Mt. Carmel No. 1 Baptist Church

As we gathered in God’s house just a week after we celebrated the victorious event of Christ’s resurrection, we were blessed to celebrate another victory. This was the wonderful event of the baptizing of Jaycie Mandrell. It is such a blessing to know that there is one more soul saved by God’s grace.

Bro. Derrell brought our morning message, “No Deal,” based on 1 Samuel 11:1-11. As the Spirit draws near to you and Christ is presenting you with an opportunity to receive him, does the devil tempt you to say no deal to God’s invitation? Considering the fact that the devil is not your friend, how are you going to respond to God’s bidding? As we look into the verses of scripture in 1 Samuel, we see an offer made to the Israelites by the Ammonite king that wasn’t a good offer. Saul was angered by the offer. God used Saul’s anger in a constructive manner to bring justice and freedom to the Israelites. It is always best to consider what is being offered to you and by whom, and say no deal to the devil’s offers.

Our evening message was taken from Matthew 5:3. This is a message for all Christians simply titled “Salty Christians.” As you know, salt has special purposes. The Christian too has special purposes in this life. There are a lot of uses for salt other than just as a seasoning. Salt has value. As a Christian, we should be of value to God in his service and work inside and outside the walls of the church. Salt is also used as a preservative. Christians should seek to stop the decay of the world that is caused by sin. Salt can cause a person to thirst. Our life in Christ should be as such that it would cause the world to thirst for what we have. When salt loses its properties, it is good for nothing. When sin and disobedience creep into our lives, we too can lose our usefulness to Christ and his work.

There are several on our special prayer list this week. This list includes Ryan Scott, Kay Franklin, Tammy Harmon, Jenny Hayes, Jacob Jones, Mary Maudlin, Frances Higgins, Sheila Robinson, Ruthie Jean Giles, Elladene Mims, Barbara Liveoak and Winston Liveoak.

Mark your calendar for some special upcoming events:

On June 7, there will be a benefit revival at Mt. Carmel. The proceeds will go to help with the travel expenses of the Jacob Jones family as they travel to Minnesota for Jacob’s treatment. The event will start at 6 p.m. Bro. Robert Griffin will be the guest speaker, along with a member of the University of Alabama Wheelchair Basketball Team. Special music will be presented by Justified.

On June 14 at 5 p.m., we will have a kickoff rally for our VBS, which will begin June 22 at 6 p.m. There will be classes of all ages.

Cedar Grove Church

We’re on a highway to heaven. We had another great day of worshiping and praising the Lord at Cedar Grove.

Pastor Bro. Jeff Carroll’s text came from 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 and 1 Peter 5:8-9. His message was titled “Who Is Judging Who.”

Paul in these scriptures is not speaking of what is going on in the world. He is telling us that immorality, covetousness and idolatry are to be dealt with and stopped. A person cannot claim to be a Christian and participate in these or any other sins against God. Indifference to evil in the church leads to division.

He also tells us that we are to accept the church saint’s judgment and not take it outside the church before unbelievers. The church has to judge itself. Do you know that in some churches today you cannot tell them from the outside world because they have come to accept the world’s view and compromise the true gospel of Jesus?

Covetousness is wanting what others have and not being happy with what God has blessed you with. Idolatry is anything that a person puts before God that will eventually pull you into bondage to that thing. Revilers are people who love to stir up trouble within the church family, and sometimes just in general. Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? God has called us to be holy. Do not be deceived: neither fornicators, idolaters, adulterers, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, drunkards, revilers or extortionists shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of us but we were washed, we were sanctified, we were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Be sober and vigilant because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

Love to all and have a blessed week. All are invited to join us at Cedar Grove Church any time. God Bless.

We will have a work day at the church on Saturday, May 3.

Prayer concerns: Bobbie and Earl Giles, Byron Cummings, Billy Caton, Jean Varden, Kim Crowe and family, Amy Ivy, Mr. Fields, Nanett Fricke, Benny Easterling and families, Nancy Jones, Mary McGuire, those in the hospitals and nursing homes, spoken and unspoken requests.