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The Call to Pray for our NationJuly 1, 20182 Chron 7:13-15 13 "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, 14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 15 Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place NIVLast week we started a new series on the Parables this week we are going to hit the pause button on the series. As we approach Independence Day I want you to consider with me now dependent up God we are as a nation and how desperately we need to call on him today.The founding fathers and framers of this nation understood this…3 years later after the declaration of Independence while attempting to write establish the constitution the delegates reach and impasse and many where threating to leave the meeting. After remaining silent and listen Benjamin Franklin rose and the following are some of the words he spoke that day:I have lived, Sir, a long time, and the longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth- that God governs in the affairs of men. And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without his notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without his aid? We have been assured, Sir, in the sacred writings, that “except the Lord build the House they labour in vain that build it.” I firmly believe this; and I also believe that without his concurring aid we shall succeed in this political building no better than the Builders of Babel: We shall be divided by our little partial local interests; our projects will be confounded, and we ourselves shall become a reproach and bye word down to future ages. And what is worse, mankind may hereafter from this unfortunate instance, despair of establishing Governments be Human Wisdom and leave it to chance, war and conquest.I therefore beg leave to move, that henceforth prayers imploring the assistance of Heaven, and its blessings on our deliberations, be held in this Assembly every morning before we proceed to business, and that one or more of the Clergy of the City be requested to officiate in that service.Now let’s consider our text this morning if this nation (or any other) is to survive and thrive it will be because the Lord builds the house and his hand rests upon it. We like Israel of Solomon’s day need to following God’s direction and Call on Him.Notice First that God says for a nation to be turned around…I.               My people who are called by my name (2 Chron. 7:14) if my people, who are called by my nameNotice the person and the qualifications of the persons, it is….a.     Not political parties, or the media or entertainment industriesWe are mistaken when we think that the answer for the critical problems – the insurmountable issues of peoples and nation faces have their solutions apart from God! The answer for America is neither democratic or republican, it is neither Fox, NBC, CBS, or ABC News – It will only be found in the Good News of this book – God’s Word.Isa 31:1,3Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help, who rely on horses, who trust in the multitude of their chariots and in the great strength of their horsemen, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or seek help from the Lord.  3 But the Egyptians are men and not God; their horses are flesh and not spirit. ·      Trusting in and relying on men instead of God is idolatrous to God·      Someone said, economists trust market and economic forces, militarialists trust their weapons and machines of war, and the leader of Jerusalem trusted in the might

The Parables of JesusThe Parable of the SoilJune 24, 2018    Introduction:This morning we begin a new series on the parables of Jesus. As many of you know the text that we asked everyone to join us in memorizing is “This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”  Matthew 13:35 (ESV)I want to point your attention to the fact that just prior to verse 35, verse 34 says, “Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.” Why? According to the text we are memorizing together its to reveal hidden truth! So for the next several weeks we are going to study these parables. Let’s get started his morning by reading for the sake of time some select verses from Matthew 13.Text:Matt 13:1-9, 18-23That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop — a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 He who has ears, let him hear." 18 "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown." NIVLet’ first observe the parts and pieces of the parable:There is the farmer of the sower, there is the seed, there are birds that came devouring the seed and then there is the different types or kinds of soil.Notice the sower and seed is constant, that is they never change. It is only the soil conditions, where the seed fell that is different. In this parable Jesus is primarily focusing the conditions of the heart. This morning my prayer is that each of us will ask and answer what is the condition of my heart? Where am I in this parable? What type of soil represents my spiritual development and journey with Jesus? Soo let’s examine the text with this in mind.The first type of soil or heart condition that Jesus refers to is the soil…I.      Along the Path – A Heart that is Harden (Matthew 13:18-19) "Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path.

Father’s Day ServiceThe Christian Father’s FocusJune 17, 20181 Thess 2:11-12For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. NIVI know I have said this to you numerous times but its so important that we hear and understand just like there are no prefect families there are no perfect earthly father’s.Recently came across a survey that was given to fathers where they anonymously answered some questions about how being a dad changed them.·      90% said that becoming a father made them want to be a better person & role model for their kids·      75% felt a weight of responsibility now that they had before·      75% said they were less judgmental of other dads·      42% said they had a constant concern about their children’s safety When asked about which of 3 challenges most concerned them, they chose:1.     Steering kids clear of alcohol & drugs (38%)2.     Protecting kids from Sex & Violence in media (28%)3.     Supporting a family in a bad economy (28%)Given all the responsibilities and concerns wouldn’t it be great if there was a build – a -dad app? Well take a look at this!!!Play Build a Dad VideoDads, we can be easily overwhelmed with the responsibilities and concerns of fatherhood but our text this morning give us 3 simple directions of being a great Christian dad. The Bible tells us…The Christian father focuses on…I.      Encouraging His Children (I Thess. 2:12) each of you as a father deals with his own children,

Your host this episode is John Berryman.