Cedar Grove Baptist Church

Announcements of upcoming events include Jan. 23, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. a live radio broadcast will take place from Cedar Grove. It will be five hours of preaching by pastors from several different counties and churches. Updates will follow.

Prayer concerns include our nation, pastors, church families, those in hospitals and nursing homes as well as for the spoken and unspoken requests.

Bro. Gary Hubbard held his Sunday School class with a text from Matthew 2:1-12 entitled “The Coming of the Messiah.”

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord from Luke 2:11.

Here we learn the Gentiles as well as the Jews have an interest in the newborn Savior. He came to bear the sins of the world and to be not only the glory of his people of Israel, but also a light to enlighten the Gentiles.

Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of King Herod.

“Behold there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem saying, where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and come to worship him.”

We can imagine that this threw King Herod into a tail spin, thinking about a king being born that people were going to worship other than him, so he gathered all the religious leaders of that day (chief priest and scribes) together demanding to know where Christ should be born.

They said unto him: “In Bethlehem of Judaea for thus it is written by the prophet. And thou Bethlehem of Judaea, art not the least among the princes of Judaea; for out of thee shall come a governor that shall rule my people Israel.”

Well now ole Herod called a private meeting with the wise men, and inquired of them diligently what time the star had appeared. Keep in mind Herod has no intention of giving up his thrown of power.

He sends the wise men to Bethlehem with instructions to find Jesus and bring word back to him that he may go worship him also, but his intent was just the opposite. Nothing less than the blood of this infant would satisfy him.

Herod did not take the time to let common sense tell him that by opposing the Messiah, he is opposing God and nothing is more vain or dangerous.

Herod hides his intent from the wise men by concealing himself by a show of religion (mask of the devil). It is very strange that the wise men went alone, as not one person of the court, the church or the city went with them to find and worship Christ.

It is beyond belief that the Jews, his own kinsmen, would not go just to the next town to worship Christ.

We know the three wise men found Jesus giving gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, as they bowed to worship him. They were however warned in a dream not to return to Herod or Jerusalem, as Herod and his court were unworthy of reports to be brought to them concerning Christ, when they could have seen with their own eyes and would not.

Many do not know Christ because they will not seek him. If we do not succeed in finding the Savior, it is certainly not for want of the star.

We must continue our praise and worship of Christ, though we are alone in them. Whatever others do, we must serve the Lord.

If they will not go to heaven with us, then we must not go to hell with them. Merry Christmas to all!

Bethsalem Baptist Church

Our day of worship opened up, as Bro. Justin welcomed and gave the ministry opportunities.

Bro. Cleve shared a file on Lottie Moon. Then he presented the adult Christmas Cantata entitled “Breath of Heaven Which Was Great.”

Happy birthday this week to Tucker Cleker, Debbie Jones, Debra Mims, Stacy Cooper, Phileana Lowrey, Eli Owens, Donnie Parker, Karen Avery, Deanna Johnson, Angel Baker, Chloe Williams, Kathy Warrington, Brady Claclley, Tracy Jones, Kylee Connell.

Pray for our country and leadership, Paul Price, Melissa Langford, Stephanie Hinton, Chad Mix, Peter Daugherty, Kinlee Till, Michael Arnold, Kyle Fulford, Kathy Fitzgerald, Melissa Langford, Mike Smith, Marie Smith, Lynn Cox, Charles Held, Pete Johnson, Caleb Harrison, Hunter Moore, Donna Vick, Elaine Bridge and baby, Judy Smitherman, Clyde Brasher, Bobbie Tipton, Braxton Jones, Nate Jones, Ann Nelson, Judy Little, Jackson Kelley, Hannah Vines, Amanda Cecil, Charles and Gladys Bryant, Allen and Casey Daniel, Tom Brown, all those facing cancer, our homebound , assisted living and nursing home residents and to everyone who needs salvation.

We enjoyed our celebration choir Christmas Cantata and our children Christmas Cantata. They were both great.

Sunday night we had finger food fellowship and celebrate for Bro. Justin’s birthday.

Everyone have a Merry Christmas, and please come worship with us on Sunday.

Submitted by Elvie Patterson