoreline is near! The Lord’s return is imminent! Keep on keeping on, with the helmet of salvation strapped firmly in place! If we cast aside the helmet of salvation, we won’t have the confidence we need to perform well in the battle. A confident warrior is a powerful warrior, but a fearful warrior is a useless warrior; the more hope we have the better soldiers we will be!
With this helmet of hope, we will not give up when we are only half a mile from shore!
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 3/19/2023)
I’m sure we have all heard the old adage, “the best things in life are free.” In this sermon, Elder Buddy Abernathy proves from the Scripture that this is indeed true when it comes to the spiritual things that we really need! Join us today as we learn more about the blessings we find in the Kingdom of God, which are free to the regenerated child of God.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 4/2/2023)
We began to see in the last podcast that the New Covenant of the age of grace is “better” than the Old Covenant of the Law. This doesn’t mean that the Law itself was somehow flawed; rather, WE were flawed! The problem was with us, not with the Law. But the New Covenant sets forth clearly and without mystery the ultimate Covenant of Grace that was executed between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit before the foundation of the world!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 4/2/2023)
We have been studying the many “better” thing about Christ’s work from the Book of Hebrews. In Chapter 7, we saw that Christ’s high priesthood was a “better” high priesthood than the Levitical high priesthood. In Chapter 8, we see that the New Covenant of the age of grace is “better” than the Old Covenant. And Jesus Christ is the great Minister of this New Covenant!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 3/26/2023)
We continue today looking at how the high priesthood of Melchizedek was “better” than the Levitical priesthood. And of course, Christ’s High Priesthood was foreshadowed by Melchizedek! Join us as we conclude our look at this chapter, which teaches us that Christ’s High Priesthood was so much better than the priesthood under the Law.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 3/26/2023)
In Hebrews 7, we begin to get into the “deep waters” of this letter! We read of Melchizedek, who was a type of Christ, and find that the high priesthood of Melchizedek – like that of Christ – was a “better” high priesthood than the Levitical high priesthood. We will continue to see how Christ and the covenant of grace are so much better than anything they had under the Law! Join us as we continue to look at Hebrews.
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The next item of spiritual armor found in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is the “shield of faith.” The shield of the Roman soldier was extremely important to the whole armor. All the other armor protected primarily against combat in close quarters, but the shield protected against a barrage of long-range missiles that might be cast against him from afar.
There were primarily two different types of shields used by the Roman soldier. One type was a small round shield strapped to soldier’s forearm, very light, used in hand to hand combat. This shield was utilized primarily in solo battle with the enemy. The other type of shield was a larger, oblong piece of wood covered with metal or leather. It was shaped somewhat like a door, and in fact the Greek word for this shield is based on the word for “door.” The leather of this shield would often be treated with oils or dipped in water so that it would deflect or extinguish flaming arrows. With these large shields, the front line of soldiers would stand with shields planted side by side, often with interlocking edges, where they could stand behind their shields and generally be protected. Notice that the individual soldier got protection from those around him as well!
Like the Roman shield, the “shield of faith” is a “full body” shield and not the little solo combat shield. And what is faith? Scripture speaks plainly about faith: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Heb. 11:1. “Substance” refers to a solid foundation upon which to build or stand; “evidence” is simply a proof by which something is proven or tested. Faith is NOT wispy or ephemeral; rather, it is admissible, valid evidence in the courtroom of your heart and mind, and will provide a solid foundation for you in the spiritual battle you face!
So how do we use this shield of faith? It is a simple strategy: our faith must be an ACTIVE faith, one that we take up and exercise daily! Like a muscle, faith must be exercised – that is, it must be lived out in our everyday walk. Four times in Scripture, God tells us that “the just shall live by faith.” And each time this statement is made, there is a different context.
We first read this admonition to “walk by faith” in Habakkuk. He puts it this way: “Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” Hab. 2:4. Habakkuk is writing in the time period immediately before Babylonian Captivity. In his day, wickedness was rampant throughout Judah, but God was silent about it. Yet, even though Habakkuk could not understand why God wasn’t doing something, God said, “Trust me, Habakkuk, and live like you trust me!”
The second statement about walking by faith occurs in Romans 1:17, in the context of the preaching of the gospel. Paul tells the Romans that “therein” – i.e., through the preaching of the gospel – is the righteousness of God revealed to us. The gospel message reveals His hatred of sin and ultimate judgment of all sin, but which for the child of God has already occurred in Christ. Knowing this, Paul says, “Live a life of faith!”
The third occurrence of this admonition to “walk by faith” is found in Galatians 3:11. The context here is Paul’s concern about the Galatians sliding back from a belief in grace to a belief in a works-based system. He reminds them that living by the law won’t help you: we should and must live by faith in the finished work of Christ!
Finally, the statement occurs in Hebrews 10:38, where the writer is admonishing the Jewish Christians of the day to “stay the course” and not to “draw back” from their steadfast belief in Christ. The context here is the timely deliverance of staying faithful to a life in Christ and not sliding back into the false teachings of Judaism. “Live by faith,” the writer admonishes, and do not slide back into the works-based message of the world!
Notice that the shield of faith is necessary in every situation of life! We must keep the faith when things around us look bad and things don’t seem to make sense in our lives, as Habakkuk warns. We must keep the faith when things are sounding good in our lives and the gospel is sounding forth, as in Romans. We must keep the faith even when others slide back, as in Galatians. And we must keep the faith even when we ourselves are tempted to draw back, as Hebrews warns! Basically, in every situation of life, we must walk by faith.
My beloved friends, our enemy is real and he is smarter and stronger than you! He will defeat you in hand to hand combat, but more often than not he lobs his assaults from a distance where you can’t even see where he’s shooting from. And while these attacks can never separate us eternally from God, they can be devastating from a temporal standpoint. His assaults are many and varied: darts of doubt, darts of discouragement, darts of deception, darts of distraction, darts of delay! These darts have wreaked havoc on God’s children who do not properly utilize the shield of faith.
Thankfully, the shield of faith is sufficient to deflect ALL the fiery darts of Satan! But this shield only works if you put it to use. You need to hold it up and stand behind it, and stand beside your brothers and sisters who are also brandishing this shield of faith. You need to keep a firm grip upon it, and keep it at the ready at all times – don’t drop the shield, or lay it down, or throw it away! The shield of faith does you no good slung over your back as you march out unprotected! Keep it ever before you, and avail yourself at all times of the complete protection provided through the shield of faith.
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
by Elder Adam Green (preached on 3/5/2023)
Have you ever questioned God’s way of doing things? Most of us have, but it always works out that God’s way is best! Join us for this sermon by Elder Adam Green, showing us how God’s way works when man’s way fails.
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by Elder Adam Green (preached on 3/5/2023)
Jesus clearly teaches that children of God “must be born again.” But HOW is someone born again? In this message, preached at our 2023 Annual Meeting, Elder Adam Green takes us through scripture, showing us that the new birth comes solely and wholly from God.
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by Elder Adam Green (preached on 3/4/2023)
In this powerful message, preached on the occasion of our 2023 Annual Meeting, Elder Adam Green takes us to the handwriting of God on the wall of Belshazzar’s banquet-house. You will recall that the phrase that is the title of this message is found there, in reference to the ultimate demise of Belshazzar’s kingdom. Beloved, we are also weighed in the balances of God’s perfect justice and found wanting! But Christ Jesus has paid the debt, and made us perfectly whole and just.
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by Elder Mark Green (preached on 3/5/2023)
In this message, preached at our 2023 Annual Meeting, Elder Mark Green starts out with a word of exhortation to us as primitive baptists, and then preaches to us about the difference between the need for a doctor or an undertaker. He warns us to beware of progressive ideas, and exhorts us to remember that the truth remains firm no matter what the modern religious world suggests! He then preaches about the difference between being spiritually “sick”, and thus potentially benefitting from the preaching of men, and being spiritually “dead,” and needing new life which only Christ can give.
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by Elder Mark Green (preached on 3/4/2023)
Absolutism has been a persistent and pernicious problem for those who believe in the sovereignty of God in eternal salvation. In this powerful message, Elder Mark Green of Arkansas puts to rest the issue of absolutism, and shows through the scriptures that absolutism is NOT supported in the Bible.
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We are currently studying the items of spiritual armor described in Ephesians 6. Today, I want to ask the question: Are you barefoot in the battle?
Boots were an essential part of the Roman soldier’s armor. We should understand that today: can you imagine a barefoot mountain climber? A sandal-clad football player? A construction worker in flip-flops? No way! Footwear is extremely important.
Likewise, our spiritual boots are important. Our spiritual feet must be properly shod, and the proper shoes for the child of God are the gospel boots – rugged spiritual footwear designed to protect us in the spiritual battle we face!
These gospel boots are essential to protect us from the enemy. We are admonished by Paul to “stand”, which means to stand firm against the enemy. Our footwear is essential for us to be able to do this! So how do we don these “gospel boots?”
First of all, we must study. In 2 Tim. 2:15, Paul admonishes Timothy to “[s]tudy to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” It is by the word of God that we are equipped to deal with the assaults of the enemy. If we do NOT study the word, we risk being conformed to this world: “[B]e 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.” Rom. 12:2. You see, the word of God is “a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” Ps. 119:105. The word of God orders our steps and prevents iniquity from having dominion over us. Ps. 119:133. The word of God (“the law”) gives peace and keeps us from being offended. Ps. 119:165.
Secondly, we must come to church. Remember, the church is the “pillar and ground” of the truth! 1 Tim. 3:15. The church is the primary place where we hear and learn the true gospel. In the book of Acts, we learn that Paul and the others went throughout the cities and gave them the word of God to the churches and elders, “[a]nd so were the churches established in the faith. . . .” Acts 16:5. If we would be shod with the gospel boots, shouldn’t we be grounded in what the true gospel is?
Furthermore, it is important that we are shod with the RIGHT gospel boots; otherwise, we will stumble and fall! Remember Paul’s warning to the Corinthians? “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” 1 Cor. 14:8. We need to be clear about the message, otherwise we are going to be unprepared in the battle.
One of the biggest problems for us as Christian soldiers is our tendency to “give up,” or desert the battle. And make no mistake about it: we are ALL prone to desertion! In 1777, up to 2000 American Revolutionary soldiers deserted during the winter at Valley Forge, due to lack of supplies (both food and otherwise). And the lack of proper footwear was one of the bigger problems: “Throughout 1777, General George Washington had more concerns over his army’s supply of shoes than with any other single article.” (NPS website).
In the winter of our sojourn here, if we have poor quality footwear – shoes that don’t fit, shoes that are poor quality – we will be much more likely to desert the battle! That’s why the TRUE gospel is so important. Nothing short of the message of God’s sovereign grace will fit the case of the regenerated child of God who seems himself as the broken sinner that he is!
You see, the true gospel – i.e., the good news of Christ’s finished work, that overcame death, hell, and the grave – is the ONLY message that will help us through the problems we face in this sin-cursed world. When tragedy strikes, people sometimes walk away from the battle, struggling with the thoughts that “God could have saved him or her, but didn’t!” The true gospel tells us that God DID overcome the inevitability of death by dying Himself, and that we WILL see these loved ones again! When the inevitable tribulations Arie, people sometimes walk away from the battle, saying that “If God REALLY loved me, He wouldn’t have let this happen!” The true gospel tells us that this life is only the small print at the beginning of the foreword of the book – the best is yet to come! When it comes to our past sins and failures, Satan is always whispering “Remember!”, while the true gospel is always shouting “FORGIVEN!”
My friends, the shoes of the false gospels will not take you very far: they only allow you to go as far as the sinner will let you go! But the boots of the true gospel will carry you well beyond the barriers of geography, distance, and even human will! The boots of the true gospel assures the regenerated child of God of his place in the family of God (see John 10:27-29; Rom. 8:29-31; 1 John 5:13), because Jesus Christ Himself has made peace between God and man (see Ps. 85:10 – Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other).
I want to leave you today with the following vision. Imagine the tired, battle-worn soldier in a brief lull on the battlefield. His armor dented, his body battered, exhausted, tired and thirsty from exertion. Then someone comes running up to him with a waterskin filled with the purest, clearest, coldest water he’s ever tasted! What do you think this refreshing draught will do for him? Can’t you imagine the refreshment and encouragement he will take from this? The gospel message is like this: “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” Prov. 25:25. Beloved friends, the boots of the gospel will carry you on when you think you cannot go any farther!
If we have the right footwear, instead of deserting in the battle, we can dig in and stand our ground! Are you barefoot in the battle, or do you have your boots on?
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 3/19/2023)
In the last podcast, we began looking at the centerpiece of Isaiah’s prophecy, which is the Song of the Suffering Servant in Isa. 52 and 53. This is the last of the Servant Songs of Isaiah, and is revered by all as the climax of the book. Today we continue to see that this Suffering Servant, whom we know to be the Lord Jesus Christ, suffered a substitutionary death for each and every one of His children, and accomplished the task of eternal redemption.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 3/19/2023)
In this last of the four “Servant Songs” of Isaiah, we focus squarely upon the “Suffering Servant.” We have already seen in this series that this is a direct reference to the Lord Jesus Christ! Join us today as we begin looking at the Suffering Servant and His finished work of salvation that He was to accomplish when He would ultimately come to earth.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 3/12/23)
As we have seen, the Son of God was the Steadfast Servant in Isa. 50. We learn today that the Father and the Son and The Holy Spirit are in complete agreement in the matter – all Three are in perfect harmony, and are perfectly steadfast in their commitment to the redemption of His people. Join us today as we conclude this study of the Song of the Steadfast Servant.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 3/12/2023)
As we continue looking at the Steadfast Servant in Isaiah’s Servant Songs, we see that not only was the Son steadfast in His commitment to the redemption of His people, but the Father was also steadfast! In fact, the entire Godhead was steadfast in the covenant of redemption. And if WE would be steadfast, we must look to God and lean upon Him!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 3/12/2023)
Yesterday we began looking at the Song of the Steadfast Servant in Isaiah. This “Steadfast Servant” is the Lord Jesus Christ, the “Suffering Servant” Who set His face like a flint toward Calvary. He was steadfast in His determination to complete the task of eternal redemption which He had been sent to do, and praise God He did it! Join us as we continue looking at the Song of the Steadfast Servant in Isaiah.
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As we continue looking at the spiritual armor of Ephesians 6, we come today to the “breastplate of righteousness.” Remember, Paul is using the armor of the Roman legionnaire to describe for us the spiritual protections that we have in the Spirit. This breastplate is an essential item of the soldier’s armor!
The Roman breastplate protected the vital organs, i.e., the heart, lungs, kidneys and bowels. Instant death could occur if the enemy’s sword penetrated this area of the body! Without his breastplate, the Roman soldier was highly vulnerable to attack. Likewise, the Christian soldier is vulnerable to the blows of the enemy without his breastplate of righteousness.
What is the “breastplate of righteousness”? First, let’s look at what it is NOT. It is NOT self-righteousness! The Pharisee of Luke 18 did not have on the right breastplate. He was looking to his own righteousness for his daily justification, when in fact he was more vulnerable than ever to the attacks of Satan! At one time, the Apostle Paul relied on this type of false righteousness: “If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ. . . .” Gal. 3:4-8. Notice that the Apostle Paul counted all his self-righteousness but “dung” in the face of TRUE righteousness, which is found only in Christ! A breastplate of SELF-righteousness is a poor protector.
But the breastplate of righteousness is also NOT simply the imputed righteousness of Christ. The FACT of His imputed righteousness is certainly the foundation of the Christian’s life, and the reason he can now live righteously in this terminal world; however, the righteousness under consideration here has to do with the RECOGNITION of that imputed righteousness in the Christian’s life, and the APPLICATION of it to his daily walk! The idea here is of practical or “practiced” righteousness in your everyday living, living out the imputed righteousness of Christ.
Thus, the breastplate of righteousness refers to the practical, personal holiness of the Christian soldier’s everyday life. We ought to live soberly and righteously in this present evil world! Many a warrior has been taken out of the battle by a failure of godly living; remember King David? Remember Samson? What about the modern-day scandals involving preachers and other church leaders? We must avoid practical unrighteousness, and live a daily righteous life if we would avail ourselves of the breastplate of righteousness that God has provided for us here and now!
Why do we need this type breastplate? First of all, without this item of armor, we are unprotected! Our inner being needs protection; remember, the Roman breastplate protected the vital organs of the body, from neck down to the top of the thighs, much like a bullet-proof vest today. Right living protects our affections, desires, will, understanding, emotions, and allows us to focus on the battle at hand.
Secondly, without this item of armor, we are unprepared for the daily struggle! Remember, we are in a “race”: “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. . . .” Heb. 12:1. If we are weighed down by sin, we will not be able to run as fast nor fight as hard!
Thirdly, without this item of armor, we are unassured in the battle! God doesn’t want timid warriors: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Tim. 1:7. My greatest times of doubt and fear are when I’m straying from godly living! I always feel like “damaged goods” in the aftermath of some sinful activity, often even questioning my eternal salvation! I’m not a very good spiritual warrior in those times.
So, finally, how do we “put on” this breastplate? First, we must be grounded in the truth: the breastplate must ALWAYS be fastened to the “belt of truth” (i.e. word of God)! Second, we must turn to God in times of temptation: leaning to our own understanding will ALWAYS get us into trouble (see James 4:4-7; Prov. 3:5-6; Prov. 14:12, 16:25). Third, we must guard our hearts. Remember Prov. 4:23: “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.” Fourth, we must do our best to avoid the snares of life (see Mat. 5:29-30; 1 Cor. 6:18 – flee fornication; 2 Cor. 6:14-18 – do not be unequally yoked, etc.). And finally, we must “mortify” – that is, put to death – the flesh (see Col. 3:5-11).
I hope these thoughts help you in your daily walk this week.
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 3/12/2023)
As we continue looking at the Servant Songs of Isaiah, we come to the Song of the Steadfast Servant. We must remember that all of these “songs” point us to the Messiah, the Suffering Servant Who would deliver His people from their sins. In this song, we read about this Suffering Servant Who “set His face like a flint” toward the completion of the task He had been given to do!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 2/19/2023)
As we began looking at the Song of the Successful Servant in the last message, we saw that the Messiah was coming to complete the work He was sent to do. Thankfully, His mission was successful! Join us today as we conclude this message, entitled the Song of the Successful Servant.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 2/19/2023)
In this passage, which contains the second “Servant Song” of Isaiah, we see the Successful Servant. We understand this Suffering, Successful Servant to be the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the Messiah of Israel! He is prophesied here to successfully complete the work that He is sent to do, which is to deliver all of His children from the bondage of sin.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 2/12/2023)
In the last podcast episode, we began to look at the first of the Servant Songs of Isaiah, which I have entitled “The Song of the Chosen Servant.” These songs, of course, point us to the coming Messiah, the Suffering Servant of God. We began to see the identity of the Servant, and have begun looking at some of His person and work. Join us as we continue our examination of the Servant Songs of Isaiah.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 2/12/2023)
In the Book of Isaiah, there are four “Servant Songs.” These are passages that point us clearly to the coming Messiah, and describe certain aspects of His nature and work. Today’s message begins to deal with the first of these songs, which I am calling “The Song of the Chosen Servant.” Join us as we begin to look at the prophecy from Isaiah regarding the Suffering Servant of God, who is the Lord Jesus Christ.
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by Elder Craig Blair (preached on 2/19/2023)
Yesterday we began to look at the subject of “image and likeness” as taught in the Scripture. Although we are fallen creatures, when we are born again we possess the ability to live in a Christ-like manner. Our “image and likeness” should reflect Christ on a daily basis! in the conclusion to this message, Elder Craig Blair encourages us to devote our lives to conform our image to the image of Christ.
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by Elder Craig Blair (preached on 2/19/2023)
Many of us who are college football fans know that, recently, “image and likeness” have become an issue that provides great amounts of compensation to college athletes. In this message, Elder Craig Blair reminds us that the most important “image and likeness” we should bear is that of our Elder Brother Jesus Christ! Join us for the first part of this message today.
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by Elder Tim McCool (preached on 8/16/2015)
In this sermon, Elder Tim McCool, Pastor of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church in Echola, Alabama, sets forth three descriptions of the preacher from the word of God. The preacher is called a steward, a soldier, and a servant in various scriptures. Each description very aptly sets forth different aspects of the job of the minister. Join us as we look at the ways in which a preacher is described in the Bible.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 8/16/2015)
In the second part of this message, we see that, not only has God said that the ultimate determination of who is or is not a child of God is in His hands, but we are not qualified to judge this matter at all! We cannot even judge properly and consistently whether we ourselves are children of God, because we so often act like we are not. Join us as we conclude this excellent message about how we are to view others in the world around us.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 8/16/2015)
Many people in the religious world look at others and say, “There is no way that this man is a child of God,” or possibly, “I KNOW that he is a child of God!” They base this determination on what that person has or has not done in regard to eternal salvation. But what is the true biblical perspective? Is it even possible for us to discern who is or is not a child of God? Elder Buddy Abernathy delivers a powerful message on this topic, which we begin sharing today.
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We have begun looking at the spiritual armor provided for us in the spiritual battles that we face. This armor is set out in Ephesians 6. The first item of armor is the Girdle of Truth. Notice what the Bible says: “Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth. . . .” (Eph. 6:14).
Notice that Paul is using the Roman legionnaire’s armor as an example for Christians. His audience would have understood this Girdle of Truth to be a belt wrapped around the waist, which was connected to the rest of the armor. In a real sense, this Girdle (or belt) was the foundation of the rest of the armor because it bound all the armor together. You see, the Roman soldier’s belt held the other pieces of armor together because each of the other pieces of the body armor was fastened to this belt. Even the weapons were fastened to this belt. It was the centerpiece of the armor!
Likewise, beloved friends, Truth is the foundation of all the other items of the Christian’s armor! Jesus Himself declared that He is “the way, the TRUTH, and the life” (John 14:6)! In speaking to the woman at the well, He shared with her that “God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in TRUTH” (John 4:24). Ultimately, Jesus made the absolute declaration that “ye shall know the TRUTH, and the TRUTH shall make you free” (John 8:32)! The benefit of knowing and worshipping in truth is that we will be made “free”. In what way are we made free? NOT in an eternal sense – that was accomplished by God alone! But rather, the truth will free us in this world.
It is commonly taught in the world today that truth is malleable, that it is “relative.” You’ll often hear, “My truth is as good as your truth,” even if these “truths” are diametrically opposed. But beloved friends, do not be deceived by this false philosophy – there is much deceit in the world today! We are constantly being fed lies about abortion being nothing more than a choice, and even elevating it to the status of a “human right”, when in reality it is nothing less than the destruction of life. We hear lies about the nature of marriage today, tearing down the biblical emphasis on marital purity and promoting fornication, and ultimately destroying the very definition of marriage itself!
But what does the Bible say about Truth? Isaiah prophesies about it: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter” (Isa. 5:20)! My friends, the truth cannot be found in the rudiments of the world. So where can it be found in this life?
First of all, truth can be found in the word of God. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17). “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Look at Psalm 119; the longest chapter in the Bible is primarily about the firm foundation of the word of God!
Also, truth can be found in the Church of God. Paul told Timothy that the church is the “pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). A foundation is what we build upon; a pillar holds something up for the world to see. Thus, we must conclude that the church must be built upon the truth (the word of God), and must hold the truth up for all the world to see!
Let us seek out and cling to the truth, for indeed the Girdle of Truth holds all the rest of the armor together! If we get this wrong, the rest of the armor will not protect us like it should.
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 2/5/23)
In this message, Elder John Morgan Owens follows the thread of Scripture in regard to the “Nail” we have in the holy place. This Nail of course is the Lord Jesus Christ! Join us as we follow the hope that we have in Christ through the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 1/29/2023)
As we began to see in the first half of this message, worry is a problem that afflicts everyone. Some worry more than others, but all of us worry to some extent. Elder Owens admonishes us to overcome worry by looking to our God and His faithfulness and power as a remedy for worrying.
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by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 1/29/2023)
Do you worry too much? Some worry more than others, some less, but ALL of us have the problem of worrying! In the first part of this message, Elder Owens shares the scriptural perspective on worrying, and admonishes us to get closer to our Shepherd if we have the problem of worrying!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 2/12/23)
In the last post, we began looking at the anchor of hope that we have in Christ. This anchor is both sure and steadfast because it is grounded upon the Solid Rock of the finished work of Jesus Christ! Join us today as we conclude this message of sweet assurance.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 2/12/2023)
Hebrews 6 begins with a stern warning about falling away, which we have already dealt with in this series on Hebrews. But the chapter ends with the sweetest confirmation of the eternal security of the child of God! Join us as we look at the anchor of our hope, which is not rooted in what man has done but in what God has done for us.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 1/22/2023)
As we began to see in the first half of this message, people sometimes misinterpret the passage in Heb. 6:4-6 as teaching that a child of God can “fall from grace,” i.e., lose their eternal salvation. A plain reading of the text does NOT teach this, and neither do we reach this conclusion when comparing Scripture to Scripture. Rather, this is a stern warning to the child of God that he should be faithful and not fall away, because he may reach a place where it is impossible for the preacher or other man to reach him! But thankfully, the things that are impossible with men are possible with God!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 1/22/2023)
In the first few verses of Hebrews 6, there is a passage that has caused many children of God to fall victim to the heresy that a child of God can lose his eternal salvation. Hebrews 6:4-6 indicates that a child of God can get to point in his or her life where it is “impossible” to renew them to repentance! But what kind of salvation is under consideration? As we examine this passage in its context, and comparing scripture to scripture, we will see that this is a reference NOT to eternal salvation but to temporal salvation. Praise God, a child of God can NEVER lose his eternal salvation!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 1/22/2023)
In the last post, we began to look at the topic of spiritual immaturity. The writer of Hebrews wanted to discuss some “deep” things about Christ, but felt like he was hindered in doing so by the fact that these Hebrew listeners were still too spiritually immature! Today we conclude this message by looking at the things that keep us from growing, and we see some ways we can help ourselves to grow to spiritual maturity.
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When: Saturday 3/4/23, beginning at 10 a.m.
Where: Zion Primitive Baptist Church, 9487 County Road 49, Gordo AL 35466
I want to invite everyone to our 2023 Annual Meeting at Zion Primitive Baptist Church, located at 9487 County Road 49, Gordo, Alabama 35466. Our meeting will be held on Saturday March 4, 2023, beginning at 10 a.m., followed by lunch and an afternoon service. Elder Mark Green and Elder Adam Green of Arkansas are our invited ministers.
We will have fellowship at the church on Saturday afternoon, beginning around 5:30 or 6 p.m.
On Sunday March 5, 2023, we will have services beginning at 10:00 a.m. as well, followed by lunch and communion afterwards. There sill be NO evening service on Sunday.
Please come worship with us if you can, and please keep us in your prayers if you cannot be here in person. We are prayerfully expecting the Holy Spirit to bless us with His presence and power!
In Christ,
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 1/22/2023)
Just when the writer of Hebrews is about to start a discourse on the Melchizedekan High-Priesthood of Christ, he interrupts his train of thought to bring up an important subject: these Hebrew listeners were too spiritually immature for him to go very deep into the mysteries of Christ! He chastens them for being spiritual babes when they ought to be spiritually mature. Are we still babes in Christ? Or have we grown in grace and knowledge since our conversion? Join us as we look at the admonition here to “grow up”!
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by Elder Mike Ivey (preached on 10/20/2019)
In this powerful message, Elder Mike Ivey explains from Scripture how there is a “now” salvation in baptism. There is NO eternal merit in the ordinance, but oh what a deliverance it brings us by bringing us together in the “social band” of God’s children! Join us as we see how we are “saved” in time by baptism.
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by Elder Lonnie Mozingo, Jr. (preached on 1/29/2023)
In our last post, we heard the first half of a powerful message preached by Elder Lonnie Mozingo, Jr., regarding the reason that Christ came into the world. Ultimately, we will see that He came not to try to accomplish God’s will, but to actually finish the work of saving His people from their sins! Joins us today for the conclusion of the message.
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by Elder Lonnie Mozingo, Jr. (preached on 1/29/2023)
In this powerful message, Elder Lonnie Mozingo, Jr., reminds us why Jesus Christ came into the world. It wasn’t to attempt to do something, and it wasn’t to try to accomplish the will of God. Rather, it was to completely save His people from their sins! Join us for the first half of this sermon today.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 1/15/2023)
In 2 Samuel 23, we read the last words of King David. As a society, we attach special significance to the last words people speak, don’t we? In the legal field, a “dying declaration” is admissible over a hearsay objection. The reason is that we believe – rightly so – that the last words people speak are usually not about frivolous matters, but matters of utmost importance. This is the case with David. He tells us of an “everlasting covenant,” and declares that it is his only hope and only desire!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/10/2017)
As we bring this series on the early life of David to a conclusion, we find ourselves saddened by the misery of sin that King Saul experienced at the end of his life. Because he sought advice from the witch of Endor instead of from God, God suffered him to be slain by the Philistines. The misery of sin is deep and traumatic in this life, but praise God it cannot prevent us from entering heaven! That precious privilege was bought by the blood of the Lamb of God, and can never be taken from us because of sin!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/10/2017)
As we conclude this series on the early life of David, we come to one of the saddest episodes of Scripture: the death of King Saul. Saul started out with such promise, but ended up in sin’s misery. When he sought the advice of a witch instead of God, God sent Samuel in spirit form to tell him that he would die this day! Join us as we conclude this series today and tomorrow, looking at the misery of sin.
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On June 6, 1944, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe, issued the following statement to the soldiers about to invade Normandy: “Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force: You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. . . . Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well-trained, well-equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.” Ultimately, he expressed confidence in them and invoked the blessings of Almighty God.
Imagine if Gen. Eisenhower had instead said, “Hey guys! I hope you feel good about yourselves; you need to live your ‘best life now’! The enemy is really just misunderstood; we’re not even sure he really IS our enemy, if he exists at all.” Wouldn’t it have been foolish and fatal for the D-Day invaders to have gone to war unprepared and underestimating their enemies? Imagine the slaughter on D-Day if our troops had landed on Omaha Beach, not realizing that they were going to be shot at! What a slaughter would have ensued had they been unprepared for the battle!
Unfortunately, this is the very message often given in many churches today! But thanks be to God, the Bible does not give us this kind of “feel-good” message, but rather tells us the truth about the spiritual battles that we face. Friends, we are engaged in a spiritual warfare against an enemy that is even more insidious than the Nazi foes in WWII. And our great General, God Himself, does not intend for us to underestimate our enemy, nor does He send us into battle unprepared. We have already spent some time looking at the enemies of the Kingdom of God; today, I want to begin looking at the spiritual armor God has provided for us in the battle.
Before we get to the specific items of armor set out in the sixth chapter of Ephesians, let’s look at Jesus’ “D-Day speech”, found in John 16:32-33: “Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave mealone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Notice that Jesus did not mince words: He made it crystal clear that we are in a battle, not a game! The “shall” of John 16:33 is as firm a “shall” as the one found in Mat. 1:21. There is NO DOUBT about it – tribulations WILL afflict us here in this life! Therefore, we should be prepared for the assaults and not surprised when they happen.
Peter writes to us about this. In 1 Pet. 4:12, he writes, “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. . . .” In other words, don’t “lose your mind” when you experience the trials of life; rather, he goes on to write, “rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings.” 1 Pet. 4:13. The rest of the chapter is devoted to explaining that, even though we face troubles and trials here an now, there is a glory that awaits us in heaven that overshadows all of the earthly struggles.
Likewise, I say to you friends, don’t be surprised when the troubles arise! Tribulations are sure to come, because our enemies make it so! Instead of bemoaning our sad estate, we should gird ourselves with the armor of God and stand to face the enemy. Paul introduces the Ephesians to the spiritual armor with the following preface, which I leave you with today:
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.” Eph. 6:11-13.
Next time, we will begin looking at each item of spiritual armor. First up: the girdle of truth! I look forward to exploring these items with you.
May the Lord bless you is my prayer!
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 11/26/2017)
As we have looked at the defection of David to a land controlled by the Philistines, we see David compounding sin upon sin. Anytime we are in the land controlled by the enemy, we are in danger of falling deeper and deeper into sin! But God is always faithful, and often providentially protects us from the otherwise awful consequences of our own sins. Join us as we continue to see David in the land of the Philistines.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/26/2017)
Last time, we began to see what happened when David reasoned in his own heart about his next course of action, instead of trusting God and seeking His will. He ended up in a land occupied by the enemy, where he and his men were in grave peril! Join us as we continue looking at this time of David’s defection, and see how even in the land of the enemy God providentially cares for His people.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/26/2017)
While David was indeed a “man after God’s own heart,” he nonetheless was a sinner. Today, we begin to look at his defection from Israel into a land controlled by the Philistines. Join us over the next few sermons as we see that, rather than trusting God’s guidance, David began to look at his circumstances and reason within his own heart – which is NEVER a good idea for a child of God!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/22/2017)
In the first half of this sermon, we saw that the same David who had spared Saul’s life was now seeking the life of Nabal and his entire band, simply because Nabal had insulted David and his men. What a contradiction in responses! But isn’t that just like us? Don’t we sometimes act in godly restraint, only to turn right around and lash out in selfish anger? But the Lord sent Abigail, a godly influence, to calm David and dissuade him from a course of conduct that he would one day regret. Join us as we see this sweet sister in Israel saving David from his own foolishness.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/22/2021)
In the previous episode of David’s life, we see him acting in godly obedience and sparing the life of his great enemy Saul. Today, we see him rushing headlong to vengeance against Nabal, a foolish farmer who had done no more than insult him! Isn’t that the way we are sometimes? Don’t we often act godly on one day, and then fulfill the ungodly passions of the flesh the next? But as God often does, He sent a godly influence – Abigail – to change David’s course of conduct.
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We have been looking at an article written by Elder Tim McCool several years ago, dealing with “Questions and Answers” about Primitive Baptists. Today, we conclude by looking at the last few questions. I hope these have been helpful to you in understanding what Primitive Baptists believe, and why!
And let me conclude with the best advice I can give you if you have questions about Primitive Baptists: come and see! Come and experience the worship service, where we engage in the simple practice of preaching, praying, and singing. I believe you will be blessed if you do!
May the Lord bless you is my prayer!
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
Questions & Answers about Primitive Baptists
by Tim McCool
Pastor, Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church
Boyd Road, Echola Alabama
Q22: Why do Primitive Baptists prefer a cappella singing?
A: There is no biblical precedent for the usage of musical instruments in New Testament worship. The scriptures give repeated instructions to sing in the church, but never to play (Rom 15:9, I Cor 14:15, Eph 5:19, Col 3:16, Heb 2:12, James 5:13). Things that affect the setting of worship (i.e. – electric lights, air conditioners, etc) are not a part of the worship service and are allowable. A distinction must also be made between an addition to the New Testament pattern and an aid to this pattern. Electric lights, songbooks, reference Bibles, etc. are aids to worship, but musical instruments are additions to worship. It is commonly objected that Psalm 150 offers instruction to praise the Lord with various kinds of musical instruments. However, these instructions are not referring to New Testament worship. Procedure used in Old Testament worship obviously cannot be used to amend the New Testament pattern; otherwise, animal sacrifices, priests, etc. could be legitimately introduced to the church. It should be observed that Psalm 150 also commands to praise the Lord with dance (Ps 150:4), yet those who use the Psalm to defend musical instruments would generally condemn dancing in the church. Furthermore, the prophet Amos condemned the very musical instruments David invented (Amos 6:1-5).
Q23: Why do Primitive Baptists not have entertainment for youth?
A: Primitive Baptists do not condemn entertainment when it is moral and in moderation. We also recognize that men of God in the scriptures occasionally use humor and sarcasm (Is 40:18-23, Is 44:12-20, Lk 16:9), so this too is acceptable provided that it is clean, purposeful, and moderate. However, the idea that it is the role of the church to entertain is absolutely alien to all that is scriptural. When churches have taken sports, games, comedy, and other amusement, and have commingled them with songs of praise, prayer, and preaching, then no difference is being made between the holy and profane (Ezek. 44:23). The scriptures suggest that Paul had an interest in some sports (I Cor 9:24, II Tim 2:5, Heb 12:1), yet he condemned competitiveness in the church (I Cor 4:7, I Cor 11:21-22). The instruction of the scriptures are both necessary and sufficient to guide young people as well as old, and to strengthen them against the temptations of the world (Deut 6:6-7, Ps 119:9-11, I Tim 5:14, II Tim 3:15-17). Furthermore, youth group involvement yields more civil and criminal liability risks each year, as deviant and deceptive individuals are at times unknowingly placed in positions of supervision over children.
Q24: What do Primitive Baptists believe about John 3:16?
A: This verse of scripture is often taken out of context to attempt to prove that Jesus died for all the inhabitants of the world. Taken in context, Jesus is making a factual point to Nicodemus (a Jew who erroneously believed that eternal salvation was limited to the physical nation of the Jews) that God so loved the world (Greek kosmos – created order), and NOT just the Jews, that he gave His only begotten Son. The purpose of His Son being given was that whosoever, which is a definitive group and not mankind in general, believeth on him should not perish but have eternal life. The Greek word for believeth is pisteuo, which is the same root word for faith, and faith by definition is the gift of God (Eph. 2:8). The very belief / faith in the heart of those who believe is placed there by the mercy and grace of God. The fact that John 3:16 is not teaching that Jesus offered himself to all the inhabitants of the world is further confirmed by the fact that Jesus said that he who does not believe in this is condemned already (v.18), indicating the fallen state of mankind in Adam’s transgression (Rom.5:20). Furthermore, it is of the utmost importance to understand what “world” Jesus is referring. Christ declares in the same gospel of John, chapter 17, verse 9, that, “I pray NOT for the world.” For example, in Lk. 2:1, the writer declares that Ceasar Augustus sent out a decree that “all the world should be taxed”. Obviously, Ceasar did not send tax collectors to pre-North America to collect taxes from the native Indians. Rather, he taxed the “world” that was under His jurisdiction. Jesus Christ could not have died for the general population of the world because that is not the “world” under consideration. Also, this would have contradicted the promise of Christ that ALL of His children would never perish (Jn. 10:28). If Christ offered himself for all the inhabitants of the world, then according to his promise, all the inhabitants of the world would be housed in heaven. On the contrary, Christ declared that he had power over ALL mankind, for the purpose of giving life to “as many as thou hast given him” (Jn. 17:2), and not all the inhabitants of the world. This relates back to that innumerable host of children that God the Father foreknew, predestinated, called justified, and glorified in His Son (Rom. 8:29-30). The world that God created was good in God’s eyes (Gen. 1) until mankind defiled that world with sin. God so loved this created order that He sent His Son to die for whosoever believes in him. Obviously, this is a factual statement and not a non-contextual offer.
Q25: Why should I become a Primitive Baptist?
A: For the sake of God’s truth – God has declared that His glory can only be seen in the salvation plan set out in His holy word. This plan involves no work or act of our own, but His alone. Rev. 4:11 declares that we are created for His glory, and we are to glorify Him in our bodies (I Cor. 6:20). In order to achieve maximum glory to God, His truths must be embraced and man’s opinions and devices put aside. Forsaking all for His glory is our only choice.
For the sake of sincerity – in a time when people are looking for depth and quality, a deep, personal relationship with Jesus Christ and with brothers and sisters in Christ can only be found by embracing His truth.For the sake of simplicity – from programs and entertainment, to day-care facilities and segregation, religious worship of today grows more complex and bigger each year. Instead of looking for God in a multitude of activity, we should strive to see the simplicity in Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 11:3), that can be found in a worship style in which families, whether single parent homes or traditional, worship together in spirit and in truth, where spiritual food can be bought without price (Isa. 55:1-2) and the only demands placed upon the individual are the commandments of God, which are not grievous (I Jn. 5:3). To sing, preach and pray in worship of the Lord, to fellowship together frequently in His word, and bring the good news to captive, condition-laden sinners that their salvation rests in the free grace of Jesus Christ alone.
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/15/2017)
In the last post, we saw that David had a great opportunity to destroy his enemy Saul, but instead opted to follow the word of God. You see, even though the circumstances may seem to dictate otherwise, we have not authority to deviate from God’s word! Join us for the conclusion of this sermon which teaches us how to deal with our enemies.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/15/2017)
We have seen David delivering a city and delivering his men, but today we see him delivering his enemy Saul. In this passage from 1 Samuel 24, the circumstances seem to indicate that David’s time had come and that he should execute vengeance upon Saul. But instead of following the signs and circumstances, David followed the word of God! Join us as we see how David delivers his enemy instead of destroying him.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/8/2017)
Today we continue looking at the way in which David delivered his men from Saul while in the wilderness of Ziph, and we see that it was – once again – by the providence of God. David himself ascribes this deliverance to God, as we read in Psalm 54. Even though we know that David was not exactly where God wanted him to be, nevertheless he was protected by the almighty providence of the One Who loved him with an everlasting love!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/24/2017)
In the first half of this sermon, we saw that David delivered the city of Keilah from the Philistines. However, God tells him that these men of Keilah will deliver him to King Saul when Saul comes up to surround the city! David was NOT an absoluter: he took this as his cue to leave! So he delivered his men from Saul once again. As a final part of this account, we find that Jonathan and David meet for one last time to share sweet fellowship on earth.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/24/2017)
As we continue looking at the life of David, we begin top see him as a deliverer. Even while running from Saul, he freed the Israelite city of Keilah from the oppression of the Philistines. David may be out of the will of God in many ways, but he still serves Him as he is able!
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As we continue looking at the “Questions and Answers” article written by Elder Tim McCool, we examine some issues regarding the practice of the church. Primitive Baptists do not have Sunday Schools; why not? We sing a cappella instead of with instruments; why? Etc.
Hopefully these questions and answers will help us understand what the Bible says about these matters. I hope they help you as they have me!
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
Questions & Answers about Primitive Baptists
by Tim McCool
Pastor, Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church
Boyd Road, Echola Alabama
Q16: What are Primitive Baptists’ position on Sunday schools?
A: Like missionary societies, there is no biblical precedent for Sunday schools and the church was never instructed to have them. Bible study is expected out of church members and is not limited to a formal church setting. Scriptural example dictates that such activities are conducted in contexts other than formal church worship (Acts 2:46; 17:17; 20:20). There is nothing in scriptures to indicate that worshippers, either in the New Testament or the old, were ever segregated by knowledge, age, sex, marital status, or any other criterion. Instead, all worshipped in a common assembly. Jesus himself charged the first preachers to feed the lambs (little ones), as well as the sheep (Jn. 21:15) in the context of the general assembly. We are told that childrens’ understanding can exceed that of the wise and prudent (Mt. 11:25; 21:15), and that God has ordained praise in the utterances of babes (Mt. 21:16). Accordingly, Jesus rebuked His disciples for denying admittance of children to His presence (Mt. 19:13-15, Mk. 9:36-37, Mk. 10:13-15). Hence, it should not be assumed that children are incapable of receiving proper instruction from the general assembly. The modern practice of denying children entrance to church sanctuaries is very much against the spirit of the scriptures. However, Primitive Baptists do advocate a better position than Sunday schools, that of parents, whether single parent homes or otherwise, instructing their children in their homes on a daily basis, which provides much more instruction than 1 hour per week. The church cannot take the place of the parental responsibility of teaching in the home (Eph. 6:4).
Q17: What is the Primitive Baptist view of the scriptures?
A:Primitive Baptists view scriptures as the divinely inspired word of God and as the sole rule of faith and practice for the church. It is also believed that the scriptures have been divinely preserved over the ages, and that the 1611 King James version is the proper English translation of the scriptures. Paul claimed that all scripture is given by inspiration of God (II Tim. 3:16). Accordingly, Jesus said that scripture cannot be broken (Jn 10:35). Such infallibility could only occur in writings under the power of plenary (full) inspiration. The apostle Peter said, …no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophesy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (II Pet 1:20-21). Hence, scriptural prophecy is void of any private opinions of the writers. They were actually moved by the Spirit of God when writing. Furthermore, the psalmist David declares, The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times…Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation forever (Ps. 12:6-7)
Q18: Why do Primitive Baptists refer to their preachers as elders?
A: The scriptures offer two alternate titles for preachers – bishop and elder (I Tim 3:1-7, Tit 1:5-9, I Pet 5:1). The importance of using scriptural titles is emphasized by Jesus’ condemning the Pharisees for taking aggrandizing titles to themselves (Mt 23:5-12). The term reverend is used only once in the scriptures where it has reference to God (Ps 111:9). We are therefore unworthy to wear this title. The term apostle is clearly used by the scriptures to mean a minister who is an eyewitness to the sufferings and resurrection of Christ (Acts 1:1-3, Acts 1:21-26, I Cor 9:1, I Pet 5:1). Also, apostles were granted special powers not possessed by ordinary elders (Acts 8:18, II Cor 12:12, Heb 2:3-4). Any man claiming this title for himself today does so in error.
Q19: Do Primitive Baptists have schools for training ministers?
A: Primitive Baptist elders are called by God and chosen by the individual congregations from among male members who have demonstrated a calling and proven to be faithful to the church and its principles. All Primitive Baptist elders are expected to be educated in the Word of God and have frequent contact with other ministers about questions of scriptural interpretation and other matters pertaining to the church (2 Tim. 2:2). The Apostle Paul taught Timothy as a father instructs a son, laboring and serving together in the gospel (Philip. 2:22). This system of education is preferred above ministerial training schools because:
a. Elders in the New Testament were primarily self-educated in the scriptures.
b. Elders in the New Testament learned under the direction of the Holy Spirit and other elders rather than academicians.
c. The system makes the scriptures themselves to be the curriculum.
d. The elder learns in the same setting in which he is expected to teach. Congregations taught by these elders will be expected to have the discipline to educate themselves in the Word of God. The elder should therefore prove himself to have the same discipline.
e. The system is less vulnerable to the widespread propagation of error so commonly found when numerous ministers are trained under the same teachings of heretical academicians.
Q20: Why do Primitive Baptists wash feet?
A: because Jesus commanded it (John 13:14-15). Although it is not an ordinance as the Lord’s Supper and baptism, it is a practice set forth and commanded to be observed.
Q21: Why do Primitive Baptists require baptism by immersion?
A: The example set by Jesus is clearly one of baptism by immersion. Mark described Jesus’ baptism with these words: And straitway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him (Mk 1:10). “Coming up out of the water” clearly cannot be by sprinkling or pouring. John baptized in Aenon because there was much water there (Jn 3:23). An abundance of water is not needful for sprinkling or pouring. Accordingly, the Ethiopian eunuch was baptized in a body of water (Acts 8:36). Paul explains in Rom 6:1-5 that baptism represents a death, burial, and resurrection. Nothing about pouring or sprinkling depicts these events. Immersion obviously does. Finally, the Greek word for baptism (baptizo) means immersion.
To be continued. . . .
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/10/2017)
In the previous post, we began looking at the prayer David prayed from the cave of Adullam. When he fled in faithlessness from Saul, he ended up in a place where he was surrounded by ungodly men who did not share his vision of God. This seems to be one of the lowest points in David’s life up to this point! But in Psalm 142, David expresses his angst and ultimately turns to God as his only hope!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 9/10/2017)
When David fled from Saul, one of the places he ended up was the cave of Adullam. It was here that David seemingly reached his lowest point. We know this because he composed a psalm here, which was a prayer from the cave. Psalm 142 tells us what he was thinking, and how he ultimately had no hope except God!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 8/27/2017)
Yesterday, we began to see that the result of David’s faithlessness is death and destruction! At Nob, he lied and deceived, and the result was ultimately the death of these innocent priests. Our lack of faith can lead to dire results if we are not careful! Let us learn from David that we should ALWAYS walk by faith.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 8/27/2017)
In the last message, we began looking at the roots of David’s lapse of faith. Today, we are going to go back and pick up a portion of the last message, but also begin to look at the faithfulness of God. God provided David a friend even in the midst of David’s lack of faith. God is good, all the time!
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Last week, since it is the beginning of a new year, we began posting a series of questions and answers written by my brother, Elder Tim McCool, pastor of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church in Echola, Alabama. These questions and answers concern Primitive Baptists, and what we believe about some important biblical teachings. Many people have questions about what it means to be a Primitive Baptist, and these questions and answers from Scripture help define who we are.
Today we are posting the next set of these questions. I hope these are helpful to you in understanding Primitive Baptists and what we believe!
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
Questions & Answers about Primitive Baptists
by Tim McCool
Pastor, Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church
Boyd Road, Echola Alabama
Q8: Are Primitive Baptists Calvinists?
A: No. In the minds of most people, Christianity is divided into two major groups, those who believe eternal salvation depends on your choice (i.e.-“accepting” Christ) and Calvinists (those who advocate the theology of John Calvin). Clearly, there is a plain distinction between Primitive Baptists and those who believe you can “accept” Christ. However, when people hear Primitive Baptists proclaim the doctrines of grace (election, predestination, etc.) they assume that Primitive Baptists are some branch of the Calvinist family. The fact is, Primitive Baptists have never been a part of either group, since they and their ancestors have maintained their identity since the days of Christ and the Apostles. John Calvin was a Protestant Reformer who seceded from the Catholic church and started Presbyterianism. Baptists derive their existence from Christ and the Apostles and as such, predate Catholics and have maintained separate existence even through the Dark Ages, hence the name, “Primitive.” (Matt. 16:16-18; Eph. 2:20).
Q9: Is election/predestination something to be afraid of?
A: Not if you understand that if it were not for God’s electing a people and Christ dying for their sins and the Spirit making them a new creation, NONE would be saved (Rom. 3:10; Ps. 14; Ps. 53). Interestingly, ALL of the first churches embraced election as part of the good news that was preached to them (I Thes. 1:4; Eph. 1). The conversion and baptism of ALL the early church members involved an integral, working knowledge of this fundamental teaching. The Apostle Paul taught this in his FIRST messages to the Thessalonians (Acts 17; I Thes. 1:4), the Ephesians (Acts 19 & 20; Eph. 1 & 2), the Phillippians, the Corinthians, etc. The Apostle Peter taught this truth (Acts 2:38-41; I Pet. 1:2 & 2 Pet. 1:10). Furthermore, Jesus Christ taught it (Matt. 24:12, 31; Lk. 4:25-27; Lk. 18:7; Jn. 5:40; Jn. 10:27-29; Jn. 15:16; Jn. 17:2-3).
Q10: Do Primitive Baptists think they are an exclusive group?
A: It is a common misconception that because Primitive Baptists embrace salvation by grace as plainly taught in the scriptures, they therefore believe God’s chosen people are an exclusive group. On the contrary, Primitive Baptists are the only known group in existence who believe that God has an all inclusive group of chosen, sanctified and redeemed people in every kindred, tongue, people and nation (Rev.5:9). When a believer understands that were it not for God’s choice of a people, then there would be no one in Heaven because of man’s sin (Rom.5:12), it is clear that God did not exclude anyone from heaven. The Lord Himself looked down upon the children of men to see if there were any that would seek Him, and He found none (Rom.3:12; Ps.14:2; Ps.53:2). It was Adam’s choice to sin, not God’s choice, that excluded ALL mankind from heaven, and were it not for the inclusive grace of Jesus Christ, none would be saved. Jesus declared, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden…” (Mt.11:28). The cry of Primitive Baptists is inclusive for all born-again sinners, no matter their age, race, color, creed or background, to take up the cross and follow Jesus as an evidence of Jesus’ saving grace in their heart (Lk.9:23). However, a person who believes that a sinner must invite Jesus into their heart, accept Christ, say a particular prayer, or meet any man-made condition to enter Heaven, embraces a false salvation that is exclusive and not contained in the scripture. Accordingly, any person who does not meet that group’s particular condition is excluded.
Q11: Will all of God’s elect children be saved?
A: Yes, because Jesus said all that the Father gave him would come to him (John 6:37). This is the only plan of salvation that in addition to saving competent people, would also include the salvation of those incapable of receiving the gospel, such as infants (Lk. 1:41; Ps. 22:9; Jer. 1:5; 2 Sam. 12:23; I Kgs.14:13) or mentally challenged persons!
Q12: But what about the person who wants to be saved and is left out by this plan?
A: If you believe the promise of Jesus (Jn. 10:27-29), you understand there is no such person who has ever existed! A person who “wants” to be saved is saved already! (Jn. 1:13).
Q13: What is the purpose of preaching then?
A: Just to name a few purposes: to instruct, comfort (Isa. 40:1-9; Eph. 4:11-16), reprove, rebuke, exhort (2 Tim. 4:2), warn, teach (Col. 1:28), spread the gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ alone among all nations (Lk. 24:47).
Q14: What is the purpose of the gospel?
A: To bring life and immortality to LIGHT, but NOT to LIFE (2 Tim. 1:10). The gospel is the information / education / understanding of how you are saved. It illuminates (brightens) what God has already placed in your heart. There is no life to illuminate in a spiritually dead being (Eph. 2:1).
Q15: What is the Primitive Baptist understanding of the Bible’s teaching concerning missionaries?
A: The term missionary is found nowhere in the Bible. The gifts of the church are found in Eph. 4:11. The purpose of these gifts is for the benefit of the saints, or, those who are already born again. Primitive Baptists wholeheartedly believe that gospel ministers must go where directed by the Spirit and not by a mission board (Acts 20:22-23). The call to “save lost sinners”, or the cry of mission work as is common today, whether intentional or not, works to de-emphasize the importance of the local ministry and place the importance of the Christian walk somewhere far away. It causes an individual to lose sight of his or her true “mission”, that of being content with where God has placed them and striving to spread the gospel to those in the area where they have the most influence – their home and their communities. It is noteworthy that Primitive Baptists have established churches in foreign lands, such as the Philippines, Africa and India, to which no organization or board has directed men to go to, other than the Lord.
To be continued. . . .
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 8/27/2017)
As we have begun to see, while David was truly a “man after God’s own heart,” he was not a perfect man! We are currently studying the account that demonstrates a failure of his faithfulness. What were the roots of this failure of faith? Today, we begin to look at the causes of his faithlessness. Join us as we continue to explore the life of this “man after God’s own heart.”
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 7/23/2017)
David was truly a “man after God’s own heart,” but he was not a perfect man! There were times when his faith failed. The topic today covers one such time. Although God had sustained David his whole life, even through the mismatched battle with Goliath, when Saul began to seek to kill him his faith failed and he resorted to deceit and subterfuge in order to preserve his own life. Isn’t that often our problem? Don’t we often give lip service to trusting God, but when the rubber meets the road we don’t put that faith into action? Perhaps we can learn some lessons from this episode in David’s life.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 7/16/2017)
It’s been said that for every one hundred men who can survive adversity, only one can survive prosperity! David’s success in the battle with Goliath brought major changes to his life. But praise the Lord, his success did not change him! Join us as we see the aftermath of David’s great victory.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 5/28/2017)
In the last post, we began to look at the REAL “David and Goliath” story, which involved the real shepherd boy David facing off in the Valley of Elah against the real giant Goliath. We were beginning to see what set David apart from all the warriors of Saul, and indeed Saul himself, who rather than facing the giant were fleeing from him! Join us today as we conclude and see that there are some things we need to do, like David, in order to face the giants in our live.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 5/28/2017)
Do you have giants in your life? David faced an ACTUAL giant! Goliath, the champion of the wicked Philistines, stood nearly 10 feet tall, and was the sworn enemy of Jehovah God. David, on the other hand, was a teenaged shepherd boy. The natural odds were against David, but the spiritual odds favored him greatly because he was a servant of the Living God!
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Since we are still basically at the beginning of a New Year, I feel led to share some posts that I have used in the past as a way to “start us off right.” For the next two or three weeks, I want to share a set of questions and answers written by my brother, Elder Tim McCool, pastor of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church in Echola, Alabama. These questions and answers concern Primitive Baptists, and what we believe about some important biblical teachings. Many people have questions about what it means to be a Primitive Baptist, and these questions and answers from Scripture help define who we are. I hope these are helpful to you!
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
Questions & Answers about Primitive Baptists
by Tim McCool
Pastor, Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church
Boyd Road, Echola Alabama
Q1: What is the basic difference between Primitive Baptists and other religious groups?
A: Primitive Baptists believe in salvation by grace, meaning that God saved his people through His plan of salvation (Matt.1:21). As a result those who are saved are exhorted to glorify him for what He has done (Eph. 2:10). Primitive Baptists declare that eternal salvation is by God ALONE. (Isa. 53; Acts 4:12; Eph. 2:8-9; Jn. 6:37-39; 17:2-9; Rom. 8:28-39; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 2:16; Tit. 3:4-7; Heb. 9:12-15)
Q2: What do Primitive Baptists believe is the role of God the Father in salvation?
A: In making a covenant with God the Son and God the Spirit, God the Father foreknew, elected and predestinated an innumerable host out of all mankind before the foundation of the world to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:28; Eph. 1:3-6, 11; I Pet. 1:2; Jn. 6:37-40; Jn. 17:2)
Q3: What is the role of God the Son?
A: God the Son came to earth to save his people from their sins (Mt. 1:21), to suffer the wrath of God for their sins in their place (I Pet. 3:18), and redeem (buy back) those whom God the Father had previously chosen before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:7; Jn. 6:37-40; Matt. 1:21; Jn. 10:27-30; Jn. 17:2-3; Tit. 3:6; Heb. 9:12-14; I Pet. 1:1).
Q4: What is the role of God the Spirit?
A: God the Spirit promised to enter the heart of every person whom God the Father foreknew and for whom God the Son redeemed, giving the “new birth” (Tit. 3:5; Jn. 1:13; Jn. 3:1-8; Jn. 6:63; I Pet. 1:1), and also to guide those children in their understanding of the word of God (Jn. 16:13). According to the scripture, this “new birth” is not given because of any action of our own, but by His mercy and grace (see cites above).
Q5: Understanding this, then what is MY role?
A: If you have been born again by His Spirit, it means that you are included in the purpose of God and YOUR ROLE is to give God glory in your life because of the life he has given you (Eph. 2:1). This involves repenting of sin, embracing his truths, confessing Him, following His instruction, and joining his church (Acts 2:38; Psalm. 119:105; Rom. 10:9; Rev. 4:11; I Pet. 3:21).
Q6: Does this mean I must “accept Christ”?
A: The word “accept/accepted/accepting” occurs 12 times in the New Testament in reference to salvation. Not ONCE does it mention that I am to “accept Christ”, which is a phrase that was coined around 100 years ago. However, as one already born again, the Bible declares that “in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, IS ACCEPTED with him” (Acts 10:35). Like the “sinners prayer” and other terms not found in the Bible, the idea of “accepting Christ” arose through years of distortions and mis-teaching of the fact that God’s children “receive” the Spirit into their hearts by volition of the Holy Ghost (Jn. 1:12; Jn. 3:27; Rom. 8:15; I Cor. 2:12; 2 Cor. 11:4; Gal. 3:2; Col. 2:6). But you can accept the gospel (2 Cor. 11:4), the good news of your salvation, which declares the truth that CHRIST has MADE US ACCEPTED (Eph. 1:6), which involved no work of our own! If you have received the Lord’s gift, then you are required to repent and be baptized in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost (Acts 2:38).
Q7: If I believe in election, then why did Jesus have to die?
A:Election and predestination are merely the terms used by God to describe what He did in appointing the innumerable host of His children to be conformed to the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29). In order for this to be accomplished, someone had to suffer the penalty for the sins of His people. God’s wrath must be satisfied on all mankind, including those He chose (the elect). Only one Man could do that – Jesus Christ. He suffered the penalty of sin in our place (Acts 17:3; 2 Cor. 5:21; Isa. 53:6; Heb. 9:12-28), which had to occur in order for the innumerable host of His children to be housed in heaven.
To be continued. . .
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 5/21/2017)
In the last podcast post, we had begun looking at the aftermath of David’s anointing as king. Rather than storm the castle, David humbly accepted God’s timing and was obedient in the meantime. And then he was called to come to the palace itself and play the harp for Saul! One of the characteristics of being a “man after God’s own heart” is that David was willing to serve God while he waited on God’s providence. Join us as we continue to learn important lessons from the life of David.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 5/21/2017)
When Samuel anointed the shepherd boy David, He was at that moment – in the mind and purpose of God – the King of Israel! But instead of marching down to Jerusalem and forcefully deposing Saul, David humbly took up the shepherd’s staff and went back to his father’s sheepfold. And when the spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and his servants called for David, who was skillful on the harp, to come play the harp for the king. David humbly accepted this new job, and moved into the palace, where God would by His providence train him for his future reign.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 5/14/2017)
Yesterday, we began to see the contrast between the choice of Saul and the choice of Dave, and their respective reigns. Saul was a king who walked primarily by sight, whereas David was a king who walked primarily by faith. As we learn more about what it means to be a “man after God’s own heart,” we see that part of it involves walking by faith, and staying obedient to God!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 5/14/2017)
In today’s message, we read the account of Samuel going to Jesse’s house to anoint a new king of Israel. The reason for the new anointing is that God has rejected King Saul because of his disobedience, and has determined to have a new king of Israel from the sons of Jesse. We will see the contrast between the choice of Saul and the anointing of David, and between the lives of these two men. Join us as we learn more about what it means to be a “man after God’s own heart.”
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 4/30/2017)
We continue today with our introduction to the life of David, who is called a “man after God’s own heart.” As we try to learn what it means to be a man like this, we learn some characteristics of David that show us what it means to walk with God in this way. Ultimately, we learn that a “man after God’s own heart” is a man whose heart is tuned to do the will of God!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 4/9/2017)
This sermon was the first sermon in a series on the life of David preached by Pastor Chris McCool back in 2017. In today’s message, Pastor McCool introduces us to the only man in history of whom it is said that he was a man after God’s own heart. When we first meet him, David was a teenaged shepherd boy, youngest of the eight sons of Jesse. He wasn’t much to look at, but WOW does he play a major role in God’s purposes on earth! Please join us as we begin a journey into the life of David, the greatest King of Israel other than Christ.
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Elder Michael Ivey is a dear friend to me, and he is one of those ministers to whom I look for counsel and advice from time to time. I also greatly admire his intellect, but more than that I admire the way that he uses it for growing in the Kingdom of God.
I am not saying this to “praise” him, although I am deeply grateful for his friendship and devotion to the Kingdom, but to preface this post by saying that I often read his articles and other thoughts that he posts on social media. As the New Year began, there were some Scriptures that Bro. Mike posted regarding our focus in 2023, and I feel burdened to share them with you here today.
May these verses convict and guide us as we enter the new year! And may the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
Bible Verses to Remember in 2023
by Elder Michael Ivey
A few of the scriptures I need to keep forefront in my mind in 2023:
“The first of all the commandments [is], Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first commandment. And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:29-31
“For I [am] the LORD thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour: I gave Egypt [for] thy ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for thee. Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee: therefore will I give men for thee, and people for thy life. Fear not: for I [am] with thee: I will bring thy seed from the east, and gather thee from the west; I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth; [Even] every one that is called by my name: for I have created him for my glory, I have formed him; yea, I have made him.” Isaiah 43:3-7
“Sing unto the LORD a new song, [and] his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof. Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up [their voice], the villages [that] Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.” Isaiah 42:10-12
“Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we [him] no more. Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:16-17
“[Let] nothing [be done] through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Philippians 2:3-8
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but [this] one thing [I do], forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14
“For to me to live [is] Christ, and to die [is] gain.” Philippians 1:21
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 1/08/23)
In the first half of this message, we saw that one of the most vital aspects of our any warfare is the supply line. Prayer is our supply line! Prayer is also our “secret weapon,” with nothing comparable in the Roman legionnaire’s armada. Prayer works both to supply us with sustenance and a weapon. Join us as we conclude our look at the supply line of prayer.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 1/08/23)
Often we hear that there are six items of armor for the child of God; however, I believe there are seven! The last item is actual more logistical in nature: the supply line of prayer. It has aptly been said that an army is only as good as its supply line. How true this is for us in our spiritual warfare! Prayer supplies us with the sustenance and support that we need to succeed in this spiritual war we are in.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 1/8/22)
In the first part of this sermon, we saw that the spiritual sword – the word of God – is both an offensive and defensive weapon. When properly utilized, it can repel every attack of the enemy, and indeed can send him fleeing for cover! Join us as we conclude our look at the sword of the Spirit.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 1/8/23)
A warrior without a weapon is a useless soldier! Likewise, a Christian without his sword won’t last long in the battle. We are told that our weapon is the “sword of the Spirit,” and that this sword is in reality the word of God. Child of God, don’t drop your sword in the battle! It will render you helpless before the onslaught of the enemy!
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In this article by Elder Michael Ivey, we see how important it is to understand that God is the ultimate Reality of life. In fact, He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life!” As the ultimate Reality of the universe, we can look to Him as the source of every good thing in our lives.
I pray we can remember the ultimate reality of the Lord Jesus Christ as we face the enemy every day! Only by doing so will we be able to stand in the spiritual battles of life.
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
The Way, The Truth, The Life
by Elder Michael Ivey
“Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.” John 14:5-7
Jesus statement to Thomas reveals God IS both ABSOLUTE and PHILOSOPHICAL REALITY: He is absolute reality as the self-existing, eternal reality who is the uncaused, first cause of all else that exists. Just so, God as THE WAY, THE TRUTH, and THE LIFE supplies the philosophy of reality by which we may – by proper thinking – come to understand the truth of what reality is, and how and why it exists, including its nature and functional qualities in relationship to the One, who is the real true and living God.
God THE WAY is the source of all the laws of nature and of perfect moral values and impeccable ethics for humans. In Christ Jesus He provides the comprehensive, perfect way of righteousness and holiness by which we may ethically live according to God, THE WAY in joy and peace.
As THE TRUTH, God is the source of all truth pertaining to reality, including both material and immaterial reality. Furthermore, by the reality of His righteous and holy Being He alone defines what are the moral (and immoral) characteristics of material and immaterial reality. This is so because I AM God is the great, self-existing, (for) ever constant reality Who is before and above all else. Therein, He is the sole moral authority capable of rightly judging all aspects of subsequent lesser reality. GOD IS real and all else exists according to The Truth of His reality whether (or not) humans of the subsequent and lesser reality understand or agree.
God is THE LIFE. By His I AM self-existence God is life. As the CREATOR who is the uncaused, first cause of all else, He is the source of life and its true meaning; which is contained in and proceeds from God THE LIFE whose reality transcends time and space. He is THE LIFE as spiritual and material life. He is THE LIFE eternal. As THE LIFE God is perfectly and completely the first-cause source of man’s life in body, soul and spirit. Thus, it is so that God THE LIFE is the definer and supplier of man’s quality of life according to the good pleasure of His own righteousness and holiness.
When we live according to THE WAY and THE TRUTH of God we are blessed by Him to experience goodness in this life according to THE LIFE of God; which He gives us as a now present sense of loving security along with joyous, confident assurance of one day wholly knowing the THE WAY and THE TRUTH of THE LIFE eternal with Him.
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 2/8/2015)
As we conclude this series of sermons on the importance of knowing God’s word, we see that there is still hope for our society today. But in order for revival to occur, God’s children need to turn back to God and get familiar with His word. Only by knowing the word of God can we avoid being destroyed in this life!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 2/8/2015)
In this message from 2015, Pastor Chris McCool continues dealing with what the word of God says about same-sex “marriage”. Many of God’s children today have gotten mixed up on the truth about marriage; why is that? It’s actually very simple: they are ignorant of what the word of God says about this subject. Join us as we continue looking at the question of what God’s word says about marriage.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 2/8/2015)
God told Hosea the prophet, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Notice that this is written to God’s people, NOT the unregenerate reprobate! There were many of God’s children in Hosea’s day who were destroying their lives here on earth because they did not know what God’s word said. Is not this the primary problem among God’s children today? Join us for this message preached back in 2015, as the same-sex marriage law was about to take effect in America. Pastor Chris McCool takes a look at some of the truths of God’s word in regard to this issue, and why it is important for God’s children to know what the Bible says.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 9/6/2015)
Have you ever wondered what the “conclusion of the whole matter is”? Solomon sought out all the pleasures of the world – the lusts of the flesh, and the lusts of the eyes, and the pride of life – and he came to one final conclusion: Fear God! Join us today as Elder Buddy Abernathy preaches to us about fearing God in the way we ought to fear Him.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 7/31/2016)
In the last message, Pastor McCool began to demonstrate through the folly of Samson how sin will blind us, bind us, and ultimately grind us to powder! There is certainly pleasure in sin for season, but the end of the road is death and destruction. Join us as we conclude this sermon about the blinding, binding, grinding effects of sin.
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Happy New Year! I pray that God will bless you all in this upcoming year.
In this world of shifting sand, it seems like fear rules the day. Everywhere we look there is danger, both physical and spiritual! So how are we to approach a world that by its very nature invokes our fear? In this message by Elder Michael Ivey, we learn that God’s will for us is NOT that we live in fear, but that we live in holy boldness before Him! I hope this article helps us all as we venture into the new year!
May the Lord bless you is my prayer!
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
“Fear Not”
An Encouraging Exhortation in the Gospel Narratives of Christ’s Birth
by Elder Michael Ivey
Contained in the gospel narratives of Christ’s birth we find the simple, encouraging phrase “fear not” stated repeatedly.
It was said to Mary when informed she would conceive and deliver God’s Christ: “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” Luke 1:30
It was said to Joseph who was troubled that Mary was with child: “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:20-21
The same was told shepherds when an angel announced God’s Christ who is their Savior was born: “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:10-11
Even Zacharias was told “fear not” when the Angel of the LORD appeared to tell him Elizabeth would have a son he was to name John; and, who would go before Christ preparing a people in the spirit and power of the prophet, Elias. “But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. …. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:13-17
It is certain from these passages God did not want any of whom he first revealed the appearance of Christ on Earth to be afraid. It is also likely that the repetition of “fear not” in the Gospels and its placement at the beginning of announcements of the birth of Christ the Savior is intended to encourage a sense of security and confidence in believers. From this we can infer that believers “fearing not” is in keeping with God’s good will (see Luke 2:14). As such, it is part of God’s desired response from believers to Jesus’ birth, and (by logical extension) His finished work at Calvary; which was the reason for His birth.
From the Angel’s statement to Joseph “fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife” we may also infer “fear not” was not limited to addressing fear that might occur from seeing an angel. Just so, the Angel exhorted Joseph to not be afraid of sinful things others might think, say, or do in reaction to Mary being with child. Also, including “fear not” in statements to the shepherds and Zacharias extends its application beyond Jesus’ immediate family to other believers.
From this we understand a “now salvation” effect of God’s goodwill toward believers is that we not live in fear. It is his loving desire that we be and feel safe; that we not be afraid of perilous circumstances nor uncertain outcomes in this life. This we may do through God given faith in Christ. Therefore, a God pleasing daily reaction from believers to the fact of Jesus’ incarnation and finished work of salvation is: We should “fear not;” but, instead we should worship and praise God by rejoicing as happy recipients of His goodwill and glad tidings.
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 7/31/2016)
In this message, Pastor Chris McCool teaches us about the dire consequences of sin in our lives. In the case of Samson, we find that this young man – who initially carried such promise for the Kingdom of God! – ultimately squandered his potential on sinful pursuits. And he experienced the blinding, binding, grinding effects of his sin!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/4/22)
In our most recent post, we began to look at the Parable of the Sower and the Seed. We were beginning to see that every category in the Parable represents children of God – the only difference are the circumstances in which they hear the gospel. Join us today for the conclusion of this sermon, where we will learn how to approach each of these categories.
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by Elder Chris McCool (preached on 12/4/22)
Most theologians in the religious world interpret the Parable of the Sower and the Seed in a way that they determine only one category – the good ground – represents children of God. But when we rightly divide this passage, we will come to the conclusion that ALL categories are children of God, otherwise the “seed” (the word of God) could not be sown in their hearts! So what does this Parable teach? Join us today and tomorrow for an exposition of this parable and its important ramifications for the Kingdom of God on earth.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/25/2022)
At this time of the year, we seem to see “nativity scenes” set up everywhere, reminding us that the Jesus was born in Bethlehem some 2000 years ago. But have you ever wondered why there had to be a manger in Bethlehem at that particular time, with God Himself becoming Man through the incarnation? In this message, we find out that the birth of Christ occurred in the perfect place and at the perfect time, and that He was indeed the Perfect Man that was needed in order to save His people from their sins!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12-21-22)
In the last post, we were beginning to look at the life of Joseph, the earthly step-father of Jesus. We saw some of his characteristics, and today we continue looking at his life. We will see that faithfulness was the hallmark of his life, and hopefully we will be encouraged to likewise be faithful to God even in the face of difficult circumstances.
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I hope everyone had a very happy holiday! This past weekend was the weekend that we traditionally focus upon the birth of Christ in Bethlehem, and the holiday is supposed to be a time of sweet family fellowship and and reflection reflection.
While this season is supposed to be a time of great joy, it can also be a time of great grief for those who have lost loved ones. How can we deal with grief in times like this? Sorrow can steal our joy if we let it! So how is the child of God to deal with grief? Are we supposed to just stoically bear it? Or is there something more we can look for?
In the article below, Elder Michael Ivey deals with the issue of grief by taking us to the account of Lazarus in John 11. I hope you are encouraged, as I was, by the practical thoughts Bro. Mike shares about grieving in a godly way. I certainly hope that during this holiday season you will be encouraged even in the face of the loss of loved ones.
May the Lord bless you is my prayer!
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
Godly Grieving
by Elder Michael Ivey
“Jesus wept“
…. and then …..
Jesus wept when he arrived at the tomb of his dear friend, Lazarus. Those who witnessed Jesus’ grief marveled and remarked what great love he had for his dead friend. The gospel narrative indicates Lazarus’ two sisters, Mary and Martha also grieved, no doubt as did the others gathered at Lazarus’ tomb.
….. and then .….
Jesus did something truly amazing. He raised Lazarus from the dead! Never before had one been brought back to this life, returned to loved ones as Jesus did for Lazarus. No doubt grief and sorrowing immediately turned to joy and rejoicing!
Jesus did even more when he raised Lazarus. He gave believers the example for godly grieving. Jesus personally sorrowed for his friend and then he did what he could to help others, especially those who like him, grieved the death of Lazarus. Since he had power to raise the dead, that’s what Jesus did. He restored Lazarus’ life and returned him to his loved ones; and thereby relieved their sorrow and pain.
Here then is the lesson: Godly grieving allows us to sorrow and be sad. However, sorrowing is not an end to itself. Its pain is not something we must stoically endure until it fades and finally goes away. The sadness, pain, and sense of loss we feel are all part of grieving, but they are not the whole of the matter.
Godly grief considers the sorrow of others. It gives rise to compassion to do whatever we can to help others who are sad and/or struggling. When we do this God lifts up and comforts our wounded souls and comforts our hurting hearts. He gives us occasion to be thankful and to rejoice that we are able to help another. He also provides a way of comfort and consoling through our efforts for those to whom we minister.
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/21/22)
As we all know, Joseph was the earthly step-father of Jesus. Sometimes, like other Bible characters, we tend to “gloss over” the fact that they were REAL people! Join us today as we look at several characteristics of Joseph, and see that he was faithful in the face of daunting circumstances.
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“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:8-11.
On this special day of the year, I am thankful that He is a successful Savior, Who did not make salvation possible but made it certain to each and every one of His children.
From all of us here at Zion Primitive Baptist Church, may the joys of Christ be with you in this holiday season!
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/18/22)
Today we conclude the message begun yesterday regarding Mary’s status as “highly favored.” While this exalted status was a great blessing to her, it also meant great hardships throughout her life. Ultimately, she was – and we will be – vindicated by the resurrection of Christ! Join us today as we conclude this look at Mary being “highly favored.”
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 12/18/22)
When the angel Gabriel came to Mary to announce the advent of the Christ child, he hailed her as “highly favored.” While this was a high honor, we often gloss over the realities of what it means to be “highly favored.” In this message, we look at the event from the perspective of Mary, and see that her status as “highly favored” did not always feel that way in her life, but ultimately blessed her beyond measure.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/18/22)
Yesterday, we began to look at the helmet of salvation. This item of spiritual armor protects our minds from getting lost in the “fog of war,” the uncertainty that inheres to the spiritual battle of life. Join us today as we conclude this look at the “helmet of salvation”.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 12/18/22)
The term “fog of war” refers to the uncertainty that is inherent in the midst of any battle. The helmet of salvation is given to us to keep our minds focused on the right thing in the midst of the spiritual battles of life! Join us today and tomorrow as we learn more about the importance of this item of spiritual armor.
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We have been looking at the primary enemy of the children of God, which is the devil. We have seen his power and his purposes, and how he operates against us. Today, we want to look at some ways that we can resist him.
James tells us, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7. He would not have told us to “resist” if it were not possible for us to do so! So how can we successfully face off against so powerful an enemy?
The word “resist” used by James means “to stand against, to oppose, to set oneself against.” So the first thing we must do is “set ourselves against” Satan. Too often we try to reach a “compromise” with our enemy, which NEVER works! We must fully set ourselves against him, using all the tools God has given us.
One set of tools that we have is found in Ephesians 6. We are given a list of items of spiritual armor that will help us in this spiritual battle. And while I won’t list them all now, notice that the purpose of the armor is to allow us to “stand.” Eph. 6:10 et seq. We are not engaged in an offensive engagement, but maintaining a defensive posture. You see, the ground that we are holding has already been won! Jesus completely won the war on the cross, and Satan cannot have one inch of it, but he CAN take away your joy while in the Kingdom. Our job is to stand in the conquered territory against the devil who seeks to steal away our enjoyment of it.
Going back to James’ commandment to “resist,” notice that before we resist we must submit! “Submit yourselves therefore to God.” James 4:7. This makes perfect sense, because before someone can be a good soldier he must learn submission to the commander of his own army. “Basic training” consists primarily of teaching a new recruit to follow orders without question! In the case of our spiritual warfare, we must unquestioningly follow the commands of God – “submit” ourselves to Him in faithful obedience. Only then are we able to fully “resist” the devil!
Peter has somewhat to say about the matter as well. You may recall that Peter calls the devil a “roaring lion,” and warns us of his evil intentions. 1 Pet. 5:8. But then he goes on to say this: “Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Pet. 5:9. Notice that he said we should resist Satan “in the faith” – not just “in faith”! Peter is not merely talking about our own personal faith, separate and apart from the word of God and the Kingdom of God. Rather, he is speaking of “THE faith” – that is, the canon of Scripture and the Kingdom (Church) of God!
The world tells you “just have more faith,” and you can be successful against Satan. But God says we must also immerse ourselves in the Scripture and attach ourselves to the Kingdom! The Lone Ranger was a fictional character, and YOU are no Lone Ranger, Child of God! We were designed to be a part of the church, and not to try to “go it alone.” We must be careful to keep our minds focused on the bible, and our bodies present in the church. Otherwise, we may very well lose the blessings of the Kingdom that Christ has already won!
May the Lord bless you is my prayer.
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
We want to let everyone know that Zion Primitive Baptist Church will meet as usual on Sunday morning, December 25, 2022. Worship starts at 10:30 with singing, followed by prayer and preaching.
However, in recognition of the numerous family gatherings that normally occur among our members and visitors on Christmas Day, we have decided to cancel evening services. So while we will meet at 10:30 a.m. as usual, we will NOT meet at 5 p.m. on Sunday night December 25, 2022, in order to give our families more time to gather together.
We here at Zion church wish all a very Happy Holidays! May the joys of Christ be with you in this special time of the year!
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor
by Elder Chris McCool (preached on 12/11/22)
In the last post, we heard the first half of this sermon about the difference between work and worship. Today, we conclude this message by understanding that, although the Kingdom of God indeed requires work, the most needful thing for us is to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear His word! Join us as we learn this essential lesson about our personal relationship with Christ.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/11/22)
In the verses under consideration today, we read about the visit of Jesus to the home of Martha and Mary. These two were sisters, and they were hosting the Savior, but they reacted to His presence in vastly different ways. Martha was a worker, and she was “cumbered about much serving.” Mary, on the other hand, sat at the feet of Jesus while He was there and listened to His word. The lesson here is clear: work is NOT worship! In fact, work can get in the way of worship! Join us as we look at this account and see the proper place that we should be – in the presence of Jesus!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/11/22)
In the last message, we were beginning to look at the shield of faith provided to us as part of our spiritual armor. We continue looking at this shield today, and will see that it is necessary and sufficient to extinguish ALL the fiery darts of the wicked one!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/11/22)
In the spiritual armor given to us as explained in Ephesians 6, the shield of faith is listed as being essential to deflect the long-range attacks of the enemy. We are told that this shield can extinguish ALL the fiery darts of Satan! Join us as we take a look at this shield of faith and learn how we can use it in the spiritual warfare of our lives.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 12/4/22)
Today we continue looking at the Book in the hand of God as seen in Revelation 5. We will find that no man was worthy to take it, but Christ the Lamb of God was worthy! Join us as we continue looking at this Book and what it means.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 12/4/22)
As we continue in the Book of Revelation, we see in Chapter 5 another vision of the throne room of God. In this vision, however, there is a book in the hand of God that no man is worthy to open. As John continues to observe the scene, however, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah – the Lamb of God that was slain from the foundation of the world – prevails to take the book and open it. We will see as we go forward what this book is, but the focus here is on the worthiness of the Lamb!
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 11/6/22)
Today, we conclude our look at Revelation 4, which gives us a view of the throne room of God. This throne room is the centerpiece of heaven, and will be the primary focus of our worship throughout eternity. Join us as Elder Buddy Abernathy shares with us some of the glorious sights that John saw in heaven’s throne room.
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by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 11/6/22)
In this message, Elder Abernathy continues his exposition of the book of Revelation by taking us to the throne room of Heaven in Chapter 4. Much of the language is symbolic, but the gist of it all is that God and His throne are the center of EVERYTHING in heaven!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/27/22)
Today, we continue looking at Jesus as our “better” High Priest. The earthly priests had certain requirements, all of which Christ met and exceeded. And He was NOT a priest after the Levitical order, but after the order of Melchizedek. Join us as we begin to see a little about what this means for us.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/27/22)
As we continue looking at the book of Hebrews, we come to chapter five, which begins the “heart” of the letter. From about this chapter through chapter ten, we deal with the theme of Jesus Christ as our “Great High Priest.” Today, we begin to see how Jesus Christ is indeed our High Priest, and so much better than the earthly high priests provided for under the Law!
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/21/22)
Yesterday we began to look at the boots of the gospel. Today we conclude this message, learning that it is essential to have the RIGHT gospel! Otherwise, you are apt to be overrun by the enemy, or to desert the battle.
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by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/27/22) Are you barefoot in the spiritual battle you face? Or do you have on the proper footwear: the boots of the gospel of peace? In this message, we see that – no … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 9/17/2017) Today’s message is the conclusion to the series by Elder Buddy Abernathy, regarding the right interpretation of “salvation” in Romans 10. We see that the salvation under consideration is not eternal, but timely, … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 9/17/2017) In today’s message, Elder Buddy Abernathy continues his exposition of Romans 10. His purpose is to rightly divide this chapter, which has been so misunderstood by so many in the religious world! I … Read More
By Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 9-17-2017) Yesterday, we began posting a four-part series preached by Elder Buddy Abernathy back in 2017, regarding being ready to answer those who believe Romans 10 is referring to eternal salvation. We have begun … Read More
Last week, we began looking at the devil, who is the third of our “trinity of enemies”. We saw that he is, by definition, our adversary! And he is a lying slanderer, who will not only slander and accuse you … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 9/17/2017) In this message, Elder Buddy Abernathy takes us to Romans 10 and prepares us to answer those who believe that “saved” in this chapter means eternal salvation. He shows us that, rather than … Read More
by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 11/20/22) Yesterday we began looking at how the sin of Achan affected everyone in Israel. Likewise, the sin in our lives affects everyone around us. Listen today as we conclude this message, with … Read More
by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 11/20/22) In this message, Elder John Morgan Owens shares the account of Achan, who kept some of the accursed spoil from the battle of Jericho, which God had forbidden. The result was that … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/20/22) Yesterday we began to look at Hebrews 4:12, which speaks of the “word of God.” We saw that the context demands that we understand this to mean the Living Word of God, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/20/22) In Hebrews 4:12, we read about the “word of God” that is “quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword.” Many people misinterpret this passage as referring to the written or … Read More
Having looked at two of our spiritual enemies (the world and the flesh), today we want to begin talking about the final – and perhaps the most sinister – enemy: the devil. The very name of the devil declares him … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 11-13-22) Yesterday we began looking at the “breastplate of righteousness”, which is the second piece of spiritual armor given to us in the daily spiritual battles of life. We asked the question, “Is your … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/13/22) The question is often asked in the religious world, “Is your heart right with God?” In most cases, the implication is that a sinner has to get himself right in order to … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 2/14/21) Yesterday, we began looking at the omniscience of God. We live in a world of great uncertainty, where the spiritual battles rage and we lack the information we need to fight solo against … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 2/14/21) One of the primary attributes of God is His omniscience. God knows EVERYTHING! There is nothing that has ever been, or that exists now, or that will ever be, that God does … Read More
by Elder Craig Blair (preached on 11/13/22) In today’s message, we hear about our eternal security in Christ from Elder Craig Blair, pastor of Tuscaloosa Primitive Baptist Church. Although the message is fairly short, it is a powerful reminder that … Read More
by Elder Tim McCool (preached on 11/13/22) In this message from Psalms 74, Elder Tim McCool, pastor of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church near Echola, Alabama, reminds us that the sin and trouble of this world will not last forever. There … Read More
Last week, we began looking at the “trinity” of enemies that we face as children of God. We examined the first enemy – the world – and saw that its “course” is against us. Today, we turn to the second … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/6/22) Yesterday, we began looking at the spiritual armor that God has provided for His children. The first item is the “girdle” (or “belt”) of truth. The child of God MUST be grounded … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/6/22) Having looked at the fact that we are engaged in a spiritual warfare, we now turn to the spiritual armor provided by God. Praise His name, He has not left us defenseless! … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 8/21/2020) Is the word of God our priority? The Bible makes it clear that our only source of truth and wisdom is the word itself. Join us as we conclude this message about … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 8/23/2020) Is the Word of God our life’s priority? In today’s message, Pastor Chris McCool begins to share with us why the word of God ought to be the authority in our lives, … Read More
Over the past few weeks, I have been preaching a series on “spiritual warfare” and the “spiritual armor” that we have as children of God. I have been feeling burdened to share some of my thoughts on these two important … Read More
by Elder Tim McCool (preached 4/21/2012) In this powerful message, Elder Tim McCool shares words of instruction and encouragement in revival. There are many things the world tries to add to the church in order to bring revival, but the … Read More
by Elder Mark Quarles (preached on 10/30/22) Elder Mark Quarles, pastor of Providence Primitive Baptist Church in Stringer, MS, recently brought a powerful message about the importance of the inspiration and preservation of the Bible. In the second half of … Read More
by Elder Mark Quarles (preached on 10/29/22) We believe the Bible is the inspired word of God. Literally, it is “God-breathed.” We also believe that the King James Version is the preserved word of God in English. Join us today … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/30/22) In the last post, we began looking at the third of our trinity of enemies: the flesh. The flesh is always with us, and it is against us! The “carnal mind,” we … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/30/22) As we have already seen, there is a trinity of spiritual enemies of God’s people: the devil, the world, and the flesh. Having already dealt with the devil and the world, today … Read More
Last week I shared the first part of an article by Elder Michael Ivey regarding the encouragement we find in the true gospel of grace. Today, I am posting the remaining part of the article. The doctrines of grace should … Read More
by Bro. McNeil Honea (preached on 10/23/22) Yesterday, we heard the first half of a sermon on “Talents” by Bro. McNeil Honea, who is exercising a preaching gift under the authority of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church near Echola, Alabama. We … Read More
by Bro. McNeil Honea (preached on 10/23/22) In this sermon, Bro. McNeil Honea, who is exercising a preaching gift under the authority of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church near Echola, Alabama, delivers an excellent exposition of the Parable of the Talents. … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/23/22) Today’s message is the second half of a sermon about “gospel rest.” There is no doubt from Scripture that Christ paid the debt for every single one of His elect children; however, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/23/22) In this sermon, we see that there is only one way that a child of God can find any rest in this world: by believing the true gospel message! The true gospel … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 10/16/22) Today we conclude a message begun yesterday, regarding the world as our enemy. The philosophies of this world are diametrically opposed to the Kingdom of God, and we need to be aware of … Read More
In today’s edition of “Monday Minutes,” I want to share the first half of another article by Elder Michael Ivey, pastor of Unity Primitive Baptist Church in Moss Point, MS. This article deals with how the truth of God’s grace … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 10/16/22) Last time, we saw that the devil is our primary enemy. We learned his tactics, and discovered biblical principles on how to resist him. Today, we begin looking at a second enemy: the … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 10/16/22) Yesterday we began to look at the wiles of the devil. Today, we continue examining how he attacks God’s children, and how they can resist him “in the faith.” Download Audio File
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 10/16/22) I don’t think anyone could argue that we are in a constant state of spiritual war! Our trinity of enemies – the world, the flesh, and the devil – are all against us, … Read More
by Elder Matt Sonstegard (preached on 3-18-22) In this sermon, also from our 2018 Annual Meeting, Elder Matt Sonstegard of Lindsay, California, preaches from Galatians 6 about the accomplishment and application of salvation. Christ accomplished our eternal salvation on the … Read More
by Elder Matt Sonstegard (preached on 3-17-2018) During our 2018 Annual Meeting, Elder Matt Sonstegard, of Lindsay CA, preached to us about “prayer.” He used Nehemiah’s first prayer in chapter 1 of Nehemiah. We learned that prayer is the lifeline … Read More
In today’s edition of “Monday Minutes,” I want to share another article by Elder Michael Ivey, Pastor of Unity Primitive Baptist Church in Moss Point, MS. This article gives us an interesting and enlightening perspective on what the gospel really … Read More
by Elder Matt Sonstegard (preached on 3-17-2018) Today, we begin posting a series of three sermons by Elder Matt Sonstegard, pastor of Bethel Primitive Baptist Church of Lindsay, California, which were preached at our Annual Meeting in 2018. In this … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10-10-22) In the last post, we began looking at Moses and Christ, and were beginning to see how much better Christ is than Moses! Today, we continue looking at this idea of Christ … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10-10-22) One of the prevalent themes of the Book of Hebrews can be summed up in one word: “better.” Christ is better than the angels, the new covenant is better than the old, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10-10-22) Yesterday we saw that the Kingdom of God is here and near to us; today we turn to the first two rules of this new spiritual Kingdom. In order to fully participate … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10-10-22) When John and Jesus began to preach that the Kingdom of God is “at hand,” the Jews of the day were perplexed! They were expecting some kind of political kingdom, but the … Read More
Eph. 3:20-21: “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” On May 15, 1847 – 175 years ago – seven people came together to constitute Zion Primitive Baptist Church. This is … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 10/2/22) In today’s message, Bro. Buddy continues a review of our study of Revelation thus far. He has been dealing with the work of the Holy Spirit as found in Chapter 4, and today … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 10/2/22) Since it has been a few weeks since we visited the book of Revelation, Elder Buddy Abernathy engages in a brief review of what we have seen in Chapter 4 so far. We … Read More
In today’s post, we share a portion of the song service from the time that Elder Martin Onyoni visited with us. It was truly a Spirit-filled night, and the song service got it all “kicked off”! Although we cannot capture … Read More
by Elder Martin Onyoni (preached on 10/2/22) In this message, Elder Martin Onyoni, Pastor of the First Primitive Baptist Church of Kisii, Kenya, encourages us to let our lights shine in a dark world! As the world grows darker and … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 9/6/2020) In the last sermon post, we heard from King David that he “loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.” (Ps. 26:8). Elder Buddy Abernathy shows us so … Read More
In today’s hyper-politicized world, we are tempted to engage the enemies of God at a visceral, carnal level. When we see ungodly actions taken by our leaders, we are sometimes lured into the worldly thinking that everything in our country … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 9/6/2020) In speaking of the House of the Lord, King David declared, “LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.” (Ps. 26:8). Elsewhere, he fervently affirms, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 2/28/21) In today’s message, we conclude a sermon on the “Roman Road to Salvation” preached by Elder Chris McCool a few months ago. We see from Scripture that, although the religious world teaches … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 2/28/21) Have you ever heard someone in the denominational world talk about the “Roman Road to Salvation?” In almost every case, they are referring to steps that a person must follow in order … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/25/22) In a world of complications, simplicity is refreshing! In the religious world, there are all kinds of complicated schemes that man must follow in order to be eternally saved. But what does … Read More
by Bro. Kenneth Nowell (preached on 9/18/22) In today’s message, Bro. Kenneth Nowell, who has been exercising a preaching gift under the authority of Piney Grove Primitive Baptist Church in Headland, Alabama, brings an encouraging sermon about faith and faithfulness. … Read More
In today’s edition of “Monday Minutes,” I am sharing a recent article by Elder Michael Ivey on the subject of “faith.” Faith has been much on my mind lately, as I struggle through the storms of life. The more we … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/18/22) In the first half of this message, we looked at the question of what happens when we die. Today, we conclude by asking the question, “What happens when Jesus Returns?” Is there … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/18/22) As we continue our look at Article 8 of our Articles of Faith, we ask the question today, “What happens when we die?” There are many theories in the world, but what … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/11/22) Last time we began looking at Article 8 of our Articles of Faith, which deals with the “end times” and the Second Coming of Christ. In order to understand eschatology, we saw … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/11/22) Article Eight of our Articles of Faith reads as follows: “We believe in a resurrection of the dead and a general judgment and that the felicity (joy) of the righteous and the … Read More
by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 9/11/22) In this conclusion to his recent message on “famine,” Elder John Morgan Owens brings us through some other examples from the Scripture about how to (and how NOT to!) handle famine in … Read More
In today’s edition of “Monday Minutes,” I want to share a recent article by Elder Buddy Abernathy explaining 1 Pet. 3:18-20. This passage has sometimes given people problems, but I believe Bro. Buddy has done a very good job in … Read More
by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 9/11/22) What are you going to do when the famine comes for you? In this two-part message, Elder John Morgan Owens takes us through several examples from the word of God about people … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 6/14/2020) In the last post, we shared the first half of a sermon about Abraham, and the cities near which he pitched his tents. Remember that he was a wanderer who never built … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 6/14/2020) Abraham was a wanderer who never built any permanent cities, but rather dwelt in tents. But as he moved around the Middle East, he often encamped near some larger cities. In this … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/29/2015) Yesterday, we began to look at the places where Abraham pitched his tents. His choice of location is analogous to the choices facing us today. As we conclude this message, we see … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 11/29/2015) Abraham never built cities, but lived a nomadic life dwelling only in tents. In this sermon, we take a look at the places where Abraham pitched his tents. Depending on the location, Abraham … Read More
Over the past few weeks, we have been dealing with the topic of eternal security, asking the question, “Can a child of God ‘fall from grace’ in the sense of losing his eternal salvation?” We have seen, through the writings … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 3/11/2018) In the last message, we began to look at the purpose of the preaching of the gospel. We began to see that the work of Christ was completely finished, whereas the work … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 3/11/2018) In this message, we begin to look at the purpose of the preaching of the gospel. These verses in Hebrews sets forth clearly the work of Christ versus the purpose of preaching … Read More
by Elder Craig Blair (preached on 9/4/22) In the first half of this message, we began to see that a child of God ought to persevere in discipleship and faith. We saw that the Bible does not teach that a … Read More
by Elder Craig Blair (preached on 9/4/22) The Bible has much to say about perseverance. The world often gets this doctrine wrong: they teach that one MUST persevere in order to maintain his or her status as a child of … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/4/22) In the first half of this message, we saw that the fact of God’s predestinating grace means that we are going somewhere! No matter how much drudgery we face in life, even … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/4/22) Do you ever find yourself “spinning your wheels” in life? Does it seem like you’re going nowhere in your career, your social life, your family life? Cheer up, Child of God: you … Read More
In the last two editions of “Monday Minutes,” we shared an article by Elder C.H. Cayce on the topic of “from from grace.” I cannot presume to improve upon his writings, but I feel a burden to continue looking at … Read More
by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 8/28/22) Today we conclude the message “Beauty for Ashes,” as we see how gracious our Lord is to exchange the broken things of our life for the blessings of His grace. We saw … Read More
by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached on 8/28/22) In today’s message, Elder John Morgan Owens begins to teach from the Scripture how the Lord can exchange the “ashes” of your life for the beauty of His blessings! Join us today … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 8/28/22) In today’s post, we conclude the message begun yesterday on the subject of “fear not.” In Isa. 43:1-7, God speaks through the voice of Isaiah, and tells us that He will be … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 8/28/22) In this sin-cursed world, we face many trials and tribulations. Often we are made to fear, because the trouble is so great and the trial so intense. But Isaiah tells us, “Fear … Read More
Last week, we began looking at an article by Elder C.H. Cayce on the topic of “Falling From Grace.” Can a child of God be eternally saved one day, and lost the next? The clear answer from Scripture is “no”, … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 8/21/22) Today we conclude the first message by Elder Buddy Abernathy on chapter four of Revelation, where we begin to see a vision of Heaven itself. Remember, we are to see this view of … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on 8/21/22) In today’s message, Elder Buddy Abernathy moves on into chapter four of Revelation, where we begin to see a vision of Heaven itself. We have been looking at the letters from Christ to … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 8/21/22) Today we continue our look at the communion service, which is a clear representation of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. The unleavened bread represents the broken body of Christ, and … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 8/21/22) Article 7 of the Zion Primitive Baptist Church Articles of Faith deals both with baptism and the communion service. Today we begin looking at the communion service, and how it was instituted … Read More
by Elder Lonnie Mozingo, Jr. (preached on 8/17/22) In today’s post, we conclude the message by Elder Lonnie Mozingo, Jr., about the expectations of the Christian. We learn that the final end of the Christian is the best end of … Read More
In my recent studies, I was reading in Hebrews 6:4-6, which states, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew … Read More
by Elder Lonnie Mozingo, Jr. (preached on 8/17/22) In this marvelous message of encouragement, Elder Lonnie Mozingo, Jr., tells us of the “great expectations” that Christians have in the Lord. the Bible sets forth promises about our expected end, that … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 8/14/22) Today we continue our look at Romans 10, where we have already seen that the zeal spoken of in verse 2 is a zeal “of God.” That is, the zeal is a zeal … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 8/14/22) In Romans 10, Paul expresses a zeal for the salvation of certain of his kinsmen among the Jews. He tells us that they have a “zeal of God”, but that it was an … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 8/7/22) Yesterday we started this message, about when Jesus Christ – Who was fully God, and completely divine! – became flesh in order to deliver His people from the eternal curse of sin. We … Read More
Last week, I shared the first part of an article by Elder Buddy Abernathy regarding baptism. In that portion of the article, Bro. Buddy began to deal with the issue of “time” versus “eternal” salvation. Today, we conclude that article … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 8/7/22) There is no doubt that God is greater than man, and different from us in so many essential ways! He truly is the great “Other” – He is categorically “Other” than us! But … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 8/7/22) Today we conclude a message begun yesterday by Elder Abernathy concerning the Laodicean church. You may recall that this church was “lukewarm,” and therefore facing the chastening of God. But today we see that, … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 8/7/22) In today’s message, Elder Abernathy reviews the situation that the Laodicean church found itself in, and describes the conditions that made it ripe for “lukewarmness.” As he continues examining this church, he teaches us … Read More
by Elder Josh Coker (preached 7/31/22) In today’s message, Elder Josh Coker, Pastor of Vestavia Primitive Baptist Church, preaches a powerful message about Peter’s message on the day of Pentecost. He reminds us that Peter stood up, as we should, … Read More
Today, I want to share the first part of an article written by Elder Buddy Abernathy regarding the issue of baptism, and its role in our lives. Is water baptism necessary for our eternal salvation, or is there some other … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 7/31/22) In our last podcast episode, we began looking at what the Bible teaches about WHO should be baptized. Many religious denominations teach that infants and others who cannot exercise faith in believing in … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 7/31/22) Today we look at “believers baptism,” which has been the historic position of the Baptist church. We begin by looking at the way in which John baptized, and others in scripture, and ultimately … Read More
by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached 7-31-22) Yesterday, Elder Owens began looking at the Ebenezer stones in our lives. “Ebenezer” simply means “a stone of help,” and was a memorial to the power of God in the deliverance of the … Read More
by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached 7-31-22) After a great victory over the Philistines, Samuel set up a stone that he called “Ebenezer”. This name literally means “a stone of help.” The purpose of the Ebenezer stone was to remind … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 10-11-2020) In today’s message, we conclude our exploration of the problem of evil in the world. From a biblical standpoint, we have seen that God is not the author of evil, nor does He … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 10-11-22) In today’s post, we continue our series on the atheist’s objection to the existence of God based on the presence of evil in the world. We have seen that God is not the … Read More
*I apologize for last week; I was unable to post due to all the activity surrounding the imminent arrival of my first grandson. He is here, and healthy, and thank you for all the prayers! As I scanned over the … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 10-11-2020) Today, we continue looking at the problem of the existence of evil in the world. Remember, we are looking at this issue from a biblical perspective, NOT a philosophical perspective! In order to … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 10-11-20) One of the primary arguments made by atheists to disprove the existence of God is the problem of evil in the world. They say that, if God were truly God and truly good, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 7/10/22) In the conclusion to yesterday’s message about responding to Babylonian influences around us, we learn that we should always stay faithful to our faithful God! Ultimately, we may be thrown into a fiery … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 7/10/22) Friends, it appears that we live in a Babylonian world system. The wicked influences of our modern society are not content to leave the Christian alone, but rather seek constantly to undermine our … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (7/17/22) Today, we conclude the message begun yesterday about how we should view baptism. Baptism is NOT a means of eternal life, but rather a timely deliverance here and now. Join us as we learn … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 7/17/22) Today we turn to the proper understanding of baptism – that is, what does baptism actually do? Does it somehow save us eternally? Or is there some other salvation under consideration in these … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 7/10/22) Article Seven of the Articles of Faith of Zion Primitive Baptist Church deals with the two ordinances of the Lord’s church: baptism, and the Lord’s Supper (communion). Today, we look at the proper … Read More
by Elder Adam Green (preached 7/17/22) In today’s message, we want to share with you one of the most apt and uplifting descriptions of the Lord Jesus Christ as conquering Savior that is found in Scripture. The question is asked, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 5/22/22) In the second half of this sermon, we see that our focus must NOT be on the things of this world, but rather our focus must be on Jesus. Otherwise, as we realize … Read More
Last week, we examined the account of the three Hebrew children who refused to bow to the idol of gold. We saw such similarities between that day and our day! Just like in that day, the Babylonian world system in … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 5/22/22) In Hebrews Chapter 2, we are told that all things are in subjection under the feet of Jesus. This includes all of the consequences of sin in this world, including death. However, in … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 7/3/22) In this conclusion to yesterday’s message, we learn that negligence is sometimes a greater issue than rebellion for God’s people. Certainly, when we are rebellious we can expect bad consequences; however, it is … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 7/3/22) As we continue our series on the Book of Hebrews, we read in the second chapter that we must be diligent in regard to the things we have heard, and not to let … Read More
Today we conclude our study of the new birth, as affirmed by Article Six of the Articles of Faith of Zion Primitive Baptist Church. As we saw in the first half of this sermon, posted yesterday, the new birth brings … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 7/3/22) In today’s message, we continue looking at the new birth as set forth in Scripture, and affirmed through Article Six of the Articles of Faith of Zion Primitive Baptist Church. In this sermon, … Read More
In Daniel 3:1, we read that “Nebuchadnezzar the king made an image of gold. . . .” You may recall that Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon, which had taken the nation of Judah captive pursuant to God’s chastening hand. … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 6/5/22) In the last post, we heard the first half of this sermon that deals with two statements of Scripture that appear to contradict: Heb. 1:4 and Heb. 2:7. We began seeing how much … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 6/5/22) In the first two chapters of Hebrews, we find two statements that appear to contradict. In Heb. 1:4, we are told that Jesus was made “so much better than” the angels, and yet … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 6/26/22) As we saw in yesterday’s post, our Savior is high and exalted. But as we continue on this thought, we see that He not only was and is the Holy One of heaven, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 6/26/22) The gods of the pagan world were seen as highly exalted and unapproachable. The Lord Jesus Christ is also high and exalted, and yet He is eminently approachable. According to Scripture, He is … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 6/12/22) In the last post, we began looking at the context of John 3:16 in order to understand that this well-known verse is NOT a verse about eternal salvation, but about eternal security. And … Read More
Today is Independence Day, a day to be celebrated annually because of the fact that we live in a nation founded on liberty. I am so thankful that the Lord blessed me to be born in this great country, where … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 6/12/22) John 3:16 is often misunderstood by the religious world, but the context shows us that this is an eternal security verse, and not an eternal salvation verse. Join us in the next two … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 6/26/22) Today’s message concludes Bro. Abernathy’s examination of “chastening” in Scripture. We certainly do not enjoy chastening while it is occurring; it can be painful and scarring! But as we see from this message, chastening … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 6/26/22) In today’s sermon, Bro. Abernathy examines verse 19 of Revelation chapter 3, which deals with the subject of “chastening”. We learn much from the Scripture about chastening: that God is a good Father who … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 6/19/22) Today’s message is the conclusion of the second message preached by Bro. Abernathy on the letter to the Laodicean church. In this message, we continue exploring what it means to be “lukewarm,” and how … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 6/19/22) In today’s sermon, Elder Buddy Abernathy continues our look at the letter to the Laodicean church that is found in Revelation 3. He gives us a further description of the problem of lukewarmness, and … Read More
Today, I am sharing another article by Elder Buddy Abernathy. In this article, Bro. Buddy emphasizes the importance of believing and trusting in Jesus. As Primitive Baptists, we certainly do not believe that “belief” is a prerequisite to the new … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 6/5/22) We continue today looking at “lukewarmness” in a church, and exploring ways to avoid this condition. Bro. Buddy tells us how we get there, and how to get out of that condition: by remembering … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 6/5/22) According to Christ, the Laodicean church was lukewarm in its zeal for the Kingdom. In this message, Elder Buddy Abernathy explores what it means to be “lukewarm,” and how we can avoid this problem … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 6/19/22) Today we continue our examination of Article Six of the Articles of Faith of Zion Church. This article deals with our belief that all of God’s elect children will be born again at … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 6/19/22) In Article Six of the Articles of Faith of Zion Primitive Baptist Church, we read the following: “We believe that God’s elect shall be called and regenerated and sanctified by the Holy Ghost.” … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 6/12/22) In the last post, we began to look at the topic of “justification by faith,” which takes place in the courtroom of the heart and mind of the child of God. Today, we … Read More
I want to share an article written by Elder Buddy Abernathy on the subject of “healing.” We often hear about “divine healers” today, which claim to have the ability to call down the power of God for physical healing under … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 6/12/22) We have looked at the biblical concept of “justification by grace alone,” and seen that our eternal justification occurs without regard to the exercise of our faith or works. However, the Bible clearly … Read More
by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached 5/22/22) Yesterday, we heard the first half of this weighty message about orphans, preached by Elder John Morgan Owens. We learned that our duties toward our fellow man include the orphans of this world, … Read More
by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached 5/22/22) In the Bible, we often read about those who are fatherless – the orphans of this world. We live in a world where children are cast aside like unwanted baggage, even aborted on … Read More
by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached 5/18/22) In Mark’s gospel, we read about a time when Jesus sent His disciples to get a little donkey’s colt, on whom never a man had sat, and bring it to Him to ride … Read More
Today I want to share an article written by Elder Buddy Abernathy on the topic of loving your enemies. When Jesus commanded his disciples to do this, they were no doubt astonished! But prosperous Kingdom living requires that we love … Read More
by Elder Michael Ivey (preached in 2018 at Bethel PBC in Calabash, NC) Matthew 13 contains seven parables of the Kingdom of God. In each parable, Jesus sets forth some truth about the Kingdom that was (and is) important for … Read More
by Elder Craig Blair (preached 5/29/22) In the conclusion to this powerful message, Elder Craig Blair focuses in on the attire we need as we labor int he Kingdom. The garments of the garden are essential to a profitable walk … Read More
by Elder Craig Blair (preached 5/29/22) In this powerful message, Elder Craig Blair tells us about putting on the “clothes” that are required in the Kingdom of God. We certainly have armor that we need to wear when facing the … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 5/29/22) In today’s message, which is the conclusion to a message begun yesterday, we see more about the justification that we have through the blood of Jesus Christ. Ultimately, we see that – in … Read More
We live in a world that is cursed by sin. That fact is always present, but sometimes the sin curse manifests itself more than others. That was the case last Monday, when we received word that Mason’s first best friend … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 5/29/22) In Article Five of the Articles of Faith of Zion Primitive Baptist Church, we find the following language: We believe that sinners are justified only in the sight of God by the imputed … Read More
Ordination service conducted on 5/14/22 In this final post of the ordination of Elder John Morgan Owens, we have one of the finest charges I have ever heard in an ordination service. Elder David Crawford, pastor of MacClenny Primitive Baptist … Read More
Ordination conducted on 5/14/22 In this second post of the ordination service of Elder John Morgan Owens, we have the ordination prayer by Elder Mike Ivey of Unity Primitive Baptist Church in Moss Point Mississippi, along with the charge of … Read More
Today is Memorial Day, when we remember those who gave their lives in service to this country. May God bless their families, now and always! And may we never forget: the freedoms we enjoy – especially the freedom to worship … Read More
Ordination service conducted on May 14, 2022 In the next three posts, we are sharing portions of the ordination service for Elder John Morgan Owens, a member who has been exercising a divine call to preach for several years under … Read More
by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached 5/14/22) Today’s message is the conclusion of a sermon by Elder John Morgan Owens, preached on the occasion of his ordination as an Elder. In this message, he shares with us how that we … Read More
by Elder John Morgan Owens (preached 5/14/22) Today’s message is the first half of a sermon preached by Elder John Morgan Owens on the occasion of his ordination to the work of the full gospel ministry. In this message, the … Read More
by Elder Mike Ivey (preached 5/14/22) In this conclusion to the message begun yesterday, we learn that our view of Christ affects everything in our lives. We should always see Him as He is, the sovereign Lord of this universe, … Read More
Last week, we began looking at the rich young ruler of Matthew 19. We have been looking at instances in the Scripture involving the two different types of salvation taught in the Bible: “eternal” salvation versus “time” salvation. Time salvation … Read More
by Elder Mike Ivey (preached 5/14/22) If you’ve ever felt stressed out, burdened down, depressed, or discontent, it’s probably because you don’t have the proper view of Christ. When the Greek Jews came looking for Jesus, they said, “Sir, we … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 5/15/22) The Philadelphia church, while it had no need for Christ’s criticism, had much need for Christ’s strength! In this message, Elder Buddy Abernathy explains how Jesus showed them how they needed His strength to … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 5/15/22) The letter to the Philadelphia church is the sixth letter written from Jesus by the hand of John in the Book of Revelation. It is the only letter in which there is no criticism … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 5/8/22) In the last podcast episode, we began to look at the raven and the dove released by Noah in Genesis 8. We learned about the nature of the raven, which was at home … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 5/8/22) In the 8th chapter of Genesis, we read about the waters of the Flood beginning to recede from the earth. In order to see if the waters still prevailed upon the earth, Noah … Read More
As we have already learned, there are two different types of salvation taught in the word of God. One type is eternal salvation, which is solely and wholly in the hand of God; the other is what I often hear … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 7/5/20) In today’s message, Bro. Buddy concludes his study on the word “world”, and demonstrates from Scripture that the concept of “world” does not alway refer to everyone everywhere. Rather, it almost always refers to … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 7/5/20) The religious world interprets the word “world” in John 3:16 to mean all people of Adam’s posterity. But is that an accurate definition of the word? Elder Buddy Abernathy takes us through Scripture in … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 5/8/22) In the first half of this message, we began looking at Article Four of the Articles of Faith of Zion Primitive Baptist Church: We believe in the doctrine of original sin and impotency … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 5/8/22) Having looked extensively at the doctrine of election over the past few weeks, we turn now to Article Four of the Articles of Faith of Zion Primitive Baptist Church: We believe in the … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 12/19/21) In Genesis 49, we read about Jacob blessing his children before he dies. In blessing Judah, he declares that “the sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come. . … Read More
Last week, we began to look at the difference between “time” and “eternal” salvation. Both of these types of salvation are taught in the Scripture, but many (if not most) in the religious world only ever interpret the word “saved” … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 12/19/21) In Genesis 49, we read about Jacob blessing his children before he dies. In blessing Judah, he declares that “the sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come. . … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 5/1/22) In the second half of the sermon begun yesterday, we see that one of the strongest encouragements Jesus gave to the few remaining faithful members was that He would not “blot out” their names … Read More
Zion Primitive Baptist Church wishes to invite you to the ordination service of Bro. John Morgan Owens to the office of Elder. This special service will take place on May 14, 2022, beginning at 10 a.m. The morning service will … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 5/1/22) As we continue looking at the letter to Sardis, we see that this church – which had a name that it was alive, but is actually “dead,” according to Jesus – is given some … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 5/1/22) Today we conclude the message that we began yesterday on the topic of “perseverance through grace.” The idea of this article of our articles of faith is that God, through His divine power, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 5/1/22) In our articles of faith, we find the following language: “We believe in . . . the final perseverance of the saints through grace. . . .” What does this mean? Does this … Read More
One of the most basic doctrinal differences between Primitive Baptists and most of the rest of the religious world involves our understanding of the term “saved” or “salvation” in the Scriptures. Most people read the Bible and think that every … Read More
by Bro. John Morgan Owens (preached 4-24-22) In today’s message, we conclude a sermon by Bro. John Morgan Owens on the topic of “light.” We saw last time that God is the Creator and Source of all light, and we … Read More
by Bro. John Morgan Owens (preached 4/24/22) In this sermon, Bro. John Morgan Owens takes us through the Scriptures in dealing with the subject of “light.” We see that God is the Creator and Source of all light in the … Read More
by Elder Lonnie Mozingo, Jr. (preached 4/24/22) Today, we conclude the sermon by Elder Lonnie Mozingo Jr. regarding the true worship of God. As he demonstrates from Scripture, there are many places where the children of God congregate, and where … Read More
by Elder Lonnie Mozingo, Jr. (preached 4/24/22) In the first part of this message, Elder Lonnie Mozingo, Jr., lays out the case for the fact that the true worship of God today is found only in the Kingdom of God, … Read More
(*Disclaimer: Much of this article is taken from material written recently by Elder Buddy Abernathy. It made me think about this passage, and I have incorporated much of his writing into this article). Whenever we read verses which use expressions … Read More
by Elder Rickey Harcrow (preached 5/30/21) Today’s sermon is a wonderful message preached by Elder Rickey Harcrow on the fifth Sunday night in May, 2021. Bro. Rickey set forth the principle that the Lord Jesus Christ was the perfect, sinless, … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 4/17/22) We continue today in the Book of Revelation, looking at the letter of Jesus Christ to the Church at Sardis. This church looked alive, but was really dead according to God. Elder Buddy Abernathy … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 4/17/22) In today’s message, Elder Buddy Abernathy continues his series from the Book of Revelation. In the last message he preached from Revelation, Bro. Buddy began to deal with the letter to the church at … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 4/17/22) In this sermon, we conclude our look at Paul’s defense of the Resurrection in 1 Cor. 15. He shows through Scripture and clear logic that the Resurrection must be real, because Christ’s Resurrectiot … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 4/17/22) The Resurrection of Christ is an absolute necessity to the success of His work. If He did not rise again, then He was just a charlatan as the Pharisees said! But the Corinthian … Read More
We conclude today with the “Questions and Answers” article written by my brother, Elder Tim McCool. These questions and scriptural answers will help anyone who wishes to learn more about Primitive Baptists and their beliefs! May the Lord bless you … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 4/10/22) Today’s message continues and concludes our thoughts about the two objections to the doctrine of election that Paul deals with in Romans 9. In the first half of this message, we primarily dealt … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 4/10/22) In this message, we begin to look at two primary objections that are often raised to the doctrine of election. Paul deals with both in Romans 9: the first is the “Fairness” Objection, … Read More
Today we conclude our look at Jesus’ use of natural phenomena to illustrate spiritual truths, as found in John 3:1-8. Yesterday we focused primarily upon the “womb” as an illustration of regeneration; today we conclude with a look at the … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 11-14-21) In the third chapter of John’s gospel, we read about an encounter between Jesus and a man named Nicodemus. When Nicodemus, a leader of the Jewish religion, came to Jesus by night, Jesus … Read More
by Elder Mike Ivey (preached 4/10/22) In this marvelous message, Elder Mike Ivey points us to the “mystery of godliness”, and declares from Scripture that we have ALWAYS been in Christ Jesus, both from eternity past and for eternity future! … Read More
In today’s post, we want to continue looking at some questions and answers about Primitive Baptists. This is an article written by my brother, Elder Tim McCool, and it deals with many subjects about which many people have questions about … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 4/3/22) Today, we continue looking at the problems at Sardis. Bro. Buddy reminds us that these issues are not unique to the 1st Century, but rather can still afflict us today. Download Audio File
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 4/3/22) Today, Elder Buddy Abernathy begins looking at the letter to the church at Sardis. This church had a reputation for being alive, but God says the church had some serious problems. In fact, He … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 4/3/22) Yesterday we began to look at the question “Wherein hast thou loved us?” We saw that Jacob (a representative of God’s people) was no different than Esau (a representative of those who are … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 4/3/22) In the first chapter of Malachi, the Lord tells us that His people have asked the question, “Wherein hast thou loved us?” Through the voice of Malachi, God proceeds to tell them how … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 3/27/22) Do you find yourself facing enemies in this world? In Deuteronomy 20, Moses gave instructions from God to the nation of Israel about how to face their enemies when they came into the … Read More
For the next couple of weeks, I want to share a set of questions and answers written several years ago by my brother, Elder Tim McCool, pastor of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church in Echola, Alabama. These questions and answers concern … Read More
by Bro. John Morgan Owens (preached 3/27/22) Today’s message is the conclusion to Bro. John Morgan’s sermon on the disfigurement that sin brings. He clearly sets forth that, although we have been disfigured – indeed, plunged into spiritual death – … Read More
by Bro. John Morgan Owens (preached 3/27/21) In the first half of this message, Bro. John Morgan Owens preaches to us about how sin disfigures us. It can certainly do so in a physical way – sickness, disease, and amputation … Read More
by Elder Ronald Lawrence (preached 3/19/22) In this conclusion to the message from yesterday, Bro. Ronald finishes his exposition of the account of the ten lepers that were cleansed, and exhorts us to be like the one Samaritan who returned … Read More
by Elder Ronald Lawrence (preached 3/19/22) As the children of God, we ought to always be thankful. In this account, we see Jesus healing 10 lepers, but only one – a Samaritan – returned to thank Him! May we learn … Read More
by Elder Ronald Lawrence (preached 3/19/22) Today, we conclude the message by Elder Ronald Lawrence regarding Jesus teaching on being a good neighbor. We see that Jesus sets forth this principle so clearly in the account of the Good Samaritan, … Read More
Not too many years ago, I was talking to a pastor friend of mine about the doctrines of grace. He told me about an encounter with a lady who did not believe these doctrines, and said that he took her … Read More
by Elder Ronald Lawrence (preached 3/19/22) In the first half of this message, Elder Ronald Lawrence begins to set forth the principle of loving thy neighbor that Jesus demonstrates through the account of the Good Samaritan. The lawyer who asked … Read More
by Elder Craig Blair (preached 3/19/22) In this message, we learn of the great Comforter that Jesus promised upon His ascension to heaven. This Comforter is the Holy Spirit, and He abides with us daily, and will never leave us. … Read More
Today’s post is a recording of the song service from the Saturday morning service of our 2022 Annual Meeting. I hope you are blessed by the sweet voices of God’s children being lifted up together in song! Download Audio File
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 3/20/22) Today’s message is the continuation of our previous message, where we began to look at what the Bible says about the doctrine of election. We have learned that this doctrine is a reality … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 3/20/22) In this message, we continue looking at the doctrine of election as set forth in the Scripture. Last time we dealt with what election does NOT stand for, and today we look at … Read More
In Ephesians 2:1-3, Paul writes the following: “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power … Read More
by Elder Luke Laird (preached 1/31/21) In today’s sermon, Elder Luke Laird brings a powerful message about the work of Christ in eternal salvation. Many times we hear that Jesus did “all that He could do” to save us, and … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 3/13/22) Today we finish looking at some of the misconceptions that people have about what Primitive Baptists believe in regard to the doctrine of election. The question is often asked, “What about the person … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool (preached 3/13/22) In today’s message, we continue looking at the doctrine of election as taught in the Scripture and believed by Zion Primitive Baptist Church, as evidenced by Article Three of her Articles of Faith. Download … Read More
When: Saturday 3/19/22, beginning at 10 a.m. Where: Zion Primitive Baptist Church, 9487 County Road 49, Gordo AL 35466 I want to invite everyone to our 2022 Annual Meeting at Zion Primitive Baptist Church, located at 9487 County Road 49, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool (preached 3/13/22) In this message, Elder McCool continues his teaching about misconceptions regarding what Primitive Baptists believe about the doctrine of election. Having already dealt for the most part with the heresy of absolutism, Bro. Chris … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 3/13/22) Article Three of the Articles of Faith of Zion Primitive Baptist Church reads in part as follows: “WE BELIEVE IN THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION, PREDESTINATION, AND . . .THAT GOD CHOSE HIS PEOPLE … Read More
In today’s MONDAY MINUTES, I want to share an article by Elder Buddy Abernathy about the liberty we have in Christ. May the Lord bless you is my prayer. Elder Chris McCool, Pastor CHRIST HATH MADE US FREE by Elder … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 3/6/22) Today’s message concludes Bro. Buddy’s look at the letter to the Thyatira church. This church was struggling with immorality and error, but Jesus gives them admonition, encouragement, and a clear path to repentance and … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 3/6/22) The Letter to the Church at Thyatira is the longest of the seven letters in Revelation 2-3. This church had some serious problems within its ranks, as Elder Buddy Abernathy shows us through Scripture. … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 3/6/22) In today’s message, Bro. Buddy continues to preach from the portion of Revelation regarding the letter from Christ to the church at Pergamos. This church had experienced the martyrdom of one of its members, … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 3/6/22) In today’s message, Elder Buddy Abernathy begins to preach about the church at Pergamos. This church was located in an area of great paganism, and experienced great persecution. But Jesus gave the church the … Read More
by Bro. John Morgan Owens (preached 2/27/22) What is the most valuable thing that you own? Bro. John Morgan Owens teaches us in this message that the most valuable – indeed, the ONLY – commodity we truly possess is our … Read More
In Luke 13:23-24, we read the following passage: “Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” What does this mean? Is this a reference to something eternal, to a “broad way” that … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 2/20/22) Today we finish looking at the fact that God divinely preserved His inspired word through the King James Version of the Bible. We have seen clearly the vast superiority of the manuscripts and … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 2/27/22) Over the past several messages, we have been looking at the fact that God has divinely preserved His inspired word. We have begun to look at the evidence supporting the King James translation … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 2/20/22) In today’s message, we continue looking at the evidence for the KJV as God’s preserved word in English. We are looking at the manuscripts that the KJV is based upon versus the manuscripts … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 2/20/22) In today’s message, we continue looking at the fact that God divinely preserved His inspired word. In the last couple of messages, we dealt with the question of divine preservation in general terms, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 2/20/22) This sermon is the second half of the first message preached about the divine preservation of the word of God. Last time, we saw that the Bible itself affirms the fact that God … Read More
Do you ever find yourself struggling to keep a focus upon Jesus? Have you ever left church on Sunday, and not long afterward felt your focus on the Kingdom of God start diminishing? I confess to you – this is … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 2-20-22) In the past two messages, we learned that God inspired the writers to pen the words of Scripture. Today, we turn to the issue of whether that inspired Scripture has been divinely preserved … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 5/16/21) One of the most difficult things to do in life is to wait. Most people want what they want, and they want it now! But God is clear in His word: we must WAIT … Read More
by Elder Tim McCool (preached 2/13/22) In the conclusion to this sermon, Bro. Tim drives home the beautiful symbolism of the Candlestick and the Shewbread that sat in the Temple, facing the Holy of Holies. Even the very arrangement of … Read More
by Elder Tim McCool (preached 2-13-22) Join us today as Elder Tim McCool takes us into the Jewish Temple, and gives us a view of the Candlestick and the Shewbread. Nothing was placed in that Temple by accident – God … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 2/13/22) In this message, we continue our thoughts about the inspiration of Holy Scripture. Last time we saw that the Bible clearly teaches that its words are inspired. We looked at several verses that … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 2/13/22) Article Two of the Articles of Faith of Zion Primitive Baptist Church reads as follows: WE BELIEVE THAT THE SCRIPTURES OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT ARE THE WORD OF GOD AND ONLY … Read More
We conclude our series from Elder Mike Ivey’s article on the Sermon on the Mount today. It has truly been enlightening and convicting to me; I am thankful for this dear brother’s efforts in examining Jesus’ sayings and applying them … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 1/16/22) In the first half of this message, we saw the need to focus on basic principles of God’s word and not get caught up in unbiblical theories about the second coming of the Lord … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 1/16/22) As we opened chapter 2 of the Book of Revelation, we saw a letter to the church at Ephesus, which had left its first love. They were doctrinally sound, but had lost their love! … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 2/6/22) In this message, we finish looking at the Trinity, a theological truth that permeates the word of God. Pastor McCool shows us the Biblical foundation of the truth that God is a Triune … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 2/6/22) We believe that there is one true and living God, but that He manifests in three Persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The concept of the Trinity … Read More
This will be the sixth, and next-to-last, installment of Elder Mike Ivey’s very timely article about the Sermon on the Mount. We have seen how important it is to KNOW about God, and therefore to learn about how He wants … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 2/6/22) In today’s message, we conclude our look at God as the “Living God.” Last time, we saw that the OT and NT writers, along with Jesus Himself, declared that God is the Living … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 2/6/22) In today’s message, we look at another aspect of Article One of the Zion Primitive Baptist Church Articles of Faith: the Living God. We saw in the last two messages that He is … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 1/23/22) We began yesterday looking at what the Church of God ought to believe. We began looking at the Articles of Faith of Zion Church from a biblical standpoint. We looked at the fact … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 1/23/22) We begin today to look at what the Church of God ought to believe. We start by taking the Articles of Faith of Zion Church, and looking at them in a Scriptural light. … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 1/9/22) In the second half of this sermon, we learn that not only is the church a spiritual kingdom, but that Jesus Christ is it’s Head and Founder! As such, He has the right … Read More
In today’s post, we look at the fifth installment of an article by Elder Michael Ivey regarding the Sermon on the Mount, and how it applies to us today. I hope you enjoy these articles; they have been very convicting … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 1/9/22) In Matthew, both John the Baptist and Jesus preached that the “Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” To what were they referring? In this first sermon in a series, Elder McCool teaches us … Read More
by Elder Luke Hagler (preached 1/30/22) In the first half of this sermon, we began to see how the wicked mock God’s children, questioning “where is thy God?” We also saw that it is God’s children who ought to be … Read More
by Elder Luke Hagler (preached 1/23/22) In Psalm 42, the enemies of God twice mock God’s children by asking, “Where is thy God?” They are dismissive of the God of the universe, making fun of those who believe in Him! … Read More
This message is the conclusion to a very blessed message by Elder Luke Hagler regarding the need for belief in the daily life of the child of God. If we live in belief instead of unbelief, we will experience joy … Read More
by Elder Luke Hagler (preached 1/30/22) You have no doubt heard the saying, “Time flies when you’re having fun.” Although time actually really passes at the same rate always, depending upon the circumstances and your outlook, it may appear to … Read More
Today’s post will be the fourth in a series regarding the Sermon on the Mount. The full article was written by Elder Mike Ivey, and is an attempt to show us how relevant this Sermon is to us today – … Read More
by Bro. John Morgan Owens (preached 1/23/22) In this conclusion to the message from yesterday, Bro. John Morgan Owens shares more of the things Christ has taken on for us in fulfilling His purpose in salvation, which He and the … Read More
JANUARY 28, 2022 by Bro. John Morgan Owens (preached 1-23-22) In this sermon, Bro. John Morgan Owens, who has been exercising a preaching gift under the authority of Zion Primitive Baptist Church for several years, takes the text of Job … Read More
by Bro. John Morgan Owens (preached 1-19-22) Do we sometimes find ourselves to be miserable in this world? Misery is often the result of a lack of gratitude toward God. All good things we have ever experienced are simply merciful, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 1/9/22) As we conclude the Book of Haggai, we can reflect on what we have seen: complacency, giving way to renewed fervor for God, afflicted by discouragement, and ultimately resulting in the encouragement of … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 1/9/22) In this first half of the conclusion to our series in Haggai, Pastor McCool begins to examine the final message of encouragement sent to God’s people through the mouth of Haggai the prophet: … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 1/5/2022) In this message, Pastor McCool spends some time reviewing the previous sermon about “looking inward,” where Haggai reminds us that unconfessed, habitual sin can make our service to God vain. Haggai also exhorts … Read More
This is the third in a series of posts about the Sermon on the Mount, taken from an article written by Elder Mike Ivey. As we have stated in previous posts, this article takes the Sermon on the Mount and … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 12/1/21) After bringing them a message of encouragement, exhorting them to “look upward” to God, Haggai then admonishes them to look inward, at themselves and the sin that doth so easily beset all children … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 11/17/21) Join us today for the conclusion of this sermon, preached from Haggai 2, about the encouraging message God sent to the discouraged Jews who had returned from exile. As we will see, the … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 11/17/21) After the Jews returned from captivity and re-started the work of rebuilding the Temple at Haggai’s exhortation, opposition almost immediately arose. This opposition was both external and internal, and resulted in the faithful … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 11/3/21) In this message, we see what can happen when complacency turns to commitment. The Israelites who returned from the captivity had ceased the work of rebuilding the Temple for fifteen years, yet when … Read More
Last week, we began sharing an article by Elder Michael Ivey regarding the Sermon on the Mount. In this article, Bro. Mike takes the current issues facing the Lord’s church – in particular the divisiveness of the current political situation, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 10/16/21) When we grow complacent in our service to God, we generally stop experiencing the special blessings that only come from commitment to Him. Our discipleship is important, and God told Haggai to admonish … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 9/16/21) Today’s message is the conclusion to the first message in our series on Haggai. Haggai shows us what happens when we become complacent in the service of God, and what can happen when … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/16/21) When the enemies of the Kingdom of God successfully moved the King of Persia to stop the Jews who had returned from the Babylonian Captivity from rebuilding the Temple, those Jews who … Read More
Today, Elder Buddy Abernathy concludes his first look at how the Ephesian church had left its “first love.” Love (charity) is the centerpiece of the church, and without love no church can survive. Join us as we explore this matter, … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 12/5/21) Today’s message begins a look at the letters to the churches given to John by Christ in the book of Revelation. Elder Buddy Abernathy shares with us both the good things and the bad … Read More
This morning, I want to share with you the first part of an article by Elder Michael Ivey, regarding the Sermon on the Mount. I have often heard the Sermon on the Mount called the “Constitution of the Kingdom of … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 10/3/21) As Elder Abernathy continues his series on Revelation, we dig deeper into the encouraging vision of Jesus given to John on Patmos. Jesus Christ is our hope and consolation, especially in tribulation! Join us … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 10/3/21) In this sermon, we hear more from Elder Buddy Abernathy about how the Book of Revelation should be an encouragement to God’s people. Jesus Christ reveals Himself to John, in power and glory, and … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 10/3/21) In the first part of this fifth sermon in his series on Revelation, Elder Buddy Abernathy reminds us that this book is about the “revelation” of Jesus Christ, and not the “covering up” of … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 1/2/2022) In this conclusion to the first message preached from Zion PBC’s pulpit in 2022, Pastor Chris McCool reinforces from Psalm 146 what our focus should be in 2022. And it should come as … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 1/2/2022) It’s hard to believe that 2022 has arrived! What should we be focused on in the New Year? In Psalm 146, the writer gives us the answer: he begins and ends the Psalm … Read More
Friends, Happy New Year! I wanted to update everyone on my plans for the Zion PBC podcast in 2022. First of all, thanks to all who subscribe, both to the website and to the podcast. I hope it is of … Read More
*Happy New Year! Due to the holiday, I was unable to publish MONDAY MINUTES on Monday; please forgive the delay. I pray you are blessed in 2022! In our last blog post, we discussed the purpose of the gospel, and … Read More
by Bro. Kenneth Nowell (preached 12/26/21) Is prayer really important? What is the purpose of prayer? How should we engage in prayer? Join us as Bro. Kenneth Nowell shares with us some blessed truths about the subject of prayer. Download … Read More
by Bro. John Morgan Owens (preached 12/26/21) Sometimes in the religious world you will hear about a “bad thief” and a “good thief.” In reality, there were only two “bad” thieves crucified with Jesus – we are told in Matthew … Read More
In the last three editions of “MONDAY MINUTES”, we found that the new birth occurs apart from the hearing and acceptance of the gospel. However, the gospel nonetheless has an extremely important role in the life of a born-again child … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 12/19/21) In Genesis 49, we read about Jacob blessing his children before he dies. In blessing Judah, he declares that “the sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come. … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 12/19/21) Luke gives us the most thorough account of the birth of Jesus Christ. In Luke 2:7, we are told that Mary laid the baby Jesus in a manger, which was simply a feed … Read More
Previously we have considered Jesus’ use of analogies in John 3 to instruct us on regeneration. We saw that He used the womb, calling regeneration a “new birth” or being “born again.” This would have evoked images of natural childbirth … Read More
Do you often feel alone in this world? Are you misunderstood, neglected, forgotten? Take heart, dear listener! God loves His children with an everlasting love, which began before the foundation of the world was laid. When you face the trials … Read More
I apologize for last week’s absence; I was out of town, and unable to post Monday Minutes. Today is the second part of the previous post from November 29, 2021. In our last edition of Monday Minutes, we saw that … Read More
by Elder Neil Honea (preached 3/15/2018) In this message, Elder Neil Honea preaches about some of the ways that the Old Testament points toward the coming of Christ and of the New Testament. Jesus Christ Himself said that the Old … Read More
by Brother John Morgan Owens (preached 11/28/2021) Does life tend to get you down? Do you get easily discouraged when you look at what is happening around you? Sometimes, we even look back to “the good ol’ days,” and bemoan … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 11/28/21) the Bible is clear that to whom much is given shall much be required. Thus, when we know better, we ought to do better! Our actions ought to reflect the knowledge that we … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 11/21/21) Jesus was rightly called a “Man of Sorrows;” He often sighed and groaned as He saw the curse of sin on this world and on His people. But there was one time when … Read More
Jesus often used natural phenomena to illustrate spiritual truths. In the agrarian society in which He preached, He used many farming examples (e.g. sower and seeds, wheat and chaff). These were examples that His listeners would have understood. You see, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 11/14/21) Jesus often used natural examples to illustrate spiritual truths. In the first eight verses of John chapter three, He described the new birth to Nicodemus by using three different natural terms that Nicodemus … Read More
by Bro. John Morgan Owens (preached 10/24/21) In this message from Hebrews 12:28, Bro. John Morgan Owens examines how God’s nature as a consuming fire encompasses both His wrath and His love for His people. How can the two be … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 11/14/21) When the Babylonians took Judah captive, they tried to change everything and convert them from being Hebrews to being good Babylonians. But four Hebrew children – Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – refused! … Read More
Last week, I published the first part of an article written by Elder Mike Ivey regarding the Beatitudes of Matthew chapter 5. Today, I want to share the rest of the article, which is an outstanding overview of these precious … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 11/7/21) Bildad is the second of Job’s miserable comforters, and he is fixated upon historical experience. He tells Job that history makes it clear that all of his troubles are the result of … Read More
I am sharing an article below by Elder Mike Ivey, regarding the Beatitudes, which he posted on his Facebook page this past week. It is an outstanding overview of these precious verses, and I hope they are encouraging and helpful … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 10/17/21) After Eliphaz tries to get Job to see that there must be some unconfessed sin in Job’s life, otherwise God would not be afflicting him, Job responds in chapters 6 and 7. … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 10/17/21) In this message, we begin to look at the first of Job’s miserable comforters. Eliphaz speaks to Job primarily from his own experience, and affirms without faltering that Job MUST be a great … Read More
In this article by Elder Buddy Abernathy, he asks and answers the questions, “Are we saved by believing on Christ?” The reference here is to eternal salvation, i.e., must we believe in order to be saved eternally? Bro. Buddy shows … Read More
by Bro. John Morgan Owens (preached 10/31/2021) In this sermon, Bro. John Morgan shows us various paths from the Scripture, but ultimately points us to the God Whose path can only be walked by Him. Join us and listen to … Read More
by Elder Neil Honea (preached on 10/31/2021) In this message, Elder Neil Honea shows us from Scripture that man almost NEVER finishes what he starts, whereas God ALWAYS does! From His work in Creation, to His judgments on nations and … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 10/10/21) In this message, Pastor Chris McCool gives an overview of the messages spoken against Job by his three friends, Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar. Job sums up their approach as being “miserable comforters,” friends … Read More
Does baptism save us? If so, is the salvation we find in baptism an eternal salvation, or a temporal salvation? In this article, Elder Buddy Abernathy deals with the issue of baptism and the way in which it “saves” us. … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/26/21) Have you ever been overwhelmed by sorrow? This is the state in which we find Job in chapter three. He has lost so much, and suffered so greatly, that he finally has … Read More
The Book of Job is a masterpiece of Hebrew poetry and literature; in the canon of Scripture, it is placed as the first “poetic” book of the Bible, followed by Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, et al. Also, according to biblical history … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 9/19/21) Where does suffering come from? Does God send it, or is there some other explanation for it? What does suffering do to us or for us? Ultimately, where is God in the midst … Read More
We are always looking for things that bring us together as children of God, but as Primitive Baptists, there are some things that separate us from other Baptists in our doctrine. In particular, when it comes to the doctrine of … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 9/5/2021) In this sermon, Pastor Chris McCool reviews the situation up to this point, and then plunges into the problems that Job is about to experience. Many people think that God was the instigator … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 9/5/2021) After a brief review, Pastor Chris McCool carries us into the 1st chapter of Job, where we find two different situations: one that Job COULD see, and one that Job could NOT see. … Read More
In this article, Elder Buddy Abernathy explains the scriptures in 1 John which refer to “Three in Heaven” and “Three in earth.” I pray you are edified by this writing as I was! Elder Chris McCool, Pastor THREE IN HEAVEN … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 9/2/2021) In this message, we begin a series on the Book of Job. It is extremely important for us to rightly divide the content of this book, which deals with the relationship between … Read More
I lost a very close friend yesterday to the pandemic. Bro. Jake Abrams contracted COVID a few weeks ago, and after about four weeks on a ventilator, Jake passed away around noon yesterday, on a Sunday while church services were … Read More
In the article below, Elder Buddy Abernathy deals with some common misperceptions about what God is doing in this world. I have found it to be true that God gets the blame for a lot of things He is NOT … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 8/15/21) Most of the Book of Proverbs can be summed up in one admonition: Don’t be a fool! In this message, Pastor Chris McCool examines the different types of “fool” discussed in Proverbs, and … Read More
by Elder David Wise (preached 8/8/21) In this message, Elder David Wise examines the two phrases, “Who am I?’ and “Here am I!” Using Moses as a starting point, we see that we must have a sense of our own … Read More
C.S. Lewis is one of my favorite writers. I’ve read all seven books of the Chronicles of Narnia at least a dozen times! He was, in my opinion, one of the greatest Christian apologists of modern times, and although his … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 7/25/21) When Abraham and Lot separated, Abraham was content to let God guide, but Lot “pitched his tent toward Sodom.” It was a logical decision on Lot’s part: the land was lush and green, … Read More
by Bro. John Morgan Owens (preached 8/21/21) Have you ever wondered what’s in a look? In this message, Bro. John Morgan Owens takes us through different situations where Jesus looks at others. Join us as we explore the topic “Jesus … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 8/8/21) The book of Proverbs gives specific instructions on how not to be foolish. One of the clear admonitions from this book is that we should NEVER be sluggards! Slothfulness leads to poverty, and … Read More
*Due to Labor Day Holiday, and being busy with family gatherings, I am a day late with “MONDAY MINUTES”. Sorry about that! A few weeks ago, Elder James Conley, pastor of Union Primitive Baptist Church in Ruth, Mississippi, posted the … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 5/16/2021) Has anyone ever asked you, “What do Primitive Baptists believe about eternal salvation?” There certainly are many things we could answer in reply, but perhaps the simplest, most basic statement of what Primitive … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 8/29/21) There are many conspiracy theories floating around on the internet. Indeed, there are many real conspiracies in the world today! But which conspiracies should we as Christians be concerned about? In this message, … Read More
I heard a story once about a young bride who, on the very first Thanksgiving with her new husband, prepared to cook a ham for their dinner. Much to the new husband’s surprise, before putting it into the pan, she … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 8/15/2021) In this sermon, we continue to see how God inspired John to write a message of encouragement to the Christians under persecution. Contrary to the way most people understand the book of Revelation, Bro. … Read More
by Elder Danny Wisner (preached 8/23/2021) Do you remember reading about Rahab the Harlot in the book of Judges? She’s the one who hid the Israeli spies who came to spy out Jericho, the first city taken by the children … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 8/2/2021) We continue to look at the encouraging words of the Book of Revelation in this third installment of his series on the Revelation of Jesus Christ, preached by Elder Buddy Abernathy. As he makes … Read More
In the past few weeks, it seems we have lost more and more loved ones to the diseases and tragedies of this world. Is there any place we can find comfort? In this article, Elder Buddy Abernathy reminds us that … Read More
We have been looking at the Gospel of Mark lately in our “MONDAY MINUTES,” but today I want to deviate from that focus in order to share an article by Elder Buddy Abernathy. This article on “labels” is very appropriate … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 7/18/2021) Have you ever asked the question, “What does God want me to do?” Micah answers this question plainly in his prophecy. Listen as Pastor Chris McCool expounds upon Micah 6:8, answering the question … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 7/7/2021) In this second message in his series on Revelation, Elder Buddy Abernathy continues to expound upon the hopeful message of Revelation. While many see this book as a mysterious vision to be understood only … Read More
We’ve looked already at situations where Jesus seemed to be asleep on the boat, and where it seemed that He got there “too late.” But what happens when it seems that Jesus isn’t there at all? The disciples faced just … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 7/7/2021) Often we approach the Book of Revelation as if it is an incomprehensible amalgamation of images that somehow only a doctor of divinity can decipher. In truth, it is the REVELATION of Jesus Christ, … Read More
by Bro. John Morgan Owens (preached 8/1/2021) There are many places in scripture that tell us directly that our eternal salvation is solely in the hands of God. But have you ever considered the many examples in the Bible which … Read More
In the 6th Chapter of the Gospel of Mark, we find an account of the only miracle that is recorded in all four gospels. After returning to His home town, and finding great unbelief there, He sent out His disciples … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on July 4, 2021) Inevitably when discussing the Bible concept of election with someone who has never heard this sweet doctrine, one or two objections arise. In Romans 9, Paul (under the inspiration of … Read More
Have you ever been afraid that Jesus was going to miss the deadline? That He just wasn’t going to get there on time? That He would be too late? In Mark 5:21-43, we read about what happens when Jesus gets … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached July 11, 2021) In this last sermon in our series on the Gospel of Mark, Elder Chris McCool concludes with the admonition of Jesus, to “go ye into all the world, and preach the … Read More
I want you to picture a man, maybe in his early 60s, living in a little cottage by the Sea. Maybe he is a farmer, maybe a carpenter, getting close to retirement. As he goes into his home, his grandchildren … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool (preached on July 11, 2021) When Mary and the other women went to the tomb, they found that Jesus was not there, but had risen from the dead. Initially, nobody believed them! But ultimately, He showed … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on July 4, 2021) The Church was established by Jesus Christ Himself while He was on this earth, for the purpose of worshiping Him in Spirit and in truth. It was never designed to “reform” … Read More
For the past two weeks, Sis. Sherri and I have been traveling out West. In fact, this is one of the reasons I was unable to publish an edition of Monday Minutes last week, and also why this week’s edition … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached June 20, 2021) Paul tells the Roman church to “present your bodies a living sacrifice.” What does this mean? Join us as Elder Buddy Abernathy delivers a powerful message on presenting our bodies a living … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached June 6, 2021) In Ruth, we see many parallels to the redemption story. Boaz certainly is a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, and we often read our text verse as applying to His … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached June 13, 2021) The Resurrection changed everything! The women who went to the tomb downcast in spirit left there amazed; the disciples who walked the Road the Emmaus with sad countenances felt their hearts … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool (preached June 13, 2021) In this message, Pastor McCool reminds us that God is at work daily in our lives, even when we cannot see it. The young servant of Elisha had a problem remembering this, … Read More
Does it sometimes seem that the storms of life assail you, and yet Jesus is uncaring? At the end of Chapter Four of the Gospel of Mark, we read about a literal storm that overtook the disciples as they were … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached June 13, 2021) When last we looked at the Gospel of Mark, we saw Jesus buried in a borrowed tomb. But that isn’t the end of the story! The rest of the story is … Read More
Today, let’s summarize what we have discussed regarding the Parable of the Sower in Mark 4. First of all, we learned that the Parable of the Sower does NOT teach us how to figure out who is a child of … Read More
by Elder Tim McCool (preached on June 6, 2021) The evening service on June 6, 2021, marks 10 years since Zion Primitive Baptist Church began experiencing the revival that has brought us to the place we are today. Ten years … Read More
Elder Ricky Harcrow (preached on May 30, 2021) Jesus Christ was truly the Suffering Servant, but He was also the Successful Saviour! Join us as our good friend Elder Ricky Harcrow preaches to us about the finished work of the … Read More
As we have examined the parable of the Sower and the Seeds found in chapter four of Mark’s gospel, we have discovered that ALL the categories of ground discussed by Jesus are referring to children of God – that is, … Read More
Bro. John Morgan Owens (preached May 23, 2021) In this sermon, Lic. John Morgan Owens takes us to many scriptures where something happened under a tree. From the tree where Nathanael sat, to the juniper tree of Elijah, to the … Read More
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on May 30, 2021) This message was a hard message to preach. In researching the horrible details of how a crucifixion is carried out, I found my mind continuing to go to the view of … Read More
We have been examining the parable of the Sower and the Seeds found in chapter four of Mark’s gospel. Jesus Himself told the disciples that this parable is key to understanding the Kingdom of God: “Know ye not this parable? … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached on May 16, 2021) One of the most difficult things to do in life is to wait. Most people want what they want, and they want it now! But God is clear in His word: … Read More
This sermon concludes our series on the early life of David. We have seen this man grow from a young boy shepherding his father’s sheep, to a champion slaying a giant, and now to the king he was anointed to … Read More
We have been examining the parable of the Sower and the Seeds found in chapter four of Mark’s gospel. We have already seen that the four categories of hearers of the word, represented by the four categories of ground described … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 5/9/2021) Jesus has crossed the Kidron’s bloody stream. He has agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane. But now He stands at the foot of Calvary, gazing up Golgotha’s hill. He has been mocked, beaten, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 11/26/2017) In this conclusion to part one regarding the defection of David to Philistia, we see that God sometimes delivers us in spite of our bad choices. He certainly did that to David! Listen … Read More
Last week, we began looking at the parable of the Sower and the Seeds found in chapter four of Mark’s gospel. We determined that the four categories of hearers of the word, represented by the four categories of ground described … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 5/9/21) Now we approach the hour of Jesus’ crucifixion: from Kidron’s bloody stream to Gethsemane’s awful agony, nothing compares to what Jesus is about to experience. Come join us as we walk with Jesus … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 11/26/2017) When times get tough, we should stay the course, right? Surely that’s what a man after God’s own heart would do! But in 1 Sam. 27, we find that even such a man … Read More
In the fourth chapter of Mark, Jesus begins to speak to the multitudes and to the disciples in parables. By definition, a parable is a placing of one thing beside another – a comparison, or illustration, in other words. Most … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool (preached on 5/2/2021) In many cases, we are told to “stand against” sin. But there is one sin about which we are given a vastly different commandment: FLEE FORNICATION! That is, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE! Listen … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 10-22-2017) Have you ever reacted in anger, and almost done something you would have regretted for the rest of your life? This was the case when David encountered Nabal, a man whose name literally … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 5/2/21) It’s a sad fact, but I believe we live in a post-Christian society – that is, American culture is no longer based upon biblical values and principles, but rather we are living in a … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 4/4/2021) What is the most prevalent doctrinal error in regard to salvation in the religious world today? It might surprise you, but it’s nothing new – it was a problem all the way back at … Read More
by Bro. John Morgan Owens (preached 4/11/2021) Our God is all powerful, and the Bible often describes His power using anthropomorphic terminology – His voice, His arms, etc. In this sermon, Bro. John Morgan Owens takes us through Scripture to … Read More
by Bro. John Morgan Owens (preached 4/25/2021) Evangelism is a greatly misunderstood subject in the denominational world. Most people think it refers to efforts to get spiritually dead sinners to make a decision for Christ, whereas only those who have … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 4/25/2021) As the storm clouds of Calvary were amassing on the horizon, Jesus left the upper room and proceeded to the Garden Gethsemane. To be clear, no part of our atonement occurred in the … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 10/15/2017) In this message, Pastor Chris McCool finishes looking at David’s deliverance of Keilah, himself, and Saul. Join us in this third message about David the Deliverer; when we serve God in the right … Read More
I apologize for not sending out our Monday Minutes devotion last week; I was out of town at a preaching engagement that weekend, and had to leave town that Monday as well for business. Sorry! The Pharisees had fixed ideas … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached on 4/11/2021) When Jesus proclaimed to the disciples that they all would betray Him, Peter immediately and vehemently spoke up and asserted that he would NEVER betray the Lord! Jesus looked at him – … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool (preached 10/8/2017) In this message, Pastor Chris McCool continues looking at David’s deliverance of Keith, himself, and Saul. Join us in this second message about David the Deliverer, where we see him serving God in the … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 9/24/2017) In 1 Samuel chapters 23 and 24, we read about David in his role as a deliverer. He delivered Keilah, a city, from the Philistines; he delivered himself and his men from Saul; … Read More
As Jesus continued His earthly ministry, He began to do things that “upset the apple carts” of all those around Him, including many of His own disciples! Remember, He was preaching that “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of … Read More
By Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 4/4/2021) Have you ever wondered what the first New Testament church service was like? Wonder no more! In this passage, Mark tells us exactly what they did and how they conducted themselves in the … Read More
Preached 3/28/2021 As the storm clouds of Calvary are looming on the horizon, a strange and wonderful thing happened to the Lord Jesus Christ: Mary, His friend and Lazarus’ and Martha’s sister, came to Him with a very expensive alabaster … Read More
Can you imagine what it would be like if Jesus was in your house? In the second chapter of Mark, we get a vivid picture of what happens when He comes to visit! In the first 12 verses of this … Read More
Preached 3/28/2021 In this message, Lic. John Morgan Owens shares with us some biblical truths about angels. These created beings are amazing, but even more amazing is the Savior Who came as a Man and saved His people from their … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 9/10/2017) In this message, we find David in a cave in Adullam, surrounded by fierce men who did not have the same godly outlook as he did. He was their leader, the head of … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 2/28/2021) In the denominational world, we often hear about “the Roman Road to Salvation”. In the common way of thinking, this “Roman Road” is a path that the sinner must walk in order to … Read More
by Elder Jackie Smith (preached 3/20/2021) When times of trouble arise, we sometimes think that we are all alone in our struggles. But in this message, Elder Jackie Smith reminds us that God knows each and every one of His … Read More
Today, I want us to look at the rest of Mark Chapter 1. We have seen that Mark begins with the good news that Jesus Christ IS the Son of God, and introduces us next to John the Baptist, who … Read More
by Elder David Crawford (preached 3/21/2021) In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus became “astonished” and “sore amazed,” and “very heavy.” What could possibly cause the Son of God – the Second Person in the Godhead – to experience such angst? … Read More
by Elder David Crawford (preached 3/20/2021) In this message, Bro. David shows us how deep the love of Christ was, in that even at twelve years old He already knew He was sent here to die for the sins of … Read More
by Elder David Crawford (preached 3/20/2021) We live in a society where anxieties seem only to be increasing. Wars, political unrest, pandemics, and personal struggles seem to assault us daily. In this message, Elder David Crawford points us to the … Read More
by Elder Roger Miller (preached 3/20/2021) In this message, Elder Roger Miller shares with us from Scripture why the virgin birth of the Lord Jesus Christ is of paramount importance to our eternal salvation. Listen as we learn why Jesus … Read More
Here is a link to our Saturday morning song service. What a blessed time of fellowship and singing it was! We hope you enjoy. Download Audio File
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 8/27/2017) In this message, Pastor McCool completes our look at David’s faithlessness by pointing out the severe consequences that can result when we act in fear rather than faith. David was known for his … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 3/7/2021) In this second sermon in his series on Behaving Ourselves in the House of God, Elder Buddy Abernathy exhorts us to be friendly toward others – both fellow church members, as well as visitors … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 3/14/2021) In this second and final part of “The Last Days” message, we learn that we should be waiting expectantly for His coming. While many messages of the “last days” in the world bring … Read More
In the very first verse of his Gospel, Mark writes, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. . . .” This may seem like an innocuous statement, perhaps a “given” to many Christians, but in … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 3/14/2021) As the disciples were awed by the beauty and majesty of the Temple, they pointed it out to Jesus. His response was to tell them that this earthly Temple would be cast down … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 2/21/2021) In this first part of a new series, Elder Buddy Abernathy begins to share the duties of church members to their church. These messages are preached with an especial emphasis on how we should … Read More
I want to invite everyone to our 2021 Annual Meeting at Zion Primitive Baptist Church, located at 9487 County Road 49, Gordo, Alabama 35466. Our meeting will be held on Saturday March 20, 2021, beginning at 10 a.m., followed by … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 8/27/2017) In this second part of his sermon about David’s failing faith, Pastor McCool explains the root causes of faithlessness and some of the consequences. Download Audio File
Today, I want to begin a study on the Gospel of Mark. This Gospel is the shortest of the four, and is a sweet introduction to the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ. Just because it is interesting to … Read More
Elder Chris McCool (preached 3/7/2021) In the last few verses of Mark 12, we read of a very insignificant widow woman performing a very insignificant act, at least in the eyes of the world: she threw 2 mites into the … Read More
Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 2/7/2021) In this final sermon in his series on “Acceptable Words,” Elder Buddy Abernathy teaches us biblical principles about how our words can affect other people. How important it is for us to watch what we … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (7/23/2017) Although God had sustained David his whole life, even through the mismatched battle with Goliath, when Saul began to seek to kill him David’s faith failed. Rather than trusting God to protect him, he … Read More
In John 4:24, Jesus declares that God must be worshipped “in spirit.” But He didn’t stop there: He added the phrase, “and in TRUTH.” This tells me that truth is important to God! In this article, Elder Buddy Abernathy discusses … Read More
Bro. John Morgan Owens (preached 2/28/2021) When we are in the deep valleys of life, it is sometimes hard to remember the feelings of encouragement that we had on the mountaintops. But as Bro. John Morgan Owens tells us in … Read More
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 2/14/2021) Throughout Scripture, we read of the omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence of God. In this message, Pastor Chris McCool explores the second of these traits, the omniscience of God. What an amazing God we have, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (7/16/2017) Most people who have slain a giant are forever changed by the experience – and not in a good way! It is HARD to survive success unscathed! But David was the same person AFTER … Read More
Today, I am posting the last half of the article we started last week, entitled “Am I a Child of God?”, written by Elder Buddy Abernathy. I hope you are blessed! Elder Chris McCool, Pastor Am I a Child of … Read More
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 2/21/2021) I’ve heard it said that “the main thing is to keep the Main Thing the main thing.” How true that is! In today’s message, a scribe asks Jesus what the most important commandment is, … Read More
preached by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (5/28/2017) Do you have any giants in your life? You may not be facing a 10-foot man, but there is most likely a giant of a problem that you are facing in some area … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (5/21/2017) Even though God had declared that David was the new king, Saul still occupied the throne in Jerusalem. Rather than flaunt his new position or pridefully assert himself against Saul, David humbly and meekly … Read More
Today, I want to begin sharing an article written by Elder Buddy Abernathy regarding the question “Am I a Child of God?”. I will be posting this in multiple parts, so be sure and stay tuned until the end! Elder … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (2/14/2021) The Sadducees did not believe in the Resurrection or spirit world, and they came to Jesus in an effort to “trip Him up” with a hypothetical question that they felt He sure couldn’t answer. … Read More
Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 2/7/2021) When Job was afflicted by Satan and suffering severely, both physically and emotionally, his “miserable comforter” friends came and began to tell him that HE was the problem, that if Job would just “get right … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (5/14/2017) When the people of Israel demanded a king, God gave them Saul, but He was not pleased! They should have been content to have God as their King, but they wanted to be like … Read More
I apologize for skipping last Monday, but I was away from home preaching and did not have the opportunity to do so. Today we continue some thoughts about fellowship. We are currently exploring the idea of “fellowship” as taught in … Read More
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 1/31/2021) The second attempt of the religious leaders to entrap Jesus ended in spectacular failure just like the first! They tried to bait Him into jumping into the political frays of the day, but Jesus … Read More
by Pastor Chris McCool (preached April 30, 2017) In this sermon, Pastor Chris McCool continues introducing us to the life of David, the great King of Israel. David was called a “man after God’s own heart”, and the Bible sets … Read More
Today we begin posting a new series, entitled “A Man After God’s Own Heart”, about the life of David up until the time he becomes King of Israel. There are seventeen sermons in this series, and I plan to post … Read More
by Pastor Chris McCool (preached April 9, 2017) In this series on the life of David, Pastor Chris McCool introduces us to the only man in history of whom it is said that he was a man after God’s own … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 1/24/2021) In this sermon, we begin looking at four different episodes in the last week leading up to Calvary in which the religious leaders send people to question Jesus. Their questioning was NOT in … Read More
Last week, we began talking about the biblical concept of fellowship. We discussed what fellowship is: it is translated from the the Greek word “κοινωνία” (koinonia), which denotes “partnership,” or “joint participation,” and means more than just “showing up.” The … Read More
by Bro. John Morgan Owens (1/24/2021) Have you ever found yourself in the dead of night, unable to sleep, fretting and worrying over the problems you are facing in your life? In this Psalm, we are told that God will … Read More
Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 1/20/2021) When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night, Jesus did not mince words: Nicodemus, ye must be born again! But Nicodemus did not understand Him: So are you saying that I have to return to my … Read More
One of the unique characteristics of a true Christian church is the fellowship enjoyed by its members. In fact, this fellowship might be said to be the “hallmark” of our Christian identity! Along with preaching the truth of God’s word, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (01/17/2021) As Jesus was coming back into Jerusalem after His triumphal entry the day before, He came across a fig tree that looked really promising from afar. Its leaves were green and full, but upon … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 1/17/2021) In this sixth installment of his sermon series on “Acceptable Words,” Elder Buddy Abernathy expounds upon the ways in which our words can affect ourselves in a negative way. Isn’t it true that we … Read More
Have you, like me, been troubled by the events that have occurred in our political system over the past few years? There has been great unrest in our nation for some time now, culminating in the riots that we saw … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (1/10/2021) Does is seem that the world around you is in chaos? What about all the turmoil in politics? The pandemic? Personal problems that threaten to overwhelm you? What should our response be to the … Read More
by Elder Tim McCool (1/10/2021) Some people decry governments, and demand their downfall. Others look to governments, and trust them to provide their every need. But what does God, the great Nation-Maker, think about nations? What is the primary purpose … Read More
This is the third installment of Elder Buddy Abernathy’s series on “Everyone in the World”. I hope you enjoy! Bro. Chris EVERYONE IN THE WORLD – PART 3 In Part 1 of this series, we considered the word “world” in John 3:16 and, … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (1/3/2021) When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a colt, He wasn’t just using the most convenient manner of transportation! He was fulfilling prophecy in a very real and specific way. He was also preaching a … Read More
This is the second in a series of writings by Elder Buddy Abernathy about the use of the word “world” in Scripture. In this segment, Bro. Buddy answers the question he left hangin last time by referring to Scripture and … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 1/03/2021) In this series, Elder Buddy Abernathy has explored the biblical concepts regarding our speech. We have seen that God is concerned with what we say, how we say it, and when we say it. … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (preached 12/27/2020) Have you ever wondered why some prayers seem to get answered and others don’t? Why some people who are sick recover, and others die? Sometimes we forget that God is so much greater … Read More
I want to share a series of posts over the next three weeks from Elder Buddy Abernathy. These posts are about the use of the word “world” in Scripture. This first one ends with an intriguing question; I encourage you … Read More
by Elder Buddy Abernathy (preached 12/20/2020) We have looked at WHAT we should say and HOW we should say it, and now in this fourth sermon on “Acceptable Words,” Bro. Buddy teaches us that it is also important to know … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (12/20/2020) While Christmas as a celebrated season is not found in the Bible, nonetheless in our society it has become customary at this time of year to take some time off from work and reflect … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool (preached 12/22/2019) Sometimes we get lost in the humdrum of life. For several characters in the beginning of the New Testament, their day was just another ordinary day. But on these ordinary days, God showed up … Read More
Last week, we began a discussion about the visible Kingdom of God, i.e., the Church. We saw from Matthew 13 that it is a “treasure” hidden in a field, which literally means “a storehouse or treasury”. We found that the … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor In this passage of Mark’s gospel, we read about Blind Bartimaeus, who called out to Jesus as He passed by on the road. And then we read an amazing statement: “And Jesus stood still.” Remember, … Read More
The “Kingdom of God,” sometimes called the “Kingdom of Heaven,” is a very broad subject. There is one application of the Kingdom of which each and every one of the elect family of God are members (Mat. 13:38). There is another application … Read More
By Elder Chris McCool, Pastor The world’s theory of success can be summed up in the immortal (and false!) words of Ricky Bobby from the movie “Talladega Nights”: “If you’re not first, you’re last!” As many people do, he lived … Read More
By Elder Buddy Abernathy In this third sermon on “Acceptable Words,” Bro. Buddy shares with us that it is not only important what we say, but how we say it. We must be careful when we speak, because we can … Read More
By Elder Buddy Abernathy In this second message on “acceptable words”, preached by Bro. Buddy Abernathy, we find that what we say is of utmost importance to God! Please join us as we learn about how we should speak from … Read More
Abraham was a wanderer who never built any permanent cities, but rather dwelt in tents. But as he moved around the Middle East, he often encamped near some larger cities. In this message, Pastor Chris McCool expounds upon the types … Read More
Today is the 79th anniversary of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. It would also have been my dad’s 81st birthday. Daddy always liked to joke that he was the first disaster to occur on December 7, then two years … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor Up to this point, Jesus has been teaching his disciples gently about His true purpose in coming to earth, and walking beside them in the way. But here we read that He “went before them, … Read More
In the tenth chapter of the Gospel of Mark, a rich young man came running to Jesus with an urgent question: what must I do to inherit eternal life? Rather than rebuke him outright for his misunderstanding about how to … Read More
By Bro. John Morgan Owens (11/22/2020) There is no doubt that we live in a world that is cursed by sin! We see suffering all around us, especially in the day in which we live. In this comforting message, Lic. … Read More
This week, I want to share an article by Elder Buddy Abernathy about the Philippian jailor and his encounter with Paul and Silas. He asked a pertinent questions: What must I do to be saved? Bro. Buddy gives an excellent … Read More
By Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (November 15, 2020) One of the primary implications of the Cross was the renewed emphasis on charity (love) instead of Law: legalism will destroy the Kingdom of God, whereas love will enrich it! Thus teaches … Read More
By Elder Buddy Abernathy (11/15/2020) Have you ever found that your words are a problem for you? Ever said something without thinking, or spouted off before you could stop it? In this sermon, Bro. Buddy reminds us that we should … Read More
Since this week is Thanksgiving, I wanted to share Psalm 100, the only Psalm whose title is “A Psalm of Praise”. May we all remember to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord,” even in the midst of trials and … Read More
By Elder David Wise (11/1/2020) Have you ever noticed how deliverance often comes from the most unlikely places? In this sermon, Elder David Wise reminds us of the unlikely means through which God often providentially provides for His people. Download … Read More
By Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (11/1/2020) When we aren’t sure where to go, the best place to go is to Jesus. In this sermon, Pastor Chris McCool points us to Paul’s admonition to “know Him, and the power of His … Read More
We certainly live in crazy times, don’t we? Last year, very few people outside the business world had even heard of “Zoom,” and NO-ONE imagined that there would be such a need for virtual attendance of worship services! And while … Read More
By Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (November 1, 2020) In this message, Elder Chris McCool continues his exposition of Mark 9 as Jesus teaches some lessons to His disciples about the implications of His upcoming death, burial, and resurrection. While they … Read More
By Elder Chris McCool, Pastor Slowly but surely, Jesus was gently leading His disciples into an understanding of the true purpose of His incarnation: the Cross of Calvary. In illuminating their minds about the Cross, He taught them many lessons … Read More
We certainly live in tumultuous times, don’t we? We often lament our present circumstances, and sometimes even become depressed about what is going on in and around our lives. What should we be focused on in such troubled times? Well, … Read More
By Bro. John Morgan Owens (October 25, 2020) Water is a theme that flows throughout the Old and New Testaments. In this sermon, Bro. John Morgan Owens takes us on a journey through the Bible on the rivers of water … Read More
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (October 25, 2020) Have you ever tried to work out your problems on your own, just to meet with failure? The disciples tried that, many times. In this case, they were unable to help a demoniac … Read More
In this post, Elder Buddy Abernathy gives a Biblical explanation of the difference between “predestination” and “providence.” Both are glorious Biblical teachings, but they must be understood in their proper contexts. DIVINE PROVIDENCE By Elder Buddy Abernathy December 11, 2014 … Read More
Beloved friends, I just wanted to let everyone know that, beginning today (11/2/2020), Zion Primitive Baptist Church will be a daily feature on Elder Michael Gowens’ streaming internet radio service, Grace Alone Radio. A sermon from Zion Church will air … Read More
by Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (October 4, 2020) In a world where there is so much turmoil, it is easy to lose focus and become anxious – terrified, even! What do we need to see when we are in the … Read More
Bro. John Morgan Owens (9/27/2020) In this message, Bro. John Morgan Owens gives us a wonderful summary of the encounter between Peter and Cornelius. Much of the religious world teaches that Peter went down to his house to “save” Cornelius; … Read More
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (10-18-2020) As we continue in our series on the Gospel of Mark, we find Jesus taking Peter, James, and John up into a high mountain and being transfigured before them. What a metaphor for our lives … Read More
One of the primary arguments against the existence of God that is advanced by many atheists concerns the existence of evil in the world. The argument goes something like this: If God truly exists, and He is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient … Read More
Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (September 26, 2020) Jesus began His earthly ministry preaching that the “Kingdom of God is at hand” – i.e., it is here and near to us. He was speaking of the Church, that Kingdom of Heaven … Read More
By Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (September 13, 2020) Pastor Chris McCool finishes up his sermon on the “rules of the road” that Jesus set out while walking with His disciples from place to place. These foundational principles about what Jesus … Read More
Have you ever noticed how many times the word “save” or “saved” is used in the Bible? Have you ever noticed that not every occurrence of a version of the word “saved” is talking about eternal life? In this article, … Read More
In this second sermon on the problem posed by the existence of evil in the world, Pastor Chris McCool further elaborates on the relationship of God to evil (He opposes it!), whether God created evil or not (He didn’t!), and … Read More
One of the primary arguments raised by the atheist is the problem of evil in the world. The basic argument reads this way: if God is omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), and omni-benevolent (all-good), then why does evil exist? God must … Read More
Have you ever wondered how a person who is “dead in trespasses and in sins” (Eph. 2:1) can nonetheless be blessed to have not only a relationship but also fellowship with a thrice-holy God? In this article, Elder Buddy Abernathy … Read More
Have you ever wondered what it REALLY means to be a Christian? The answer to this question could take hours upon hours to unpack, but in this sermon Elder Buddy Abernathy breaks it down into the basic component: being a … Read More
The Bible warns us that false prophets will arise, teaching doctrines contrary to scripture. But how do false prophets work? Do they hit us “head on,” or are they somehow more subtle in their approach to undermining scripture? Please listen … Read More
We had a wonderful weekend of worship and fellowship! It was Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church’s yearly Anniversary Meeting, and their pastor (and my brother) Elder Tim McCool had six preachers at the meeting! On Saturday, five of those preachers preached, … Read More
The ultimate “divine exchange” occurred when Jesus came down from Heaven to take the place of His elect people on the cross – He exchanged His righteousness for their sins, and perfectly expunged their record for eternity! And since He … Read More
Does it seem as if the voices of this world drown out the Voice of Truth? Perhaps sometimes even the voice of your own conscience may drown out the trumpet of the gospel in your own mind! Listen as Elder … Read More
How important is truth in your life? Is it wrong to want to know the truth when it comes to your religious beliefs? Jesus Himself said, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32). … Read More
Is the Word of God your priority? Pastor Chris McCool shares with us today why the word of God ought to be the authority in our lives, and ought to be the authority in our every-day living. Download Audio File
By Elder Chris McCool, Pastor (September 13, 2020) While His disciples walked with Him from place to place, Jesus was constantly teaching them “rules of the road” that would help them in their ministry. In this sermon, Pastor Chris McCool … Read More
A few weeks ago, I wrote an article for this blog about the fear that the current circumstances of the world brings. We discussed the fact that we are strangers and pilgrims in this sin-cursed world. We discovered that the … Read More
In this message, Pastor Chris McCool recaps Part Thirteen of our series, about the Syro-Phoenician woman who came to Jesus in Mark Chapter 7, and finishes up the message. Do you think you don’t stand a chance in Jesus’ sight? … Read More
Today, I helped to preach the funeral of a dear lady in our community who died at the age of 95 after an extended illness. Her death, while certainly a mournful loss to her family and our community, was not … Read More
Have you ever felt like you didn’t stand a chance with Jesus? There was a faithful little outcast woman, Syro-Phoenician by birth, who came to Him one day with a desperate petition: “My daughter is possessed of a devil, Lord, … Read More
In speaking of the House of the Lord, King David declared, “LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.” (Ps. 26:8). Elsewhere, he fervently affirms, “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I … Read More
Happy Labor Day to everyone! Today is a national holiday, celebrated every year on the first Monday in September. Most of us will enjoy a day off from work, and likely will engage in some family activity involving a good … Read More
In this sermon, Bro. Owens asks us to imagine the misery of a world where our eternal salvation is based on our works. Many people in the world today are following such religious schemes – how miserable must that kind … Read More
Have you ever considered the fact that the Church of Jesus Christ is NOT an organization, but a living organism? The Head of the Church is Christ Himself, Who is ruling and reigning over His earthly Kingdom today. We (the … Read More
Whenever I look around me lately, I see things that make me fear and worry. The pandemic is still raging, violence and unrest in our country is epidemic, and the hate and vitriol I see spewed out on our social … Read More
Have you ever looked around you at the evidence of the sin-curse and just had to “sigh” within your spirit? Lately it seems like that is all I do! In this chapter of Mark’s Gospel, we see the Savior sighing … Read More
Zig Ziglar once told the story of a newly wed husband who watched while his young wife was putting a ham into the stove to cook. He noticed that she cut the ends off the ham before she placed it … Read More
One of my favorite hymns is “Sweet Hour of Prayer.” Purportedly written by a blind pastor in England in the first half of the 19th Century, this hymn sets forth the blessing we have in our ability to approach God’s throne of … Read More
In this sermon, Bro. Buddy Abernathy reminds us about what our motivation to serve God should be: “In a world where we’re so discouraged, where things go wrong, we have all kind of problems – it is this core doctrine … Read More
Jesus tells us that love should be the motivation of a Christian life, and the identifying mark of a Christian walk. And shouldn’t the greatest love be focused upon the One Who loved us first, and lay down His life … Read More
Where did the summer go? I know this has been a crazy year, with a shortened school spring semester, but It still seems like it was just yesterday that the schools were dismissing! I remember when I was a young child, in … Read More
In this sermon series from the Gospel of Mark, we’ve already asked “What happens when Jesus is asleep in your ship?” The answer: the God of Heaven NEVER sleeps nor slumbers! We’ve also asked, “What happens when Jesus gets there … Read More
Do we too often evaluate our present circumstances in light of our own limited abilities? Do we look around and say to ourselves, “There’s really nothing here that can help?” The disciples did that: they saw 5000 hungry people, and … Read More
Last week, my family and I were on vacation and did not have good enough service to post anything. I apologize for the absence! But we had a wonderful time of family fellowship, and enjoyed seeing some wonderful sights of … Read More
It’s been said that the definition of a “big preacher” is a “little preacher who is 100 miles or more away from home.” Sometimes, we dismiss that with which we are most familiar. In this sermon, Pastor Chris McCool shares … Read More
All of us have experienced sorrow and loss. When my father died on January 1, 2020, my brother and I wept and felt the loss keenly. But our grief was not despair – we don’t grieve as those who have … Read More
Have you ever experienced a tragedy or loss, and felt like Jesus got there too late? Jairus was a ruler of the synagogue, who came to Jesus with the urgent news that his little daughter was dying. Before Jesus and … Read More
Do you ever feel like you just don’t fit in? Have you ever wondered why you don’t identify with the multitudes who seem to be right at home with all the goings-on in this world? The reason for this is … Read More
Have you ever wondered if the Bible has anything to say about dating and relationships? In this message, Pastor Chris McCool teaches us from God’s word about how to engage in godly dating. We hope you enjoy this timely message … Read More
I don’t know about you, but I often struggle with keeping prompt in my appointments. I have very good intentions: I never INTEND to be late, but often circumstances beyond my control seem to conspire to prevent me from being … Read More
Do you have a “Pig Story?” We all have incidents in our lives where God delivered us in ways we NEVER expected! Meet such a man in this sermon: a wild Gadarene mad-man whose life seemed hopeless until he met … Read More
When the storms of life hit your little boat, there are two ways to handle it: you can try to take over yourself and ride out the storm, or you can turn it over to the One Who has power … Read More
In this sermon, Elder Buddy Abernathy sets forth the Biblical principle that you generally reap what you sow, where you sow it, and in greater abundance than what you sowed. In our daily lives, this principle applies in a spiritual … Read More
Beloved Friends: Does it seem to you that Mondays are difficult days to maintain your focus on the Kingdom of God? I sure do! I find that Mondays are usually the easiest day of the week for me to “fall … Read More
John 3:16 is probably the most well known, yet least understood, verses in the entire Bible. Most people believe it declares a conditional salvation, that depends upon men’s efforts to believe or accept it. In this wonderful exegesis of this … Read More
Sometimes I get the legitimate question, “What exactly IS a Primitive Baptist?” My brother, Elder Tim McCool, pastor of Bethlehem Primitive Baptist Church in Echola, Alabama, wrote this article several years ago, in an attempt to answer many questions that … Read More
In this fourth message in our sermon series on the Gospel of Mark, Pastor Chris McCool expounds upon the parable of the Sower, which Jesus says is the key to understanding ALL parables that He is about to give them. … Read More
Have you put God into a box of your own making? Have your preconceived notions of Who He is and what He can do caused you to see Him as limited in His power and hindered in His purposes? The … Read More
Over the past nine years, Zion Primitive Baptist Church has experienced a great outpouring of blessings from the Lord. We have grown from a single member (Sis. Lorene Deason) in August 2011 to over fifty members today. We have gone from meeting … Read More
In this wonderful message about the divine call to preach, Elder Buddy Abernathy reminds us that the church cannot make a preacher, only God can do that! Bro. Dillon Holley introduces this message and prays the opening prayer, reminding us … Read More
In the second chapter of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus broke it down for all those to whom He preached! The Pharisees and other religious authorities had been interpreting the Law to their advantage, but Jesus brought the divinely correct … Read More
According to most Christian historians, the Gospel of Mark was penned by John Mark, who had been a companion to Paul and Barnabas and the other disciples, and who in later years was a friend to the Apostle Peter. It … Read More
We invite you to worship with us each fifth Sunday night, as we normally have a visiting minister. We meet at the normal time of 5 p.m., and have finger foods/fellowship immediately following.
The third Sunday in May of each year is Homecoming/Decoration Day at Zion Primitive Baptist Church. This year (2020) it was also the day we were able to regather once again in the church building for in-person fellowship, after a … Read More
In this final sermon of the series, How Big Is Your God?, Pastor Chris McCool reminds us that God is big enough to trust with our future. Just like Joseph, we face uncertainty and hardship. Yet the same God Who … Read More
In this next to last sermon in our series on the life of Joseph, Pastor Chris McCool reminds us how Joseph got here: from the sheepfold in Canaan to the pit near Dothan, from the prison to the palace in … Read More
Sometimes the truth is hard to take – especially the truth about ourselves! In this seventh sermon in our series on the life of Joseph, Pastor Chris McCool asks the probing question, Can you handle the truth? We see from … Read More
In this sixth sermon in our series, “How Big Is Your God?”, Pastor Chris McCool shows us how we sometimes have to ask the question, “How big am I?” Joseph could have taken revenge on his brothers, but he knew … Read More
Pastor Chris McCool continues our series dealing with the question, “How Big Is Your God?” by examining the 41st chapter of Genesis, and Joseph’s elevation from the prison to the palace. We see in this account that God is able … Read More
The 40th chapter of Genesis opens with Joseph waiting patiently in prison, unsure what the future holds even as he continues to serve God. The question he must ask is whether God is big enough for us to wait upon? … Read More
In this third sermon in our series on the life of Joseph, How Big Is Your God?, Pastor Chris McCool reminds us about the most important question to ask in the midst of either adversity or prosperity: Whose am I? … Read More
In this message, Elder Buddy Abernathy explains what Primitive Baptists believe about the new birth, and how a man must have spiritual life before he can have any spiritual light shed on the teachings of God’s word.
The family has always been an essential building block of the Kingdom of God. Elder Tracy Frederickson preaches a message encouraging us in this area.
There are many things that abide in this world, most of which only abide temporarily. However, there are some things that abide eternally, most importantly the love of God for His people. Elder Lonnie Mozingo, Jr., sets forth some of … Read More
Elder Lonnie Mozingo, Jr., sets forth the comfort that can only be found in the sovereign grace of God in saving His people from their sins.
Elder Coy Thomas expounds upon Matthew 11:28-30 in nautical terms, bringing the sweet sound of gospel comfort through the words of Jesus Christ.
Have you ever considered the conflict between justice and mercy? In nature, these two concepts can never coexist because by definition justice means receiving what you deserve, whereas mercy means NOT getting what you deserve! But when it comes to … Read More
In this message, Elder Tracy Frederickson, pastor of Little Hope Primitive Baptist Church in Madera, California, reminds us of the importance of the Kingdom of God to Jesus AND to us, and how the Church – although the visible aspect … Read More
Do you ever feel distracted by the things going on in your life? Perhaps some activity – that is in and of itself not a bad thing – becomes a distraction to you in your service to God. What should … Read More
There is a special relationship between the Lord’s people and the Lord’s church. In this sermon, Elder Buddy Abernathy expounds upon that relationship and encourages us to be devoted to that which the Lord is devoted unto!
Pastor Chris McCool continues the series on the life of Joseph entitled “How Big Is Your God?” by delving into the early life of Joseph, from being a shepherd boy in Canaan to a prisoner in Egypt. No doubt he … Read More
In this Message, Pastor Chris McCool goes through the original Articles of Faith of Zion Primitive Baptist Church, which were adopted by the church when it was constituted in 1847, and asks the question: Are these original Articles of Faith … Read More… Read More
In this Message, Pastor Chris McCool goes through the original Articles of Faith of Zion Primitive Baptist Church, which were adopted by the church when it was constituted in 1847, and asks the question: Are these original Articles of Faith … Read More
In this message, Pastor Chris McCool launches a new series entitled “How Big Is Your God?”, based on the life of Joseph beginning in Genesis 37. In this series, we will explore the ways in which Joseph’s BIG view of … Read More
In this message, Pastor Chris McCool launches a new series entitled “How Big Is Your God?”, based on the life of Joseph beginning in Genesis 37. In this series, we will explore the ways in which Joseph’s BIG view of … Read More… Read More
Elder Buddy Abernathy brings an outstanding message from Isaiah 50:10-11, reminding us that even when we are not sure what to do, we can trust God and wait upon Him to guide us.
Elder Buddy Abernathy brings an outstanding message from Isaiah 50:10-11, reminding us that even when we are not sure what to do, we can trust God and wait upon Him to guide us.… Read More
In this message, Elder Buddy Abernathy reminds us of the need for humility in our daily walk. Listen as he describes the Bible definition of humility, and how it will help us here and now.… Read More
In this message, Elder Buddy Abernathy reminds us of the need for humility in our daily walk. Listen as he describes the Bible definition of humility, and how it will help us here and now.… Read More… Read More
How should we deal with daily circumstances? Should we be "reactionary", tossed to and fro by the circumstances of life that come upon us? Or should our focus be on the future - not just tomorrow, but the generations to come? In this timely message from Jeremiah 29:11, Pastor McCool reminds us that our focus should be on playing the "long game," not just on reacting to the problems of life with a short-term view.… Read More
How should we deal with daily circumstances? Should we be "reactionary", tossed to and fro by the circumstances of life that come upon us? Or should our focus be on the future - not just tomorrow, but the generations to come?… Read More
Pastor Chris McCool follows up on a recent message dealing with the question, “How do I find the right person?”, by concluding that the Lord Himself is our “Right Person,” and that we should be striving not to FIND the … Read More
Pastor Chris McCool follows up on a recent message dealing with the question, “How do I find the right person?”, by concluding that the Lord Himself is our “Right Person,” and that we should be striving not to FIND the … Read More… Read More
In this sermon, Pastor Chris McCool deals with a question that is prevalent on the minds of nearly every young, single person: how do I find the right person? He emphasizes what scripture says about this issue, and ultimately points … Read More… Read More
In this sermon, Pastor Chris McCool deals with a question that is prevalent on the minds of nearly every young, single person: how do I find the right person? He emphasizes what scripture says about this issue, and ultimately points … Read More
In this sermon, Elder Chris McCool preaches about the piece of land known as the “Potter’s Field” and its significance.… Read More
In this sermon, Elder Chris McCool preaches about the piece of land known as the “Potter’s Field” and its significance.
In this Sermon, Elder Chris McCool asks the listener to imagine how much more positive your outlook might be if you approached life as if the Lord was coming back at 6 p.m today .… Read More
In this Sermon, Elder Chris McCool asks the listener to imagine how much more positive your outlook might be if you approached life as if the Lord was coming back at 6 p.m today .
In this sermon, Elder Mike Ivey preaches about the Biblical doctrine of Baptism.… Read More
In this sermon, Elder Mike Ivey preaches about the Biblical doctrine of Baptism. Download Audio File
In this sermon, Elder Buddy Abernathy teaches on the subject of contentment. Being content is a very difficult task in this modern world. Elder Abernathy sheds light on the Biblical principles of contentment.… Read More
In this sermon, Elder Buddy Abernathy teaches on the subject of contentment. Being content is a very difficult task in this modern world. Elder Abernathy sheds light on the Biblical principles of contentment.
In this sermon, Pastor Chris McCool corrects some of the misunderstandings about what Primitive Baptists believe, and sets forth a synopsis of the foundational beliefs of the Primitive Baptist faith.… Read More
by Elder Chris McCool (preached on 5/19/2019) In this sermon, Pastor Chris McCool corrects some of the misunderstandings about what Primitive Baptists believe, and sets forth a synopsis of the foundational beliefs of the Primitive Baptist faith. Download Audio File
In this message brother John Morgan Owens considers the Spiritual Gifts that God has left for the Church. God did not just set up His kingdom here and leave us to it, He leads us with his spirit and He … Read More… Read More
In this message brother John Morgan Owens considers the Spiritual Gifts that God has left for the Church. God did not just set up His kingdom here and leave us to it, He leads us with his spirit and He … Read More
Elder Luke Hagler introduces services by preaching about the labor of the ministry. There should not be preacher jealousy, because “he that planteth and he that watereth are one” and even John the Baptist would only claim to be a … Read More
Elder Luke Hagler introduces services by preaching about the labor of the ministry. There should not be preacher jealousy, because “he that planteth and he that watereth are one” and even John the Baptist would only claim to be a … Read More… Read More
In this message, brother John Morgan Owens talks about some of the roles that Christ fulfills for us. Including, our fitman, our scapegoat, our lamb, our elder brother, and our beloved. Christ is everything for us, shouldn’t we make him … Read More… Read More
In this message, brother John Morgan Owens talks about some of the roles that Christ fulfills for us. Including, our fitman, our scapegoat, our lamb, our elder brother, and our beloved. Christ is everything for us, shouldn’t we make him … Read More
In this message Elder Mike Ivey preaches about the biblical subject of adoption.… Read More
by Elder Mike Ivey In this message Elder Mike Ivey begins preaching to us about the biblical subject of adoption. What would life be like if we had not been adopted by God in Christ? What an awful thought! But … Read More
In this message Elder Matt Sonstegard preaches about the sweet assurance that we can experience in the Kingdom of God here in this life.… Read More
by Elder Matt Sonstegard In this message Elder Matt Sonstegard preaches about the sweet assurance that we can experience in the Kingdom of God here in this life. Download Audio File
In this message Elder Matt Sonstegard preaches on the subject of prayer. What should prayer look like? Elder Matt brings an encouraging message on the persistence that we should have in prayer.… Read More
by Elder Mike Ivey In this message, Elder Mike Ivey continues preaching on the biblical subject of adoption. Download Audio File
In this message, Elder Mike Ivey continues preaching on the biblical subject of adoption.… Read More
In this message Elder Matt Sonstegard preaches about salvation from Galatians 6. What does Salvation by Grace mean? He preaches on the accomplishment of salvation on the cross and the application of that salvation in the new birth.… Read More
by Elder Matt Sonstegard In this message Elder Matt Sonstegard preaches about salvation from Galatians 6. What does Salvation by Grace mean? He preaches on the accomplishment of salvation on the cross and the application of that salvation in the … Read More
by Elder Mike Ivey In this message, Elder Mike Ivey continues preaching on the biblical subject of adoption. Unfortunately, the recorder stopped working about halfway through this message. We apologize for that, especially since the remainder of that message was … Read More
In this message, Elder Mike Ivey continues preaching on the biblical subject of adoption. Unfortunately, the recorder stopped working about halfway through this message. We apologize for that, especially since the remainder of that message was very ble...… Read More
Introduction by Bro. McNeil Honea on the benefits of discipleship in the Kingdom of God here and now. Message by Bro. John Morgan Owens on the simplicity of the Gospel. The gospel is not complicated. Don’t rob yourself of the … Read More… Read More
Introduction by Bro. McNeil Honea on the benefits of discipleship in the Kingdom of God here and now. Message by Bro. John Morgan Owens on the simplicity of the Gospel. The gospel is not complicated. Don’t rob yourself of the … Read More
Elder Buddy Abernathy brings this message on the abundant life. Did you know that God didn’t just come to give you eternal life, he also came to give you life more abundantly in this life. In this message Bro. Buddy … Read More… Read More
Elder Buddy Abernathy brings this message on the abundant life. Did you know that God didn’t just come to give you eternal life, he also came to give you life more abundantly in this life. In this message Bro. Buddy … Read More
In this message Elder Ricky Harcrow preaches on the power of the cross. The cross was just a piece of wood. The cross itself had no power. The power is in the precious blood of Christ. There also is a power … Read More
In this message Elder Ricky Harcrow preaches on the power of the cross. The cross was just a piece of wood. The cross itself had no power. The power is in the precious blood of Christ. There also is a power … Read More… Read More
Elder Chris McCool brings this last message of the series on Ruth. The previous message in the series on Ruth was about Boaz as a type of Christ being our Kinsmen Redeemer, but there was another that was a closer … Read More… Read More
Elder Chris McCool brings this last message of the series on Ruth. The previous message in the series on Ruth was about Boaz as a type of Christ being our Kinsmen Redeemer, but there was another that was a closer … Read More
Elder Chris McCool brings this message on the real purpose of the Gospel. Does the Gospel save you for eternity? Does the Gospel bring you life? Tune in to this message to hear what the Bible says about the real … Read More… Read More
Elder Chris McCool brings this message on the real purpose of the Gospel. Does the Gospel save you for eternity? Does the Gospel bring you life? Tune in to this message to hear what the Bible says about the real … Read More
Elder David Wise brings this message about our daysman from the book of Job. Job spoke of the need of a daysman. What is a daysman and what does a daysman do? Tune in and Bro. David will tell you. … Read More… Read More
Elder David Wise brings this message about our daysman from the book of Job. Job spoke of the need of a daysman. What is a daysman and what does a daysman do? Tune in and Bro. David will tell you. … Read More
Elder Chris McCool continues his series of sermons on the book of Ruth. In this sermon Bro. Chris touches on Boaz as the kinsmen redeemer.… Read More
Elder Chris McCool continues his series of sermons on the book of Ruth. In this sermon Bro. Chris touches on Boaz as the kinsmen redeemer.
Some of the members got together to sing through some of the new supplemental hymn book “Songs of Zion.”… Read More
Some of the members got together to sing through some of the new supplemental hymn book “Songs of Zion.”
Some of the members got together to sing through some of the new supplemental hymn book “Songs of Zion.”… Read More
Some of the members got together to sing through some of the new supplemental hymn book “Songs of Zion.”
After church one day some of the members gathered around to sing some of the songs from the new “Songs of Zion” supplemental hymnbook. This song is hymn no. 29 in the book “The Power of the Cross.”
After church one day some of the members gathered around to sing some of the songs from the new “Songs of Zion” supplemental hymnbook. This song is hymn no. 29 in the book “The Power of the Cross.”… Read More
Elder Chris McCool follows a message by Elder Neil Honea and continues with some of the same thoughts. He brings this message from the books of Hosea and Song of Solomon and focuses on our Husband and his coming.
Elder Neil Honea brings a message on some of the ways that the Old Testament points toward the coming of Christ and of the New Testament.
Elder Chris McCool continues in the book of Ruth to deliver a timely message for the child of God. When things don’t look good we are tempted to go around God’s way and do it our way. However, it is … Read More
Elder Buddy Abernathy brings a message on the importance of the Family in the midst of a sinful world.
Elder Chris McCool brings a message on the book of Ruth. He focuses in on the beautiful example of the Love of God for His people as seen in the love of Boaz for Ruth.
Elder Chris McCool brings a message on the Biblical subject of Predestination. Although the doctrine of predestination is often viewed as something negative, the truth is, the way the Bible teaches it is very positive. The doctrine of predestination is … Read More
In this message Elder Chris McCool explores the beautiful passages of the Song of Solomon. Download Audio File
Bro. John Morgan Owens addresses the topic of Pressing into the Kingdom. What does it mean, what does it look like, and what are the benefits of pressing into the kingdom? Download Audio File