Bethsalem Baptist Church

On Sunday, a baptism service was held for Travis Whitfield, and afterward, Bro. Cleve directed the congregation in several songs.

Special emphasis was placed on VBS, which is coming up in June.

Bro. Justin preached from Ephesians 1:1-14 a message to God’s holy people.

Bible study was held in the evening service.

Pray for Kyle Fulford, Mattie, Debbie Jones, Sid Griner, Krystal Gray, Myra Burnett, Melissa Jeffers, Jimmy Headley, Michael Arnold, Kinlee Till, Ross Smitherman, Barney Green, Hunter Moore, James Wood, Patsy Burnett, Chris Greenleaf, Jennifer Whatley, Justin and Peter Daugherty, David, Jonathan Limbrick, Randy Thompson, Wayne Cobb, Cecilia Crabbe, Chad Nix, Lowell Strock, Jacob Browder, “Ma Ma” Mims, Tyler Abbott, Stephanie Hinton, Paul Price, Allen Rice, Charles Bryant, those who have lost loved ones, those facing cancer, our homebound and those in assisted living facilities and nursing homes.

Happy birthday to Eric Chavers, William Killingsworth, Caitlyn Cox, Hanna Horton, Kristin Corn, Betty Bennett, Lisa Mitchell, Kacy Barrett, Hailey Edwards, Kim Williams, Bailee Kirkey, Lenna Wilson, Sally Easterling, Mark Mims, Angie Sides, Christy Payne, Monya Hughes, Hayler Wright, Ryan Cox and Nathan Evans.

A women’s fellowship will be held at 5: 30 p.m. on April 25.

Submitted by Elvie Patterson

Cedar Grove Church

Pastor Jeff Carroll’s text came from John 5: 1-18 for his sermon “The Pool of Bethesda.”

The name Bethesda means “house of mercy,” a place people come to looking for help, in this case healing. The outside of the pool was equipped with five porches. People waited for an angel of the Lord to stir the water of the pool, and when this supernatural act occurred, the first person in the water would be healed, no matter what kind of illness or disease they had.

There was a man who had lain by the pool every day for 38 years without being healed. On this day, Jesus himself came asking this man if he wanted to be healed. The man replied saying he had no one to help him get in the pool while the water is being stirred. Jesus told him, “Take up thy bed and walk.”

When we come to church, or when we are at home or work, we need to always seek God and follow the Spirit of God.

Jesus healed this man on the Sabbath for a reason. The Jews asked the man, “Do you not know it is unlawful for you to carry your bed on the Sabbath?” He told of his healing, but at the time did not know who had healed him. Later Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” The man departed and told the Jews Jesus was the person who had healed him.

For this the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill him because he had done these things on the Sabbath, but Jesus told them, “My father has been working until now and I have been working.” Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him because he not only broke the Sabbath but also said that God was his Father, making himself equal to God.

Do you really love Jesus or are you just playing a game to gain his blessing, and then going right back to your old life of sin? What are you really going to do for God for your healing or your cleansing of sin?” Remember you can fool people, but you cannot fool God.

Prayer concerns: Kim Crowe, Russel Wyatt family, Janet Wyatt, Jennifer Watley, Jennifer Nivens, Larry Patterson, Sam Price, Dollie, Joyce and Douglas Scott, and those in hospitals and nursing homes.

Submitted by Naomi Gillespie