Samaria Baptist Church

“This is the day that the Lord hath made.”

It was an amazing day to be in the Lord’s house to recognize our earthly fathers and honor our heavenly Father. Magnets describing the Christian characteristics of a father were presented to the men of the church.

Bro. Shane’s message came from Joshua 24:14-18: An earthly father must learn how to be the priest or leader of his home. He shall preach to his family in word and in deed. His actions weigh far more than any words ever could.

God is always there to lead and direct us, and to protect us as we strive to serve him in the ways that he would have us serve. There is no need for us to doubt our ability, or fear the reaction of those with whom we share God’s pathway. Each Christian man is called to be the leader of his home, and to be a light in his church and community. Only a life with God’s hand on it can undertake this kind of task and get results. As Joshua said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua led his people to conquer Jericho by listening to God’s instruction and not wavering from it in anyway. Our earthly fathers are imperfect, of course, but when they strive to lead their families in the ways of Jesus Christ, God does not fail to bless their efforts.

Children need to be taught to respect their parents. They will not learn if they do not see a good example of Christian stewardship and sacrifice. We cannot just be pals with our children. Our fathers have to be the so-called “bad guy” once in a while. The bottom line is that our children will remember what they were taught and how the teaching was lived as an example of Christ in the lives of their parents.

Make a stand for God, and receive God’s mercy and grace which renews every day. His grace is sufficient for all our needs.

Prayer concerns: John Shearon, Lloyd Willis, Walter and Drusilla Hudgins, the Patsy Rhodes family, the John Hill family, Ms. Silas and Linda Silas.

Join us at Samaria. Jesus is Lord, and you will be blessed.

Submitted by Diane Fisher

Cedar Grove Church

Pastor Jeff Carroll’s text was taken from Genesis 2:23-24 and titled “The Duties of a Dad.”

The intention of God is for man to find a wife for life. One man and one woman shall establish a home and family. The plan of God says for man to leave his mother and father and clever unto his wife.

A husband should love his wife as Christ loves him. Continuously tell your children about God, beginning your day and ending your day by telling your children about God so they will be prepared when they are grown and move out into the world. Train a child up in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.

A father who does not provide for his own—especially for his own household—has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Fathers do not provoke your children to wrath but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. A father should rule his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence; for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?

“Do not withhold correction from a child, for if you beat him with a rod he will not die. He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him promptly. Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; the rod of correction will drive it far from him.”

“A man had two sons; the youngest asked of his father his portion of inheritance, which his father gave. The son took the money and his belongings and went into a far country, and there he wasted his possessions with prodigal living. When he had spent all that he had, there came a famine in the land and he began to be in want. He joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he was sent into the fields to feed swine.

He would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods the swine ate, but no one gave him anything. When he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread to spare and I perish with hunger? I will arise and go to my father and say, ‘Father I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’

His father who thought him dead saw him coming at a distance. The father said to his servants, ‘Bring forth the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and shoes on his feet. Bring hither the fatted calf and kill it; let us eat, and be merry.’”

The father was just glad to have his son home no matter what. Dads, you have a duty to teach your children the way of God.

Announcements:

June 28: Bro. Jackie Smith will preach during the morning and evening worship service.

July 5: There will be a fellowship supper on the evening of July 5 with ice cream, watermelon, hotdogs and bounce houses for the kids.

July 25: An outreach event will be held from 6-9 p.m. at Wood Park in Thorsby.

Everyone is invited to attend these events.

Prayer concerns: Our pastors and church family, our nation, those in hospitals and nursing homes, spoken and unspoken requests.

Submitted by Naomi Gillespie