For Easter Sunday, April 1, 2018

This Easter is different in that it is also April Fool's Day on the culture calendar.  In light of that, I am doing a two-sermon series "No Fool" last Sunday (Palm Sunday) and Easter Sunday.  On Easter, I am preaching "You Are No Fool to Believe in the Resurrection of Jesus" based on I Corinthians 15: 1-8, 17.  Looking forward to sharing the truth from the Abraham through our daily lives that Jesus is the overcomer of death through His resurrection.

Sunday School begins at 9:00 a.m. with morning worship at 10:15 Resurrection Sunday.  No evening services so you can spend extended time with family and friends.

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

There are no services tonight at Rainsville First Baptist Church due to Spring Break.

Palm Sunday 2018

Easter Sunday is on April Fool's Day this year.  So, for Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday I am using the theme "No Fool" to speak about the cross and resurrection of Jesus.

This Sunday, "You Are No Fool to Believe in the Cross of Jesus" based out of I Corinthians 1: 18-25. 

Then Sunday night we celebrate the cross through the Lord's Supper.   I look forward to our time around His table being strengthened in remembrance of the covenant made at Calvary.

From the Shepherd's Heart....Friday, March 16, 2018

Roxanne and I are away for a few days and in my absense this Sunday you will have the opportunity to hear one my dear f
riends that you may have never heard preach but you will be glad you did after Sunday. 

Dr. Roger Willmore is a native of Arab and was called to preach as a teenager.  I first knew him well as he pastored the Cherry Street Baptist Church in Attalla.  He has pastored several great churches in Kentucky and Alabama and has served as President of the Alabama Baptist State Convention.  He is currently serving as Director of Missions in the Calhoun (Anniston area) Baptist Association.  He and his wife, Sandra, have one son. 

He has just returned from Japan where he ministered annually for several years.  He is a sought after preacher and conference preacher. I'm delighted he was able to come and preach at Rainsville First Baptist this Sunday.

Then this Sunday night our own Director of Missions in DeKalb Baptist Association, Ken Allen, will be preaching.  We love Ken and Sandra and their family.

We will be receiving a love offering Sunday night at the close of the service.

From the Shepherd's Heart...Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Sunday was a wonderful day of worship, instruction, challenge and fellowship with Dr. Ted Traylor.  The Lord blessed us and we are grateful.

I look forward to completing Philippians 4: 10-20 tonight under the theme "Learning to Live in Contentment."  Our Wednesday night attendance has been very good and I appreciate you being present.  What rich Scripture we are plowing through as we finish Philippians.

All the other activities are going at a full speed tonight, as well.

This Sunday - Dr. Ted Traylor with us at Rainsville First

Why We Need to Sing in Worship Even When We Don’t Know—or Like—the Song by Chuck Lawless

I’ve been there, and you likely have, also. You’ve never heard the song your church is singing. Or, you’ve heard it but don’t like it. The temptation is to silently mimic the words or not to sing at all. Here’s why we need to sing anyway:

1. It’s right to sing God’s praises. Even if it’s not our favorite song, it’s right to join the people of God in singing God’s praises (Psa. 96). He delights in the singing of His people.
2. Not singing sends the wrong signal. Here’s what it could look like . . . anger . . . burden . . . distraction. . . . Worse yet, it comes across as arrogance. And, if you’re not singing just because you don’t like the song, that really does border on arrogance.
3. Some songs you don’t like are quite biblical. Most of us choose songs we like on the basis of the style and the melody, not on the words. Sometimes the songs we don’t like are straight out of the Bible – so not singing them takes on more significance.
4. We can learn a song best by singing it. I now love some songs I didn’t like when I first heard them, and I’m glad I at least tried to sing them.  The same can happen for you.
5. We model worship for others as we sing. All of us model something by the way we worship. Some show the joy of encountering God. Others make worshiping God look boring and disconnected. Singing helps others to worship Him well.
6. Singing with the rest of the congregation promotes and reflects unity. Churches already struggle enough with internal conflict. Sometimes, in fact, members who don’t sing are intentionally sending a signal of disapproval and division. Don’t play that game.
7. Singing encourages the ones leading the singing. Few things are as discouraging for  worship leaders as looking at a congregation with non-singers – and, from what I understand from worship leaders, they seldom miss seeing them. We don’t really hide our silence.