Lively Stones Baptist Church Newsletter April 2022

Livelystonesbc   -   April 1, 2022

Lively Stones Baptist Church Newsletter April 2022

Pastor’s Pen

Luke 24:3 says “And they entered the tomb, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus”. What happened to the body of Jesus? Why was the body not in the tomb where Joseph and Nicodemus placed it? What does this all mean? Even the next verse says they were perplexed!

Ever since the first official announcement of the resurrection, there have been many people who were “perplexed” as to what really happened on that third day. There have been many conspiracy theories to explain the resurrection away. Such as, the Roman guards were paid by Jesus disciples to say that Jesus was resurrected to authenticate His promise to rise from the dead. Then there is the theory that He really didn’t die, but revived in the tomb and walked out. But all the theories have been proven to be false with only “One Possibility” – He Arose!!

The resurrection of Jesus was the doctrine of every disciple, the faith of every true believer, the courage of every martyr, the theme of every sermon, and the power of every evangelist.

There are many infallible proofs of His resurrection:

1. Eyewitness accounts. (1 Corinthians 15:5-8)
2. Changed lives.
3. Worship on the first day of the week.
4. Preaching of a “Living Savior”!
5. Empty tomb.
6. Grave clothes (empty and folded) [Note: idea of being folded meant He wasn’t coming back.]

But why is the Resurrection so important not only to believers, but to everyone?

There are five reasons for the resurrection’s importance:

First, Death has been conquered. 

(1 Corinthians 15:55; Revelation 1:8)

Second, Salvation became complete. 

(1 Corinthians 15:17; Romans 4:25)

Third, Hope in Tragedy.

(1 Peter 1:3)

Fourth, Power to live in victory.

(Ephesians 1:18-23)

Fifth, We will have a resurrected body.

(1 John 3:2; 1 Corinthians 15:42-44)

A number of years ago, Frank Morrison sought to write a book that would explain once and for all what really happened that first Easter. Much like the story of Lee Strobel, he was convinced he could shatter the faith of the most sincere believer. Assuming Jesus had not miraculously risen from the dead, Morrison set out to study the alternative explanations. As a lawyer, he gathered the evidence and possible interpretations. But upon study, he came to the conclusion that Jesus was God and He rose Again! He wrote a book, “Who Moved the Stone?”, proofs of the resurrection of Jesus.

Pastor – Rev. Michael J Kent, Sr.

Schedule of Events

Understanding Marriage God’s Way

By Aline Weaver Kent, PhD

How come some couples stay married for 50+ years and others don’t make it past their first anniversary? How come couples will stay together for the kids but end up living in a battlefield? Should the kids come first? Who controls the money and where it goes? How do we keep the peace with our families when they are all giving advice? Who disciplines the kids and what if we disagree on how that is done? It seems like we are living in a war zone; always fighting. So many marriages have problems, I’m not sure I even want to get married. Can’t we just live together and see how it goes?

In other words, marriage is complicated! God identified the marriage relationship as vital in His creation of our world. In fact, soon after he created Adam, a helpmeet, a completer, named Eve was created and given to Adam in the first wedding!

I just really enjoy hearing love stories! How did ya’ll get together? Adam’s is, “God saw how lonely I was and He created Eve just for me. She was perfect. My love story is so cool and one of disobeying everyone in my life – parents, pastor, youth pastor, and friends. I know. 

Everyone thought I was crazy to want to go to Bible College in Missouri when we lived 1.5 miles from Washington (that’s D.C.) Bible College. I mean, really? I could live at home, get a scholarship through my church and get the same education. So why did I leave? Because God told me to do so. (That’s too long a story to tell here!). My parents finally told me that if I was going, I would need to get there by myself because they were not going to help me.

I kept praying, knowing God would make a way! He did. I got a job on campus that paid my school bill, and two weeks prior to the start of school, two friends came over and asked my dad if they paid for the trip, would he take them to the same college I wanted to attend! I told you my story is cool!

Oh, the moral of the story? I met my husband of 50 years (in November) the first day of school. God knew he was in Missouri, and He had to get me there; and He did.

Marriage lived God’s way stands the test of time and everything else.

The Sunday School class, Understanding Marriage God’s Way will answer many questions and probably create some lively discussions with topics like communication, arguments, needs, sex, money, in-laws and Xs.

So, anyone interested in learning about marriage is welcome to join us in the downstairs classroom, April 3rd at 10:00 AM. Pastor Mike and I will be tag-teaming as teachers.

Let’s go fishin!!!!

By Jacob Dameron

There is no better time of year for this child of God! So many blessings I have in this life but one I thoroughly enjoy and think on right regularly is to be able to live in a place that has multiple seasons. I love each one of them but, by far, my favorite is the time of Spring! It has so much. Time to plant, time to hunt turkeys, time to get rid of them bulky clothes, and time to FISH. With that being said I am reminded of this verse.
Matthew 4:18-22

Jesus Calls the First Disciples
“[18] While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. [19] And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”(2) [20] Immediately they left their nets and followed him. [21] And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. [22] Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.”

With spring Time being here and it representing new life and fishing I would love to challenge you all with a few things.

1: Look at this as a time of new beginnings!
⁃ we all have areas in our lives where we may like a “re-start”. Being good parents, being a good employee , being a good husband/wife, being a good friend. See that in this verse! These guys were going about their everyday life and guess who shows up…. Jesus! Jesus shows up and turns fishing into something totally different.
⁃ I like how he uses the “thing” that they were already doing to catapult them into the life they were about to begin. He said come with me and you can lay that fishing down for a more rewarding fishing.
⁃ Maybe for you there is something you are doing right now, and you’re really good at it… but you’re not necessarily Glorifying God with it. Maybe it could be used to bring people to the lord…. See today as an opportunity to give it to the lord and “re-start” … give it to Jesus.
2: Get involved in the ministry….
⁃ no I’m not talking about everyone becoming a preacher.
⁃ I’m simply saying get involved!
⁃ See this time of year as an opportunity to be used by the lord.
⁃ God wants to use each one of us. He has gifted us all in many different ways.
⁃ Sure we can sit out there and do things in life and do them really well but if we are not doing it for the lord…. Then what is it really doing?
⁃ If you have the gift of speaking get involved with something in the church where you can use that gift!
⁃ If you love to give, then start a ministry that allows you to give to those you have the opportunity to give to.
⁃ If you can sing….. Sing.
⁃ There are plenty of things to do if you will just step up. Ask where you can be used, ask the pastor if you can start a new ministry, ask to be involved in a specific ministry that is already operating.
⁃ These guys in these verses were good at what they did… it was their way of life, but Jesus comes and says come with me….. “we have bigger fish to fry”.
3: You cannot catch fish in your bathtub!
⁃ go get em!
⁃ I challenge all church members, in this time of year, see it as an opportunity to go out and get new families, new kids, new friends, new co-workers to come to church!
⁃ No, church attendance won’t save them but the Bible is very clear in Hebrews 10:24-25
⁃ “[24]And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, [25] not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
⁃ LIVELY STONES! Wake up, the day is drawing near! We have bigger fish to fry! Let’s get these people in church and love on them and encourage them and see them come to Christ!

In closing, I love each and every one of you, you all mean so much to me! I look forward to catching some fish. Both literally and new believers, but we cannot do it sitting in the pews and being idle in our Christian lives! We have to get out and love on people and encourage them and then invite them to church. Meet the need in their life and then share the gospel with them. Let them see the love of Christ living through you!

                    Good luck fishin, Jacob Dameron.

Got Missions?

by Scott McNeill

As I was sitting down to write this article I thought about the very successful ad campaign from a few years ago. Got Milk? , was a great ad that really stuck in your mind. I thought what if we could have a campaign that would make missions stick in our thoughts and prayers? How much greater would our missions’ support be or how many more missionaries could we send around the world? What could you do to help our missionaries?

Amy Carmichael once said, “If you are ever inclined to pray for a missionary, do it at once wherever you are, for they may be in great peril at that very moment.” After reading that quote I thought about Elisha and his servant in II Kings 6:8-23. The Bible reads in verse 14, “Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about, and when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, a host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, alas, my master! How shall we do? And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”

Our missionaries face great peril every day. I could tell you story after story of missionaries and their experiences of God’s divine intervention. They covet our prayers, our support and our help. We have missionaries that we support all over the world. Please take time to stop at the board in the back of the church and read some of our missionary letters.

I am praying that God will provide the funds to support at least two more missionaries by the end of the year. I am also praying that God will open the door for our church to go on another mission trip somewhere in the world. Is God calling you to go? We hope to have a Missions Conference in October and we hope to have some of our missionaries come to speak. We will have all kinds of information about mission trips. Please begin to pray right now about what you can do for missions at Lively Stones Baptist Church. We want our missionaries to know they are our extended family. God may not be calling you to go, but He is calling all of us to pray, give and send missionaries all over the world.

Got Missions? Have you?

Out of The Pit

Rev. Adrian Lilly

Psalm 40:2-3

King James Version (KJV)

“2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.”

Lord from the depths of the greatest pit and from the mire and clay you have risen me.

From the darkest of nights, you have pulled me who was a dark shadow and transformed me into bright light. From the depth of sorrows and tears my heart was summoned. My deaf ears that were filled with hatred and lies that scarred my weary soul slowly began to hear the chorus of the angels singing praise to the one who is worthy.

Praise to the one who suffered all my pain!

Praise to the one who was and is and forever shall be!

Praise to the one who has restored and uplifted my weary tormented and broken spirit.

Only one is worthy! Only one is worthy of praise! Once I was blinded by a fools’ sight. Once I was on a path of thorns and broken glass. Once I crawled on my knees in the mud and mire only to fall again into the dark depths. Pain was my only companion and my tormentor.

Praise God for the hand that reached into the depths of darkness that I used to call home!

Praise God for Jesus who saw me in all my affliction!

Praise God for making a way when there was no way! That way is Christ! That way is the cross where all our sins and pain and suffering have been put to death for all time God seeks us! We do not seek him on our own.

When His Holy Spirit convicts us and shows us the lowly pit we lay in, He gives us a choice to continue to slip back into the depths of darkness and despair or to reach out for that hand that has always been waiting for us.

Praise God for saving me who was a lost sinner!

Praise God for the blessings He has rained on me!

Now my feet are on solid ground and my steps are sure and guided by Him. Though I may stumble and wander, I will never lose sight and go too far off course.

God is good, so good that He seeks us!

God is good, so good that He came to seek us in our dark deep pit!

Praise the Lord!

God use me to be a beacon in a dark world and let the light of Christ shine through me as a witness to the world around me. Help me Lord to speak when I should and be silent when it is not the time for words. There is a time for action, there is a time for speaking and there is a time for prayer and seeking your wisdom. Let me always know Lord the time I am in. Thank you Lord for saving me!

JESUS FORGIVES EVEN THAT

What is the one thing in your life that you regret more than anything?  The one thing that you don’t share with other people. The thing that if you could, you would go back and re-do or take back? Everyone has something like that. It’s the thing that you have probably begged God for forgiveness over, but you haven’t quite been able to forgive yourself. There may even be times when you question if God has really forgiven you and are tempted to go to him with it once again just to make sure he knows you are sorry.

DOES JESUS REALLY FORGIVE EVEN THAT?

The day of Jesus’ crucifixion and death was an extremely painful one – both physically and emotionally. Up until that point, he had revealed himself as the Chosen One. The One who had come to save people from their sins. He had performed miracles such as turning water into wine, feeding the 5,000, walking on water, calming the storm, healing illness, and driving out demons from the possessed. Jesus had developed quite a following – none more devoted than the twelve disciples. These twelve men left everything, their jobs, homes, money and families to follow Jesus and to help him in his work. He was loved, revered and worshiped. But not by everyone.

“The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death” Mark 14:55

The religious leaders of the day felt threatened. Jesus’ teaching threatened their belief system, their status, their power and their wealth. They hated Jesus so much that they would stop at nothing to see him dead. They tried to find something that Jesus had done wrong. They tried to get others to testify against Jesus, but the stories didn’t match and a case couldn’t be made that Jesus deserved death.

“…but they did not find any.” Mark 14:55

They took Jesus to the high priest, Caiaphas in hopes that he would sentence Jesus to death… after all he was a self proclaimed Jesus hater. Caiaphas asks Jesus if He was the Messiah, and Jesus answered truthfully,

“I am,” said Jesus. Mark 14:62

At this, Caiaphas was outraged, declaring Jesus’ claims to be blasphemous and he asked the crowd for their verdict.  “They all condemn him as worthy of death.” Mark 14:64

And the Crucifixion began…

Jesus was falsely accused.

Jesus was lied about.

Jesus was mocked.

Jesus was spit on.

Jesus was blindfolded and punched with their fists.

“…they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, ‘Prophesy!’” Mark 14:65

Jesus was made fun of. They sarcastically ordered him to prove he was a prophet by naming those who were hitting him while he was blindfolded.

Jesus was slapped over and over again.

“The guards, punching and slapping, took him away.” Mark 14:65

Jesus was insulted.

“And they said many other insulting things to him.” Luke 22:65

He was denied three times by his closest friend, Peter.

“…before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” Mark 14:30

Jesus was then taken to Pontious Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea, and Pilate finds no fault with Jesus. But the crowd won’t have it. They wanted Jesus dead. They shouted for Pilate to release a convicted insurgent against Rome and murderer so that Jesus could be crucified in his place. Even though Pilate finds no reason to put Jesus to death, the crowd persists and eventually Pilate agrees.

“But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed.” Luke 23:23

Jesus was unjustly convicted.

Jesus was flogged. This means to be beaten with a leaded whip, fashioned with tiny lead balls and sharpened sheep bones that will tear at his flesh.

Jesus was bleeding.

Jesus was stripped and a purple robe (the color of royalty) is placed over his shoulders. A crown of thorns is placed on his head. The soldiers bow to him in mock worship.

“They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him.” Mark 15:17

He was stripped of his pride as they beat His head with a reed.

Jesus was publicly humiliated.

Jesus’ hands and feet were nailed to a wooden cross and he was hung in the air for all to watch him die.

These were personal offenses. These men were touching Jesus, in his face mocking him, spitting on him. It is one on one. There is no hiding behind the scenes. Every lie, every blow, every insult, every humiliation was directly aimed at Jesus. It was intentional, it is unfathomable, to us, it seems unforgivable….

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:34

It is inconceivable to me that Jesus died for even those people. Even those men who beat him. Even those people who shouted, “Crucify Him!”. Even those who mocked him. Even those who lied about him and humiliated him. Those are up close and personal sins. Those people hurt Jesus in a way that we can’t even imagine today. Our hearts cry out to God in unbelief and in sorrow for the way those people treated our Lord. And yet…

JESUS FORGIVES EVEN THAT.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

As Jesus hung on the cross, there were two others who hung beside him. Two actual criminals. Two men who were convicted of their crimes. One of the criminals chose to use his last minutes to mock and insult Jesus.

“Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” Luke 23:39

The other criminal, in his pain, in his agony recognized who Jesus was.

”Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” Luke 23:41

It wasn’t too late. His sins weren’t too big. He cried out to Jesus and confessed the depth of his sin. He knew he was guilty, and he also knew Jesus was perfect and free from sin. He knew that Jesus was the only one who could truly forgive him from his sin.

“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Luke 23:42

A humble request that acknowledges Jesus’ identity and his power. The criminal knew that only Jesus could save him and forgive him completely. Jesus answers the request.

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:43

In his agony, Jesus shows grace and mercy for others. Even as he is suffering an incredibly painful death, Jesus shows compassion. He frees the man nailed to the cross. He forgives “even that”! This my friends, is our real, solid evidence that Jesus really does forgive – no matter what the sin. If he can forgive that man, even while suffering on the cross, he can and will forgive us.

Yes, Jesus forgives even THAT!

Friends, the hard truth is that my sin and your sin is just as personal to Jesus as were those awful accusations. Our sins are as painful to Him as the crown of thorns and the flogging. Our sin is just as offensive to Jesus as those who mocked him on the day of his death. Our sin hurts him just as much.

And I’m not only talking about that one regret from all those years ago; that thing you can’t forget and can name in an instant. I’m also talking about all of the sins you can’t name. The little white lie. The gossiping, the jealousy, the judgmental attitude. All of it. It’s all the same in His eyes. It’s personal, it’s offensive, it’s painful to our Lord. And He suffered and died for all of it.

“But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.” Isaiah 53:5 (NLT)

There’s a purpose for all of it. LOVE. Jesus loves us so deeply that He would suffer all of that and more so that we could be with Him for eternity. So that we could experience the kind of complete forgiveness that is available ONLY through Him. So that we could live in freedom from the guilt and punishment of our sin. The sacrifice has been given. Receive it, dear friends. Accept this gift that Jesus has offered to you at great cost to Himself. Acknowledge that his sacrifice covers everything. Let go of that one thing from your past that haunts you. Let go of all of the other sins that offend Him daily. Lay them at the cross and accept the payment that covers all of it. He is waiting.

YES! JESUS FORGIVES EVEN THAT.

Lessons For Life

1. Give God what’s right — not what’s left.
2. Our way leads to a hopeless end — God’s way leads to an endless hope.
3. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.
4. Those who kneel before God can stand before anyone.
5. In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma — but never let him be the period.
6. Don’t put a question mark where God puts a period.
7. Are you wrinkled with burdens? Come to the church for a face-lift.
8. When praying, don’t give God instructions — just report for duty.
9. Don’t wait for six strong men to take you to church.
10. We don’t change God’s message — His message changes us.
11. The church is prayer-conditioned.
12. When God ordains, He sustains.
13. WARNING: Exposure to the Son may prevent burning.
14. Plan ahead — It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.
15. Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory position.
16. Suffering from truth decay?  Brush up on your Bible.
17. Read the Bible — It will scare the hell out of you.

18. Never give the devil a ride — he will always want to drive.
19. Nothing else ruins the truth like stretching it.
20. Compassion is difficult to give away because it keeps coming back.
21. Whoever angers you controls you.
22. Worry is the darkroom in which negatives can develop.
23. Give Satan an inch and he’ll be a ruler.
24. Be fishers of people — you catch them and He’ll clean them.
25. God doesn’t call the qualified — He qualifies the called.
26. Exercise daily — walk with the Lord.

What we do in life echoes in eternity.