ATTENTION: WEBSITE ISSUES!

WE ARE HAVING ISSUES WITH SOME OF OUR PAGES. IT APPEARS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH ONE OF OUR PROVIDERS. HOPEFULLY IT WILL CORRECT ITSELF SOON, IF NOT I MAY HAVE TO REDESIGN THOSE PAGES AGAIN. THIS IS THE FIRST PROBLEM OF THIS TYPE WE HAVE ENCOUNTERED SINCE THE WEBSITE WAS LAUNCHED.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Thanksgiving prayers were first uttered by God's people in the Old Testament and God ordained a specific sacrificial offering for thanksgiving. David, the psalmist, wrote many Thanksgiving devotions and Paul the apostle taught that we are to always pray and give thanks to God in all circumstances. When we use the Bible for devotions and for prayers, we are following after the hearts of men and women who led exemplary ideals for worshipping God. This November, if looking for good lessons to share with family or for prayers to pray during the holidays, turn to the Bible and find inspiration that turns a heart towards gratitude and finds the peace that much of the holiday season is promoting.

THE BIBLE

The Bible is a collection of sixty-six documents inspired by God. These documents are gathered into two testaments, the Old (39) and the New (27). Prophets, priests, kings, and leaders from the nation of Israel wrote the Old Testament books in Hebrew (with two passages in Aramaic). The apostles and their associates wrote the New Testament books in Greek. The Old Testament begins with the creation of the universe and closes about four hundred years before the birth of Jesus Christ.

The History of the Old Testament

•      Creation of the universe

•      Fall of man

•      Flood over the whole earth

•      Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Israel)—fathers of the chosen nation

•      The history of Israel begins

•      Exile in Egypt—430 years

•      Exodus and wilderness wanderings—40 years

•      Conquest of Canaan—7 years

•      Era of Judges—350 years

•      United Kingdom—Saul, David, Solomon—110 years

•      Divided Kingdom—Judah/Israel—350 years

The details of Old Testament history are explained in the 39 books, which are divided into 5 categories:

•      Return and rebuilding the land—140 years

•      The Law—5 books (Genesis–Deuteronomy)

•      History—12 books (Joshua–Esther)

•      Wisdom—5 books (Job–Song of Solomon)

•      Major Prophets—5 books (Isaiah–Daniel)

•      Minor Prophets—12 books (Hosea–Malachi)

 

NEW CLASS MEMBERS

ADULTS 4 CHRIST

Our recent class visitors are now our newest members.
Everyone needs to welcome:

Wayne and Melody Ashworth

CHRISTIAN DEATH SENTENCE

An Iranian pastor who has refused to renounce his Christian faith faces execution as early as Wednesday after his sentence was upheld by an Iranian court.

Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani, who maintains he has never been a Muslim as an adult, has Islamic ancestry and therefore must recant his faith in Jesus Christ, the 11th branch of Iran's Gilan Provincial Court ruled. Iran's Supreme Court had ordered the trial court to determine whether Nadarkhani had been a Muslim prior to converting to Christianity.

Nadarkhani, a pastor in the 400-member Church of Iran, has been held in that country's Gilan Province since October 2009, after he protested to local education authorities that his son was forced to read from the Koran at school. His wife, Fatemeh Pasandideh, was also arrested in June 2010 in an apparent attempt to pressure him to renounce his faith. She was released in October 2010, according to Amnesty International.

Father Jonathan Morris, a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of New York and an analyst for Fox News Channel, said Nadarkhani's case is "unmistakable evidence" that Iran is executing Christians simply because they refuse to become Muslims.

Morris continued: "Will President Obama, and the free world, allow the United Nations to continue in its cowardly silence on this matter?"

CLASS BOOTH FOR "COUNTRY FAIR"

The Grace Baptist Annual Fall Picnic is on October 16th this year. The theme is " Country Fair". Sunday School Classes are responsible for coming up with an activity or booth that they will maintain during the party. Adults 4 Christ will have a pitching booth. Prizes will be given out such as cupcakes, cookies , or candy bars (while they last) to anyone that can throw a strike from an appropriate distance.  A "TOP GUN" award will be given to three people. The people who throw the fastest recorded strike from the 3 age appropriate mounds will receive a trophy. A softball mound (35ft) and 2 baseball mounds (46ft (60ft) will be provided. Adults can win a prize but are not eligible for "TOP GUN" trophies.

CHRISTIANITY WITHOUT DISCIPLESHIP

I've been haunted by a quote I read recently by Detrich Bonhoeffer:

“Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Christ.”

This statement is up-front in saying that without discipleship, Christianity doesn’t exist, because following Jesus activates the Christian faith.

Sadly, non-discipleship “Christianity” dominates the thinking of the American church.
Many Christians are walking around with a “grace and forgiveness only” theology.

Dallas Willard once said “We have not only been saved by grace, we have been paralyzed by it.” How will you change this mindset with yourself and the people God has entrusted to you?

Questions to consider:
1.What is your understanding of discipleship? Compare it to how Jesus discipled.
2.Are you pursuing and practicing discipleship as a follower of Christ or have you settled for “grace and forgiveness only” theology?
3.Are you using the doctrine of justification by faith and God’s grace to teach that people don’t really need to follow Jesus to be Christians?
       Mark Satterfield Blog

ALL ARE BROTHERS AND SISTERS

It is an interesting fact that Jesus never tried to 'convert' people. When he healed the Roman centurion's servant, for example, he did not demand that the centurion become one of his followers. He simply commended him for his faith: 'Not even in Israel have I found faith as great a this' (Lk.7:9). Jesus did not try to convert the gentile Syrophoenician woman, but simply told her that her daughter would be cured (Mk. 7:24-30).

Rather, Jesus entered into dialogue with people of other faiths, sharing his story with them, reaching out to the mystery of God active in their lives. He was never coercive; nor should we be. The Good News of Christ's life, death and resurrection should give wings to the feet, and voice to the tongue. Christians of all denominations are called upon to share the Good News with one another, because they simply cannot bottle it up, not because they don't respect others' beliefs or think that other people cannot be saved. We cannot truly pray to God the Father of all if we treat people as other than sisters or brothers, for we are all created in God's image. Treating people in this respectful way fosters reconciliation and peace among peoples everywhere.

GOOD NEWS

The good news is, God’s pencil has no eraser. Before you breathed your first word, God knew how you would respond to His offer of grace. According to His foreknowledge, He wrote your name in the book of life. And there it shall remain forever. Jesus said it this way:

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. —John 10:27-28

Stanley, C. F. (1990). Eternal security : Can you be sure?. Nashville: Oliver-Nelson Books.

A BLIND SPOT IN AMERICAN CHRISTIANITY

What is the difference between someone who willfully indulges in sexual pleasures while ignoring the Bible on moral purity and someone who willfully indulges in the selfish pursuit of more and more material possessions while ignoring the Bible on caring for the poor? The difference is that one involves a social taboo in the church and the other involves a social norm in the church.

We look back on slave-owning churchgoers of 150 years ago and ask, "How could they have treated their fellow human beings that way?" I wonder if followers of Christ 150 years from now will look back at Christians in America today and ask, "How could they live in such big houses? How could they drive such expensive cars and wear such nice clothes? How could they live in such affluence while tens of thousands of children were dying everyday because they didn"t have food and water? How could they go on with their lives as though the billions of poor didn't even exist?"

Is materialism a blind spot in American Christianity today? More specifically, is materialism a blind spot in your Christianity today? 
Surely this is something we must uncover, for if our lives do not reflect radical compassion for the poor, there is reason to question just how effective we will be in declaring the glory of Christ to the ends of the earth. More pointedly, if our lives do not reflect radical compassion for the poor, there is reason to wonder if Christ is really in us at all.  In the end will your wealth serve to be a blessing for you or a millstone around your neck?

DAVID PLATT - FROM THE BOOK "RADICAL"

BRENDA ADDRESSES DROUGHT CRISIS IN AFRICA

Help African Drought Victims Meet Critical Needs

Millions of children and families are being affected by a severe drought in East Africa. Many children under the age of 5 are dying from malnutrition.

DROUGHT RELIEF ASSISTANCE 

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Brenda shared this immediate need with our class and called for a vote regarding our desire for an Adults 4 Christ response. Per the class vote $100.00 was sent this week to Compassion International for additional support for Beletech, our class sponsored child in Ethiopia, during the worst drought Ethiopia has seen in years.
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Once again proving that from our small classroom we can impact the other side of the world.

CLASS CELEBRATES ROACH WEDDING



Kim Morrow put together plans for our class to meet after church on Sunday 7/24 at the Cock Of The Walk near Opryland to celebrate the Roach Family Wedding. There was a great turnout including friends we haven't seen in a while. From all appearances there were many gifts for Matt to take home and share with his wife after she got home from work. Adults 4 Christ wish the newlyweds the best, we love Frank and Debbie and are blessed to have them in our class.

LATEST PRAYER BUTTONS FOR CLASS CAMPAIGN

Brenda has a new button that is slightly larger and easier to read to kick off our Class Prayer Campaign. This latest class Mission received a boost recently when Bro. Andre' mentioned it from the pulpit during a Sunday service. If you want to help support this prayerful cause, just see Brenda Steakley. Please remember to wear the button at church to show the Coleman family how much we love them and support them in prayer. You can bet each family member will be on the lookout and each button they see will touch their hearts and provide maybe a little comfort while Cody is away.
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IMPORTANT: Printed at the bottom of the button
under PRAYER WARRIOR is "Psalm 138:7". That
scripture is printed below.
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.......................Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
.......................You will revive me; You will stretch forth
.......................your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
.......................And your right hand will save me. .
..........................................Psalm 138:7.......NAS Version

RADICAL: WHO DO YOU REALLY WORSHIP?

Put yourself in the shoes of the eager followers of Jesus in the first century. What if you were the potential diciple being told to drop your nets? What if you were the person whom Jesus told to not even say good-bye to your family? What if you were told to hate your families and give up everything you had in order to follow Jesus?
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...This is where we come face to face with a dangerous reality. We do have to give up everything we have to follow Jesus. We do have to love him in a way that makes our closest relationships in this world look like hate. And it is entirely possible that he will tell us to sell everything we have and give it to the poor.
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...But we don't want to believe it. We are afraid of what it might mean for our lives. So we rationalize these passages away. "Jesus wouldn't really tell us not to bury our father or not to say good-bye to our family. Jesus didn't literally mean to sell all we have and give it to the poor. What Jesus really meant was....."
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...This is where we need to pause. Because we are starting to redefine Christianity. We are giving in to the dangerous temptation to take the Jesus of the Bible and twist him into a version of Jesus we are comfortable with.
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...A nice, middle class, American Jesus. A Jesus who doesn't mind materialism and who would never call us to give away everything we have. A Jesus who would not expect us to forsake our closest relationships so that he receives all our affection. A Jesus who is fine with nominal devotion that does not infringe on our comforts, bacause , after all, he loves us just the way we are. A Jesus who wants us balanced, who wants us to avoid dangerous extremes, and who, for that matter, wants us to avoid danger altogether. A Jesus who brings us comfort and prosperity as we live out our Christian spin on the American dream.
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...But do you realize what you and I are doing at this point? We are molding Jesus into our image. He is beginning to look alot like us because, after all , that is whom we ae most comfortable with. And the danger now is that when we gather in our church building to sing and lift up our hands in worship, we may not actually be worshiping the Jesus of the Bible. Instead we may be worshiping ourselves.
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RADICAL: TAKING BACK YOUR FAITH FROM THE AMERICAN DREAM - BY DAVID PLATT

CODY COLEMAN PRAYER CAMPAIGN

Cody and Missy Coleman's Son, Cody Jr. will be going back to Afghanistan again very soon. It's hard to imagine how difficult it must be to have a child regardless of their age in this kind of danger. Last time Brenda started a prayer chain that our class continued until his safe return. Again Brenda is gathering the troops (prayer warriors) to cover him with prayer with a "CODY COLEMAN PRAYER BUTTON CAMPAIGN". Brenda will have the buttons available in class.
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LETS WEAR THEM UNTIL HE RETURNS THEN SIGN THE BACK AND SEND THEM TO HIM.

WHAT IS EASTER?

On Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ. It is typically the most well-attended Sunday service of the year for Christian churches.

Christians believe, according to Scripture, that Jesus came back to life, or was raised from the dead, three days after his death on the cross. As part of the Easter season, the death of Jesus Christ by crucifixion is commemorated on Good Friday, always the Friday just before Easter. Through his death, burial, and resurrection, Jesus paid the penalty for sin, thus purchasing for all who believe in him, eternal life in Christ Jesus.

SUNDAY 4/17

Our class was blessed with 2 visitors to our class today.
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Mark and Wendy Ingram

GOD'S PLAN FOR SHARING

Sunday, April 3rd, Grace kicked off our GPS mission with a Prayer Walk. There appeared to be about 200 church volunteers ready to go after enjoying a nice lunch together. The Adults4Christ Sunday School Class was well represented, as several members were seen receiving their information packets. It was very windy but the temperature was perfect. It was a great day to share the Lord, pray for our surrounding neighbors, and stretch our legs at the same time. Bruce did an excellent job preparing for this first step.

CHRISTIAN MISSIONS

Short-term mission work is rapidly growing in popularity for church youth groups and ministry teams. Many Christians agree that mission trips are helpful but admit that lack of preparedness—both cultural and spiritual—can hinder the true mission.

Approximately two million North Americans will go on short-term missions this year. Hundreds of thousands of these are teenagers who will be swinging hammers and pounding nails in places like Juarez, Mexico, and Choluteca, Honduras.

Our greatest need in Christianity is not necessarily for more short-term mission work, but for generating future missionaries and mission supporters through that exposure. This travel guide will direct and challenge you on topics like culture, flexibility, what you do and don’t have to offer, the biblical basis for mission work, relationships on the field, and ways to discover and use your gifts on your trip.

Whether it be short-term or for a lifetime, a missionary’s ultimate goal of reaching people has more to do with building relationships than making contacts. In order to do this, one must endeavor to be wholly like Jesus, who was gentle, pure, and kind; who hung out with the “untouchables”; who valued every individual He encountered; and who taught us how to truly love one another.

GRACE MANOR SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

Sunday, February 20th was a great day for our Adults 4 Christ Class. We shared our study time, food and love with the residents of Grace Manor.
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It touched our hearts at how happy they were to see us. Some followed word for word as Joe read our study scripture for the week during his presentation. Some had to show us their rooms and most were eager to share hugs as well. When they took your hand you felt like they didn't want to let go.

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It was one of those rare days when you hold on to great feelings of joy and at the same time have to hold back a few tears.

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God has blessed our church with Grace Manor, and this was a day when we were allowed to share that blessing with the wonderful people who live there.

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Thank God for Grace Baptist Church for allowing us this great opportunity to share the love of Christ. Thank God for our teachers, Joe and Brenda Steakley for their efforts in leading us thru-out this mission.

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Below is a gift our class left for the residents, first to remember Christ and then to remember us and our visit. That morning we left with everything we needed to remember them locked away in our hearts.

REMEMBER TO DOUBLE CLICK ON ALL THE PHOTOS

THE PRODIGAL SON

The parable of the prodigal son shows the attitude of the self-righteous sinner, pictured by the older son. He quarreled with his father that the younger son had messed up and yet the father had prepared for him the “fatted calf.” Because he considered himself better than the younger son, he could not share in the father’s joy. “My son,” the father said, “you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.” The older son’s hardness of heart made him unaware of the riches available to him in his father’s house. This son complained that he had “slaved all these years.” He had no more love for the father than the younger son; nor did he avail himself of all the good things the father freely provided for him at all times. Both sin and self-righteousness separate us from God. We all require God’s grace, His unearned, unmerited love for us. The father went out to the disgruntled older son. God is He who always continues to seek after us, regardless of the state we are in.

ROOM IN THE INN

Once again the Adults 4 Christ Class stepped up and did an outstanding job handling their Room In The Inn assignment. There was so much food left over that we could have fed another group. The only thing that we had more of than food was people to help out. We served meat loaf, mashed potatoes, green beans, and rolls. As well as the regular desserts offered by the church our class provided and served Blue Bell ice cream to everyone. Gloves and reading glasses, purchased with money collected at our Christmas Party were given to each person in the group. Rob and Caye Darnell conducted the prayer and worship service.

IMPORTANT NOTE: It’s always amazing when this Class is given an assignment and before they’re done they raise the bar a notch or 2. Thank God for this Mission Project and for Grace allowing us to help.

God is always fair. He will remember how you helped his people in the past and how you are still helping them. You belong to God, and he won’t forget the love you have shown his people.
Hebrews 6:10 (The Contemporary English Version)

The SBC Day of Prayer is a time of prayer, fasting, and repentance. The goal of this Solemn Assembly is for congregations to "Be still and know that God is God," as a sign of humility and desire to wholeheartedly return to Him. By being still before Him (see Psalm 46:10), we exalt our God and position ourselves to obey the Great Commandment found in Mark 12:29-31 and the Great Commission our Lord gave in Matthew 28:18-20. We have forgotten our first love (Revelation 2:4). We need revival in the SBC. We need God's direction.

WHO WAS LOTTIE MOON

Lottie Moon - the namesake of the international missions offering - has become something of a legend to us. But in her time Lottie was anything but an untouchable hero. In fact, she was like today's missionaries. She was a hard-working, deep-loving Southern Baptist who labored tirelessly so her people group could know Jesus.