Cedar Grove Church

Pastor Jeff Carroll’s text was taken from John 8:12-22 and titled “The Light of the World.”

Satan, the enemy of God and his people, is wreaking havoc on our nation and trying to put out the “Light of the World” by causing the people of America as a whole to turn their backs on God. Our nation is taking God out of our schools and our judicial system. The Constitution is the fabric this country was founded on. Sadly, we are even taking God out of a lot of our churches.

There is only one light to the exit sign of this dark world, and that is Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Hell is in outer darkness from everlasting to everlasting. Jesus tells the Pharisees, “I am the Light of the World; he who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

The Pharisees tried to tell Jesus he was wrong, that he was bearing witness of himself and that witness was not true. Jesus said, “You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one, but if I did judge, my judgment would be true, for I am not alone but I am with the Father who sent me. It is also written in your law (man’s law) that the testimony of two men is true.”

We have to be very careful in our walk to be able to determine if the law is of man or of God. Jesus passed judgment on the Pharisees when he told them they were going to die in their sin. Jesus pronounced judgment and they could not care less.

You know friends, something worse than dying is dying without Jesus, because in dying without Jesus, there is no hope. Do not die in your sin, for the wages of sin is death. Judas died in his sin because he crossed the line of redemption (Matthew 27:1-3).

God does not want us to die in our sin and go to hell, but woe unto those that pretend to be serving God for they will die and go to a devil’s hell. We have a choice of whether we die in our sin or choose life, which is found only in Jesus, the fruit to holiness and everlasting life.

Love to all. God bless!

Announcements:

A Mission outreach event will be held from 6-9 p.m. on July 25 at Wood Park in Thorsby. The event will include singing and sharing of the gospel. Everyone is invited to come out and enjoy a great time in the Lord. There will be preaching, praise and worship, hot dogs, chips and drinks. Bring your lawn chairs.

Revival will be held Aug. 5-7 at Cedar Grove. Bro. Wayne Castleberry will be preaching on Aug. 5 with further details to follow. All are invited to attend.

Prayer concerns: Jeremy and Sarah Alberts, Lillian and James, Mae Littleton, our church family, pastors, Mission Outreach and the United for Christ Ministry.

Submitted by Naomi Gillespie

Bethsalem Baptist Church

Sunday service was great Bro. Cleve directed several songs with the congregation. Bro. Justin gave the announcements and welcomed everyone.

Bro. Justin preached from Ephesians 5:1-20. The main points of the sermon were: (1) Love is life. (2) Live like God, not like Satan. (3) Be the light of the world, and walk as children of light.

Our choir special was “Holy, Holy, Holy” and “Be Unto Your Name.”

We had a great fellowship on Sunday night. Thank you to everyone who brought ice cream.

Happy birthday to Melody Gallet, Vickie Knight, Misti Kelley, Darren Porter, Zachary Martin, Janet Culp, Greg Littleton, Lindsey Mims, Gary Elbon, Ken Lowery, Beth Green, Gage Parris, Jacob Barrett, Regina Watkins, Shannon Corn, Wesley Robinson, Jenny Mallory, Anna Bice, Dondi Llyod, Josh Roper, Michael Garris, Patrick Worley, Mildred Bowman, Melissa Lockhart and Ethan Roper.

Pray for Shirley Smith, Charles Held, Wendell Hand, Lynn Cox, Pete Johnson, Renie Thomas, Mike Smith, James Howard, Melissa Langford, Pat Blalock, Kathy Fitzgerald, Kyle Fulford, Jimmy Headley, Michael Arnold, Kinlee Till, Hunter Moore, Justin and Peter Daugherty, Chad Nix, Lowell Strock, “Ma Ma” Mims, Stephanie Hinton, Paul Price, those facing cancer, our homebound, assisted living and nursing home residents, and those in need of salvation.

Have a blessed week. Come and worship with us on Sunday.

Submitted by Elvie Patterson