North Anderson Baptist

God Plagues Egypt

Administrator — Mon, 28 May 2012 03:11:26 +0000

Bill Rigsby continues his series on Exodus with this message on the first nine plagues of Egypt.

Bill’s verses and notes on YouVersion.

WAS JESUS POLITICALLY CORRECT?

Bill Davis — Fri, 25 May 2012 01:46:07 +0000

“Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Mark 2:16) “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” (Mark 2:24) “Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched Him closelyto see if He would heal him on the Sabbath.

Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, ‘Stand up in front of everyone.’ Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” (Mark 3:2-4) Some people use these passages to say that Jesus did not believe in strict observance of God’s law. Such efforts are not only false but very misguided. When challenged about the people He associated with, Jesus said: Mark 2:17 (NIV); “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Jesus was accustomed to fasting so when He and the disciples picked corn on the Sabbath, they certainly could have waited until the next day to eat. When Jesus healed the man with the shriveled hand, certainly this man would have been willing to wait until the next day to be healed. Jesus was trying to confront those “rule makers” and show them the true essence of God’s love. If you are living a life for Christ and not offending some people, then you had better reevaluate your witness. Christian living is often a sure way to create criticism for yourself. Your reasoning should not be to create criticism or enemies, or to keep all happy. It should be to live as closely as possible to God’s teachings. John 15:19a (NIV); “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own.”

You may be criticized, made fun of, or even persecuted. But you will be in good company. They did it to Jesus first. Matthew 5:10-12 (NIV); “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.^‘Blessed are you when people insult you,persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad,because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Do you “play it safe” or are you willing to stand up for Christ no matter the cost? Are you going to stand with the popular voice or proclaim Christ’s message? Don’t worry so much about being “politically correct”. Worry more about being “Christ correct”. In his book, “Jesus Mean and Wild”, Mark Galli states; “Truthful confrontation is one sure way to create enemies. If we fraternize with a perceived enemy of faith or morality, we run the risk of creating other enemies–sometimes even within the household of faith.” Yes, Jesus was attacked for associating with tax collectors and sinners. We should be more like Jesus and reach out to all. We may even find Jesus there.

Bill Davis

From Your Pastor, June 2012

Administrator — Fri, 25 May 2012 01:27:18 +0000

Summer! What a great time of the year that everyone looks forward to, particularly children and young people! But if you’re like me, you have to admit that we adults really like it, too. Summertime means vacation, the beach, special conferences, and wonderful times with family and friends. What an enjoyable time of the year!

With summer being a relaxing time and many of us being away from church when we go on vacation, some folks forget to give their tithes and offerings when they are away. It is so important to the mission of the church that we each be faithful to give continuously throughout the summer months so that God’s work is not interrupted. Remember that, just as your home budget needs continue weekly, so do the budget needs of your church. In addition, summertime is when our children and youth are out of school and their ministries really go to the next level with activities and expenses. If you are planning a vacation this summer, I pray that you will do whatever it takes to get your offerings to the church office before you leave. Thanks so very much for your faithfulness to God and His church. In Malachi 3:10, He promises to bless your faithfulness! “Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

Another thing that happens during the summer months is that some believers who have worked hard all year feel that summertime becomes a vacation time from the worship services and activities of the church. You can be assured that North Anderson Baptist Church is alive and well during the summer! We will continue to worship our God and serve Him in our community and beyond! We will continue to have exciting services, activities, and opportunities for service! Hebrews 10:25 urges us to continue to worship the Lord and not let anything get in the way“…not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another —and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

May the joy of summer bring you closer to the presence of God by your personal worship and service to God and His church.

June Newsletter

Administrator — Fri, 25 May 2012 01:20:49 +0000

The June issue of our monthly newsletter, The Lighthouse, is now available. We will also have copies available in the Welcome Center for those that do not have internet access and will be mailing to our homebound and nursing home members. If you would like to be reminded by email when new newsletters are available, please send an email to church@northandersonbaptist.com with “newsletter emailing” as the subject. If you have any questions, please call Diana at 864-225-2575.

The Lighthouse, June 2012 Issue: pdf | html

Let My People Go! No!

Administrator — Mon, 21 May 2012 02:57:55 +0000

Bill Rigsby continues his Exodus series with this message on not always getting what you expect from God.

Download audio file (052012.mp3)

mp3 audio

Bill’s verses and notes on YouVersion.

God’s Definition of Marriage

Bill Davis — Sat, 19 May 2012 13:25:43 +0000

Well, the devotion I sent out about Same Sex Marriage seemed to have touched off a lot of comments. Virtually all, if not all, were in support of a heterosexual arrangement as described in the Bible. I was asked to expound on several areas and after careful prayer, decided to go from “high grass” to “deep water”.

One question I received was if two people loved each other why would they not get married? Good question. However homosexuality really seems to be outside God’s will for our life or definition of marriage. As one author stated, “It was Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve”. You can say what you want, but I am not, nor do I think God was anti-gay. Yes, He was anti-sin, but not anti-gay. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (CEV); “Don’t you know that evil people won’t have a share in the blessings of God’s kingdom? Don’t fool yourselves! No one who is immoral or worships idols or is unfaithful in marriage or is a pervert or behaves like a homosexual will share in God’s kingdom. Neither will any thief or greedy person or drunkard or anyone who curses and cheats others.”

The apostle Paul was greatly criticized and even persecuted for his stance on sexual immorality. Romans 1:22-27 Selected (CEV); “They claim to be wise, but they are fools. So God let these people go their own way. They did what they wanted to do, and their filthy thoughts made them do shameful things with their bodies. God let them follow their own evil desires. Women no longer wanted to have sex in a natural way, and they did things with each other that were not natural. Men behaved in the same way. They stopped wanting to have sex with women and had strong desires for sex with other men. They did shameful things with each other”. In Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, he acknowledged that he was “treading on some loose soil” but he also stated that he really didn’t care what the people said: 1 Corinthians 4:3b The Message (MSG); “It matters very little to me what you think of me, even less where I rank in popular opinion.” You see, Paul was standing up for what he knew was God’s command. To him, it was very clear. Marriage, thus life long relationships, were to be between a man and a woman, as a man and a wife.

Look at the Ten Commandments. As I have said before, it is the Ten Commandments, not the ten suggestions. Exodus 20:12 (NIV); “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.” I am sorry, but it doesn’t say, honor your mother and mother or your father and father. It says: “Honor your father and your mother.” God is talking about the kind of family He created. Paul, once again, has something to say about this: 2 Timothy 3:2 (NIV); “People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy.”

Have you heard the saying; “If it feels good, do it.” I am saying; it may not fit in with God’s teachings. We often tamper or try to change God’s earthly order to fit our needs and desires. If you tamper with God’s order, just remember, you are doing it at your own risk. Our society is trying to normalize the issue of homosexuality. Don’t be misled. God wants us to love all His children, but He also expects us to stand up for moral and Biblical issues.

Bill Davis

AMERICAN IDOL: JESUS CHRIST

Bill Davis — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:03:54 +0000

Is it American Idol or America’s god? I will say, I really enjoy the show “American Idol”. What bothers me is the public reaction to these potential stars. I was listening to interviews and one girl was saying she was a waitress just a few months ago and people were so rude to her. She even said she was a “dork” and never could get a date. Now, people was trying to just touch her hand, ask her out, even kiss the car she was riding in. Now, this is the same girl you made fun of at the restaurant and didn’t want to leave a tip to but now would be screaming happy if you could just touch her hand. John 13:5a; “Jesus poured water into a basin and began to wash His disciples feet.” Quite a different contrast here. There are words found in a song.

So now we worship and adore You
We lift our hands and praise
The Immortal, Invisible
The Ancient Of Days

Could this be what we sing to the American Idol or is this what we would sing to Jesus? There were film clips of these contestants riding into town in a stretch limousine with the road lined with adoring fans screaming and almost worshiping them. Their week was filled with glamor and adoring fans. They wanted for nothing. At the end of the week most, if not all, will have careers based on America’s idolization.

Then I remembered the story of someone else riding into town. Thing is, He didn’t have a limousine, He had a donkey. Matthew 21:7; “They placed their cloaks on a donkey, and Jesus sat on them.” Yes, there were shouts of praise but that were soon to change. Jesus Christ would go from “America’s Idol’s” to someone hated. As our own Savior said; John 15:18b; “Just remember, the world hated Me.” The crowd still wanted to touch Him, but in a different way. Matthew 26:67; Then they spit in His face and struck Him with their fists. Others slapped Him!” Could perhaps, our definition of someone to “worship and adore” need a little modification? Who will you worship today?

Bill Davis

SAME SEX MARRIAGE

Bill Davis — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:24:13 +0000

I have been asked to write something on same sex marriage. As one friend stated, “you are walking in some tall grass”. Being an outdoors-man, I guess that means, you can’t see the snakes or holes around you. As I always try to do, I went to scripture. I believe that the Bible does address homosexuality as an unnatural act. Romans 1:26-27 (NIV); “Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.” Since homosexual desires and actions are condemned by Biblical teachings, I cannot support same sex marriages. The Bible further explains the penalty for such actions. 1 Corinthians 6:9 (NIV); “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men will inherit the Kingdom of God.” I researched several explanations of the original translation for this verse. One of the best I read was from, Biblica; “The words men who have sex with men translate two Greek words that refer to the passive and active participants in homosexual acts.”

Wherever I could find mention in the Bible of marriage, it was between a male and a female. 1 Corinthians 7:2-16 (NIV); “But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.” Note the use of the words “his” wife and “her” husband. Here the Bible clearly identifies marriage as being between a man and a woman. I had a marriage that failed and ended in divorce. I have since remarried. Once again, looking at scripture, this is a sin. My current wife and I have asked for God’s forgiveness, repented and are sharing a dedicated Christian marriage. One that I certainly feel is blessed by God. If another sin is blatantly continued and not repented of, it is a sin judged and punishable by God. In this writing we are looking at the continued homosexual act.

A same sex marriage is a sin against the institution of marriage and a sin unto God who created marriage. As Christians, we are not to condone or ignore sin. We are to, however, share the love of God and the forgiveness of sins that is available to all who ask for it and repent. The word repent actually means change. I believe in order to be forgiven from a sin is to stop doing it. We all sin, but as we ask for forgiveness, we must also be willing to turn from the sin.

Often the word “union” is being used instead of the word “marriage” when it comes to a homosexual arrangement. From a legal standpoint, perhaps there is a significant difference in these terms. But from a Biblical perspective, would not either arrangement, or no formal type arrangement, be the same in the eyes of God? It is the homosexual act the Bible is addressing. Most would readily agree that the homosexual act is unnatural. The male and female bodies were created in such a way to complement each other in sexual activities. Two of the same kind just does not “fit”. The best way to counter any attack against such activity is to remove the public opposition to it. Look at many other Christian virtues and practices, such as praying in public or saying the name of Jesus in schools. We have let others convince us the Bible is wrong or we as Christians should be more tolerant. Perhaps here, tolerance is another word for being afraid to take a stand.

The President of the United States may have said he supports same sex marriage and therefore the homosexual act; but the God of the Universe condemns the unrepentant homosexual act. I for one will go with God.

Bill Davis <><

The Mother of the Redeemer

Administrator — Mon, 14 May 2012 00:35:46 +0000

Bill Rigsby’s Mother’s Day message on the courage, trust, and faith shown by Jochebed, the mother of Moses.

Download audio file (051312.mp3)

mp3 audio

Bill’s notes and verses on YouVersion.

BREAKING NEWS

Bill Davis — Wed, 09 May 2012 13:08:25 +0000

A Christian Brother of mine, a friend I love very much, was taken captive and beaten for His beliefs. He lived in a country that really didn’t hold much respect for Christians. He was a hard worker, a strong man physically. His only crime I could see was that He loved others and worshiped God. Yes, He did try to spread His beliefs. But He really never insisted that others follow His ways. He gave them a choice. I guess something like free will. As I understand, when He was arrested, the people made fun of Him and even ridiculed Him for His beliefs. At the time, He was with a group of His friends, but they all just ran away. They actually abandoned Him. One of His closest friends even denied knowing Him. I mean not once, but three times. When I was learning of the story, my emotions went from being mad to tears of sorrow. I had a lump in my throat that almost kept me from swallowing. In the United States there are laws against cruel and unusual punishment. I guess in that country, there were none. Certainly I wasn’t there, but I understand from news reports that He was beaten and tortured to the point of death. But He didn’t die, so they just kept beating Him and actually were ripping the flesh off His body. As I read of how His mother could only watch, unable to defend her son, I myself actually wanted to kill His tormentors. But then I thought of all the lessons and stories of forgiveness and love He had taught someone so unworthy as me. And I thought of how many times I had let Him down. Dear God, forgive me.

I call Him my friend, but am I willing to be seen with Him. Would He be welcomed by my church and friends. He did look a little different and certainly acted differently. People would tell me that no one loved others like He did without wanting something in return. We talked about that once and He said that He DID want something. He wanted my heart. He said: Matthew 22:37; “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” I thought that was very profane but He went on to say: Matthew 22:39b; “Love your neighbor as yourself.” He actually said these were the two greatest commandments. I understood the love God part, but how could He ask us to love those who treated Him so badly. After they tortured and beat Him, you would think they would let Him go. They didn’t! They seemed determined to kill Him for some reason. Someone came up with the idea of crucifying Him. Now that was well beyond the bounds of His deserved punishment, even in that country. But crucify Him they did. When He was finally dead, a friend of His took the body and buried it. His friends were still either hiding or trying to blend in with the crowd. What a horrible time that must have been. His life of love and teaching was now ended. WAIT!!

He had said something about rebuilding the Temple in three days, but what in the world could that mean? And then the news came. On the third day He was seen by several people. He was alive and well. He had conquered the grave and conquered death. Now, I am not much of a historian, but I never heard of any other leader accomplishing anything as grand as this. Then I remembered what they said were some of His last words. “Forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” WOW, can you believe that. And all He wants me to do is follow Him. Just obey His teachings and love others. Well, I will do my best to do that, but I would follow Him to the cross as well.

Bill Davis