Assurance Checklist
If you have received Christ as your Savior, the assurance of your salvation will be continually strengthened when you are able to answer yes to the following questions.
___ Do I enjoy fellowship with God, with Christ and with other believers? ( 1 John 1:3-4 )
___ Am I troubled when I sin or when I see it in others? ( 1 John 1:5-10 )
___ Do I try to be obedient to the commands of the Bible? ( 1 John 2:3-5 )
___ Do I reject the wrong values of our present world system? ( 1 John 2:15 )
___ Do I love Christ and look forward to His return? ( 2 Tim. 4:8, 1 John 3:2-3 )
___ Do I practice sin less than before I was a Christian? (1 John 3:5-6 )
___ Do I show love to other believers? (1 John 3:14 )
___ Have I had answers to prayer? ( 1 John 3:22; 5:15 )
___ Am I aware of the witness of the Holy Spirit to the truths of God? (Rom. 8:15-16, 1 John 4:13 )
___ Can I discern between spiritual truth and error? ( John 10:3-5,27: 1 John 4:1-6 )
___ Do I believe the basic doctrines of the Christian faith? ( 1 John 5:1 )
___ Have I ever experienced opposition because of my Christian convictions? ( Phil. 1:28-29; John 15:18-20 )
1John 5:13"These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God"
Friday, March 18, 2011
Church in the Weeds
Just two little boys walking down this dusty lane...
They came upon this old white house... with broken window panes
The paint was faded, the shine was gone... the grass had grown so
high...still they made their little feet, go see what was inside.
They opened up the squeaky door and then it came to light...
This must have been an old church house...once upon a time.
Dirty, dusty wooden pews... a pulpit that still stood...
A Bible lay upon it... though the pages weren't too good.
An offering plate and song books too... were lying on the floor
They must have left this old church fast... the day they closed
these doors.
And over in the corner... a piano was still there,
it must have played a pretty tune... but I guess nobody cared.
So little Bill looked up at Tommy... and Tommy looked at Bill...
Why don't we clean this old church up, and get these old pews filled?'
They took a rag and wiped the dust... to try and make things shine...
And then they took the offering plate... and put in it their last dime.
They took a broom and swept the floor... and picked up broken glass...
They got it all so nice and neat...and then they mowed the grass.
They lifted up the old church sign... and stood it by a tree....
right down by that old dirt road where every one could see.
They ran back home, to find Daddy gone but their Momma was
inside...Just to find her hurt again... where Daddy had made her cry.
'Don't cry Momma, wipe those tears,' Little Bill and Tommy smiled...
'Cause we have a big surprise for you... just down the road a mile.'
Hand in hand they tugged at her, until they made her run...
'What is it Bill, Oh Tommy, just what have you two kids done?'
And then they came upon the house... once hidden by the weeds...
and there it stood a country church... just like it used to be.
'But what is it, Mother? What's with your tears? We thought this would bring you joy.' 'Yes, but hush kids now and listen close... my two sweet precious boys.'
They both got quiet and stood real still... for the words they heard so true...
was Daddy praying in the church... with his head bowed on the pew.
'Forgive me Lord! Forgive me Lord! though I'm not worthy of Your love...
shine down on this sinner man, sweet Salvation from above.'
'For I've been out in the world, You know... living my life all wrong...
until I came upon this church; the place where I belong.'
'I never noticed it before... all those times I passed it up...
I guess I wasn't looking, Lord... or maybe I was drunk..'
'Bless oh Lord, yes, bless oh Lord... the one who made me see...
this little church that used to hide... behind all those tall weeds.'
And then he raised his head and stood... with his hands high in
the air...to find two dirty, tear-faced boys... with Momma standing there.
They ran up to him, hugged him tight... as their tears fell on the
floor. 'Don't worry kids, I'm not the Dad, the one you've known before.'
Things are different for us now... so keep on those pretty smiles...
and let's go gather people in... to walk down these church aisles.'
Then Bill looked up at Tommy... and Tommy looked at Bill...
'Come on brother, let's get to work... to get these old pews filled.'
'For we need no special blessing... for cleaning up this church...
'cause, God gave us back our Daddy... and that's more than gold is worth.'
Sunday morning, pews all filled and smiles on every face...
Especially two little country boys... the ones who found this place.
Though it was hid back in the weeds... and so far out of sight...
Nothing's ever hard to find if you're walking toward God's light.
1-John 1:7 'we walk in the light as
He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.'
They came upon this old white house... with broken window panes
The paint was faded, the shine was gone... the grass had grown so
high...still they made their little feet, go see what was inside.
They opened up the squeaky door and then it came to light...
This must have been an old church house...once upon a time.
Dirty, dusty wooden pews... a pulpit that still stood...
A Bible lay upon it... though the pages weren't too good.
An offering plate and song books too... were lying on the floor
They must have left this old church fast... the day they closed
these doors.
And over in the corner... a piano was still there,
it must have played a pretty tune... but I guess nobody cared.
So little Bill looked up at Tommy... and Tommy looked at Bill...
Why don't we clean this old church up, and get these old pews filled?'
They took a rag and wiped the dust... to try and make things shine...
And then they took the offering plate... and put in it their last dime.
They took a broom and swept the floor... and picked up broken glass...
They got it all so nice and neat...and then they mowed the grass.
They lifted up the old church sign... and stood it by a tree....
right down by that old dirt road where every one could see.
They ran back home, to find Daddy gone but their Momma was
inside...Just to find her hurt again... where Daddy had made her cry.
'Don't cry Momma, wipe those tears,' Little Bill and Tommy smiled...
'Cause we have a big surprise for you... just down the road a mile.'
Hand in hand they tugged at her, until they made her run...
'What is it Bill, Oh Tommy, just what have you two kids done?'
And then they came upon the house... once hidden by the weeds...
and there it stood a country church... just like it used to be.
'But what is it, Mother? What's with your tears? We thought this would bring you joy.' 'Yes, but hush kids now and listen close... my two sweet precious boys.'
They both got quiet and stood real still... for the words they heard so true...
was Daddy praying in the church... with his head bowed on the pew.
'Forgive me Lord! Forgive me Lord! though I'm not worthy of Your love...
shine down on this sinner man, sweet Salvation from above.'
'For I've been out in the world, You know... living my life all wrong...
until I came upon this church; the place where I belong.'
'I never noticed it before... all those times I passed it up...
I guess I wasn't looking, Lord... or maybe I was drunk..'
'Bless oh Lord, yes, bless oh Lord... the one who made me see...
this little church that used to hide... behind all those tall weeds.'
And then he raised his head and stood... with his hands high in
the air...to find two dirty, tear-faced boys... with Momma standing there.
They ran up to him, hugged him tight... as their tears fell on the
floor. 'Don't worry kids, I'm not the Dad, the one you've known before.'
Things are different for us now... so keep on those pretty smiles...
and let's go gather people in... to walk down these church aisles.'
Then Bill looked up at Tommy... and Tommy looked at Bill...
'Come on brother, let's get to work... to get these old pews filled.'
'For we need no special blessing... for cleaning up this church...
'cause, God gave us back our Daddy... and that's more than gold is worth.'
Sunday morning, pews all filled and smiles on every face...
Especially two little country boys... the ones who found this place.
Though it was hid back in the weeds... and so far out of sight...
Nothing's ever hard to find if you're walking toward God's light.
1-John 1:7 'we walk in the light as
He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.'
Monday, March 14, 2011
Deaconship
1) THE CHURCH HAS CHOSEN YOU TO THE HONORABLE POSITION BECAUSE YOUR LIFE HAS EXHIBITED THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FAITHFULNESS AND LOYALTY TO THE LORD AND HIS CHURCH. AS A DEACON YOU MUST REMEMBER, THAT JESUS SAID "THE GREATEST AMONG YOU WILL BE YOUR SERVANT" (MATT. 23:11)
2) AS A DEACON , YOUR DEVOTION WILL BE GIVEN TO SERVING GOD UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PASTOR AND THE ORDAINED AND APPOINTED LEADERS IN THE SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH
3) BIBLICAL QUALIFICATIONS OF A DEACON
A) SPIRITUAL QUALIFICATIONS (ACTS 6:1-6)
1) FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST
2) FULL OF WISDOM
3) FULL OF FAITH
B) MORAL QUALIFICATIONS (1 TIM. 3:8-13)
1) GRAVE (WORTHY OF RESPECT)
2) NOT DOUBLETONGUED
3) NOT GIVEN TO MUCH WINE
4) NOT GREEDY FOR FILTHY LUCRE
5) HOLDING THE MYSTERY OF THE FAITH
6) PROVED AND FOUND BLAMELESS
7) HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE
8) RULES THEIR HOUSEHOLD WELL
C) QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE WIFE (1 TIM. 3:11)
1) GRAVE (WORTHY OF RESPECT)
2) NOT SLANDERS (TO TALK BAD OF OTHERS)
3) SOBER (POSSESSING SELF CONTROL)
4) FAITHFUL IN ALL THINGS (ALL THE BROTHERLY REQUIREMENTS OF A CHRISTIAN )
4) DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES BOTH SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL ( ACTS 6:1-6,8-7:60 , 8:26-40 AND 1TIM. 6:1-6)
1) GOD FIRST AND FOREMOST IN HIS AND HIS FAMILIES LIFE (JOY)
2) SERVANT OF THE CHURCH
3) PEACEKEEPER OF THE CHURCH
4) LOYAL SUPPORTER OF THE PASTOR AND THE CHURCH
5) FAITHFUL IN ATTENDANCE TO CHURCH SERVICES
6) ABLE AND WILLFULLY DESIRING TO EVANGELIZE, TEACH AND INSTRUCT IN THE WORD OF GOD
7) AN ENCOURAGER, SUPPORTER AND PARTICIPATOR IN CHURCH ACTIVITIES AND FUNCTIONS
8) A GOOD STEWARD AND PROVIDER AT BOTH HOME AND CHURCH, CONSISTENT AND COMMITTED TO GIVING IN TITHE TO THE CHURCH,
AN EXAMPLE TO ALL IN RESPECT TO GIVING
9) IN ALL THINGS AN EXAMPLE OF CHRISTIANITY IN RELATIONSHIP AND WORSHIP OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
2) AS A DEACON , YOUR DEVOTION WILL BE GIVEN TO SERVING GOD UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE PASTOR AND THE ORDAINED AND APPOINTED LEADERS IN THE SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL MINISTRY OF THE CHURCH
3) BIBLICAL QUALIFICATIONS OF A DEACON
A) SPIRITUAL QUALIFICATIONS (ACTS 6:1-6)
1) FULL OF THE HOLY GHOST
2) FULL OF WISDOM
3) FULL OF FAITH
B) MORAL QUALIFICATIONS (1 TIM. 3:8-13)
1) GRAVE (WORTHY OF RESPECT)
2) NOT DOUBLETONGUED
3) NOT GIVEN TO MUCH WINE
4) NOT GREEDY FOR FILTHY LUCRE
5) HOLDING THE MYSTERY OF THE FAITH
6) PROVED AND FOUND BLAMELESS
7) HUSBAND OF ONE WIFE
8) RULES THEIR HOUSEHOLD WELL
C) QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE WIFE (1 TIM. 3:11)
1) GRAVE (WORTHY OF RESPECT)
2) NOT SLANDERS (TO TALK BAD OF OTHERS)
3) SOBER (POSSESSING SELF CONTROL)
4) FAITHFUL IN ALL THINGS (ALL THE BROTHERLY REQUIREMENTS OF A CHRISTIAN )
4) DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES BOTH SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL ( ACTS 6:1-6,8-7:60 , 8:26-40 AND 1TIM. 6:1-6)
1) GOD FIRST AND FOREMOST IN HIS AND HIS FAMILIES LIFE (JOY)
2) SERVANT OF THE CHURCH
3) PEACEKEEPER OF THE CHURCH
4) LOYAL SUPPORTER OF THE PASTOR AND THE CHURCH
5) FAITHFUL IN ATTENDANCE TO CHURCH SERVICES
6) ABLE AND WILLFULLY DESIRING TO EVANGELIZE, TEACH AND INSTRUCT IN THE WORD OF GOD
7) AN ENCOURAGER, SUPPORTER AND PARTICIPATOR IN CHURCH ACTIVITIES AND FUNCTIONS
8) A GOOD STEWARD AND PROVIDER AT BOTH HOME AND CHURCH, CONSISTENT AND COMMITTED TO GIVING IN TITHE TO THE CHURCH,
AN EXAMPLE TO ALL IN RESPECT TO GIVING
9) IN ALL THINGS AN EXAMPLE OF CHRISTIANITY IN RELATIONSHIP AND WORSHIP OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST
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