Amen, all right well we've had a great conference this year and we've had some great preaching this year
and I really appreciated it and thank you choir for that song and it's good to be reminded during these times of crisis
with viruses and lockdowns and right it's good to be reminded my hope is Jesus and that's good there.
Well I'd like you to notice there in Acts chapter number 11 and verse number 26 the Bible says this
and when he had found him he brought him into Antioch and it came to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves
with the church and taught much people and the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch
and today I am preaching on the subject of make Baptist independent again
and I want to preach to you on the subject of being an independent Baptist
and I want to begin by laying down just by way of introduction laying down some things
that we believe in regards to the doctrine of the church and the reason I want you to notice there in verse 26
is because the Bible says that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church
and that's what a church is, a church is a congregation, it is an assembly of believers
and just like I said by way of introduction as we kind of lay down the foundation of the doctrine of the church
you know something we believe as independent Baptists is that churches are local assemblies
they are assemblies congregations that meet together that assemble together locally
we do not believe in the universal church there is no such thing as a universal church
because the word church means congregation it means assembly
so unless there's not going to be any universal church until the day that we're all gathered together
in the clouds in heaven you know at the rapture
that's the only time that there will be a universal church when all believers are gathered together
but in the Bible what you find is the concept of local assembly local churches
and we could go to a lot of places to highlight this I'm not going to do that
but I'll just remind you that in the book of Revelation you remember the book of Revelation
begins with seven letters to seven churches in Asia and you'll notice that those letters begin
unto the angel of the church of Ephesus and the church in Smyrna and in Pergamos and in Thyatira
in Sardis in Philadelphia in Laodicea these were local assemblies
the dispensationalists today they want you to think that these seven churches were seven church ages
but the Bible doesn't teach that they were local assemblies congregations that met in those locations
they assembled themselves with the church so we believe that a church is a local assembly
and there is no such thing as a universal church
you're there in Acts 11 go to Acts chapter 20 if you would and look at verse number 28
I'd like you to notice secondly by way of introduction not only do we believe that churches are local assemblies
but we believe that churches are self-governing organizations
Acts chapter 20 and verse 28 notice what the apostle Paul he's speaking to the leaders of the church of Ephesus there
he says this take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock
over which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers
notice he's speaking to the leaders and he says look the Holy Ghost has made you an overseer
to feed the church of God which he hath purchased with his own blood
the Bible teaches that in a church you'll have a pastor and you'll have deacons
you'll have spiritual leadership that is supposed to be the overseer
that is supposed to be the rulers that's another word the Bible uses
that is supposed to be those that take oversight and you say well why would you have a ruler
the Bible calls the pastor a ruler in the book of Hebrews
why would you have a bishop or a pastor or an elder these terms are used interchangeably
an overseer someone that takes oversight 1 Peter chapter 5 you don't have to turn there
you stay in Acts in fact go to Acts chapter 15 if you would while you turn there
I'll read to you from 1 Peter 5 2 the Bible says this feed the flock of God which is among you
taking the oversight thereof this is Peter speaking to the pastors
taking the oversight thereof not by constraint but willingly not for filthy lucre but of a ready mind
so a church is supposed to have leaders that take oversight locally
it's a self-governing we use the word autonomous the word autonomous
means it's self-governing what does that mean that means we're not part of a denomination
that means that every local church has a local self-government and there's no headquarters somewhere
there's no Vatican somewhere there's no board of directors or president or pope or prophet
that's telling us what to do here at Verity Baptist Church we're a local church
this is what we believe as independent Baptists we believe that churches are local
we believe that churches are self-governing in fact I'll give you a definition I teach our church people this
when it comes to what is a church because there's a lot of debate about what a church is
and people think they can meet with their you know with their buddy in a living room and call that church
you know but the Bible is clear about what a church is and I'll just tell you how we define it here at Verity Baptist Church
we define a church we believe that a church is a local assembly of believers who have banded together
under the leadership of a pastor for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission
that's what a church is and by the way when you stop doing that you're no longer a church
Pastor Mahiel talked about it where God would remove the candlestick
hey there's a lot of local assemblies of believers under the leadership of a pastor that are not fulfilling the Great Commission
that's not a church there's a lot of local assembly of believers meeting at a coffee shop and there's no pastor
that's not a church a church is a local assembly of believers who have banded together under the authority of a pastor
for the purpose of fulfilling the Great Commission and with that we believe in the autonomy
of the local church let me just read this this is from our doctrinal statement
we believe and I wrote this all right I didn't copy and paste it we believe in the autonomy of the local church
this means that we are independent of all denominations conventions and fellowships
we have Jesus Christ in the Bible as the head of our church and the pastor as the human leader of our church
must admit himself to the Word of God we reject any leader that usurps the authority of Christ
as the head of any church like a pope a prophet a president a board of elders or a board of directors
and here's what I'm telling you we are independent Baptists
and what that means is we believe that churches are local assemblies not a universal church
and they are self-governing assemblies not a denomination
now you say well Pastor Humanities why would you preach this at the Red Hot Preaching Conference
when you have a bunch of people from other churches that come together
because I want you to understand that we also believe that local self-governing churches
can fellowship with other local self-governing churches
the Bible teaches that you find this concept in Scripture are you there in Acts 15
look at verse number 4 Acts chapter number 15 and verse 4 notice the Bible says this
and when they and you can read the context if you'd like later the word they there is referring to Paul and Barnabas
and when they were come to Jerusalem and they were come to the church in Jerusalem
the Bible says they will receive notice of the church of the church in Jerusalem
and of the apostles and elders the spiritual leadership of the church in Jerusalem
and they declare all things that God had done with them skip down to verse 22
they have this big meeting there and you've got Paul and Barnabas who are from the church of Antioch
and they go up and have this meeting with the church in Jerusalem
this was the first you know Red Hot Preaching Conference
you know we've got a bunch of people here from churches from Faithful Word Baptist Church
and Steadfast Baptist Church and you know Pure Words Baptist Church
and Sure Foundation Baptist Church and Shield of Faith Baptist Church
you know they were coming together here we see believers yeah they were so local
separate assemblies but in the book of Acts they would fellowship together
they would meet together and discuss things look at verse 22
then pleased it the apostles and elders that's the leadership of the church in Jerusalem
with the whole church to send chosen men of their own company
so they're sending men from the church in Jerusalem to notice Antioch
to the church in Antioch remember the church in Antioch
is the church that laid hands on the apostle Paul and sent them out as a missionary
notice they sent of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas
namely Judas, Surname, Barsabas and Silas chief men among the brethren
and they wrote letters by them after this manner
the apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren
which are of the Gentiles in Antioch the church of Antioch and Syria and Silesia
here they met together then they send workers this is all scriptural
there's nothing wrong with churches of like faith and practice fellowshipping together
there's even nothing wrong with churches of like faith and practice
sending workers out to other churches to help them
in fact we've done that
now we've sent men to other churches and there's nothing wrong with it
this is all biblical
in the Bible you had these local self-governing autonomous churches
but they weren't just you know it's just us and no one else
they were able to fellowship with other churches
they were able to fellowship with other churches of like faith
let me give you another example
you keep your place there in the book of Acts
that's where we're going to be here for a little while
but go with me to the book of Romans if you would
keep your place in Acts but go to the book of Romans
Romans chapter 14
while you turn there let me read to you from Colossians
Colossians 4 16
and when this epistle is read among you
this is the apostle Paul writing an epistle to the church in Colossae
notice what he says
and when this epistle is read among you
cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans
and that ye likewise read the epistle from Laodicea
notice how Paul expected that these churches were communicating with each other
that these churches were fellowshipping with each other
you don't have to turn there but in 1 Corinthians 16 verses 1 and 3
you read about the apostle Paul taking a special offering
from the church at Corinth down to the church at Jerusalem
the church in Jerusalem was in persecution
and they were struggling financially
and the apostle Paul had the churches he says gather up a special offering
and they sent it out
here's what I want you to understand
in the Bible you see yes these autonomous self-governing local assemblies
but they're also fellowshipping with each other
they're also helping each other out
they're also working together
so look when we have this Red Hot Preaching Conference
and of course when you come to the Red Hot Preaching Conference
you hear a lot about the new IFB movement
and some people don't like that and I understand that
but you know when we talk about the new IFB movement please understand this
we're not talking about a denomination
you say what is the new IFB movement?
the new IFB movement is a bunch of local self-governing autonomous churches
that choose to fellowship together
we just choose to be friends with each other
and we do projects together
we host big marathons and soul winning events and missions events
and conferences and things
but there's no denomination here
there's no headquarters
you didn't come to the national convention of the new IFB movement
you know when you came to the Red Hot Preaching Conference
hey let me tell you something
the Red Hot Preaching Conference is a conference put on by a local independent Baptist church
we believe in the autonomy of the local church
and I think that even though we can fellowship with churches
like-minded churches and I believe it
look I'm hosting a conference with a bunch of other
you know inviting a bunch of other pastors from other churches
and inviting their church members to come out and spend a week with us and have a good time
look I believe in that and I think it's right
I don't think there's anything wrong with that
but with that said we must never lose sight of the fact that we are independent Baptists
we are independent churches
and I believe and look I know these pastors
I talk to these pastors
these pastors are my friends
I love these pastors
I know they understand what I'm saying this morning
but I believe that many people involved in what we refer to as the new IFB movement
have either lost sight of the fact
have either forgotten
or maybe they just never really understood what it means to be an independent Baptist
so this morning I want to preach to you on the subject of make Baptist independent again
we need to have a resurgence and a revival of the autonomy of the local church
the independence of a church
the self-government of a church
and this is not an attack on the new IFB movement
because I believe that local churches can fellowship together
can assemble, can have conferences and councils
can do great works and have missions works together
and do marathons together
I believe all that is good
and we should try to do as much of that as we're able to
but never losing sight of the fact that we are independent Baptists
now this morning what I want to do is give you four thoughts
in regards of what it means to be an independent Baptist
and some things that I think maybe some people have lost sight of
or maybe some people just never really understood this
about the new IFB movement
the new IFB movement is not a denomination
and you don't even have to call it the new IFB movement if you don't want
to call it just churches that fellowship together
you know it is churches that fellowship
that choose to fellowship together
to do projects together to do great things
on the back of your course of the week there's a place for you to write down some notes
I'd encourage you to write some of these things down this morning
number one what does it mean to be independent
independent means we don't all have to believe the exact same thing
independent means we all don't have to believe the exact same thing
now obviously the reason that we can fellowship together
is because we believe a lot of the same things
and because we believe a lot of the major themes of scripture
we believe those things and that's fine
but look please don't ever lose sight
don't ever get to the place where you get this idea like
well I heard this pastor say this
and then I heard this other pastor say this
and those things were not exactly the same
well here's the reason for that we're independent
independent means we don't have to believe the exact same thing
obviously we believe a lot of same things
we believe the same things when it comes to the major issues
which is why we fellowship with each other
which is why we like each other
which is why we want to work together
but look independent means we don't all have to believe the exact same thing
are there in Romans 14 look at verse 2
Romans chapter 14 and verse 2
for one believeth that he may eat all things
another who is weak eateth herbs
let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not
and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth
for God hath received him
and look I'm not I'm not gonna break down this passage this morning
and I believe that there's a right person and a wrong person in this passage
but I'm bringing this up to just show you that the Apostle Paul says
look just because two people don't agree a hundred percent
on maybe what they believe about this or eating or whatever
keeping a certain day he says that's fine
he says it's not a problem look at verse 5
one man esteemeth one day above another
another esteemeth every day alike
let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind
you know what the Apostle Paul and then he goes on to talk about the fact
that you're not judge another man's servant
you're not judge another person for what they believe
you know obviously we should all try to know the Bible
understand the Bible apply the Bible
and in a perfect world we would all believe the exact same thing
because the Bible says that the scripture is not of any private interpretation
and look you say well why is it that people see things differently
because we're all men and we can all make mistakes
we can all see things differently or not see eye to eye
and you know what the Apostle Paul is teaching in Romans 14
he's saying that's okay if one man esteemeth one day above another
and another man esteemeth every day alike
he says don't go to war with that guy
he says it's fine
you know and as independent Baptist
independent means we don't have to believe the exact same things
now let me let me explain this to you
and go with me to the book of Jude if you would
the book of Jude it's the last book right before the book of Revelation
you have the book of Jude
and let me explain to you how pastors handle disagreement on beliefs
you've got two types of pastors
you've got the pastors who are mature and secure
and you've got the pastors who are immature and insecure
now you know what a mature and secure pastor does
he expects the fact that we're not all going to agree on the same things
someone said if you get four Baptist together you'll get five opinions
you know you can't expect that everyone is going to agree
especially our crowd
I mean we're feisty and we're warriors and we're standing
you know you can't expect that everyone is going to see eye to eye on every little thing
you know what a mature and secure pastor does
when he comes to an event like the Red Hot Preaching Conference
he expects that there's going to be people who stand up and say things that he doesn't agree with
I mean Pastor Mejia talked about it in this conference
Pastor Thompson got up and preached something
Pastor Mejia didn't agree with
and you know the only reason you know that is because we told you about it
there's no Twitter war right now going on
there's no Twitter war right
going on between Pastor Thompson and Pastor Mejia
you know why?
because mature pastors, secure pastors expect
they expect that we're not going to all agree 100% on everything
they realize look all of us hear another pastor say things that we don't agree with
that we don't think is right
that we would not say that or believe that or do that
let me explain to you what every independent Baptist thinks when they hear another pastor
say something they don't agree with
you know what they think?
they think this that guy's wrong
that's what they all think
and you know what a mature and secure pastor expects that
you know what an immature and insecure pastor does?
a mature pastor expects it
an insecure pastor exploits it
you know what an insecure pastor does?
you know what an immature pastor does?
you know someone who he's insecure because everybody in this church is listening to Pastor Anderson
everybody in this church is listening to Pastor Jimenez
everybody in this church is listening to Pastor Mejia or Pastor Thompson
you know what an insecure and immature pastor does?
he doesn't expect the fact that we're all going to disagree from time to time
but he exploits the fact that we're all going to disagree from time to time
so you know what they do?
they wait till they find something that we don't just agree exactly the same
then they try to exploit that
well let me show you why I'm more spiritual
let me show you why I'm more fundamental
let me show you why I'm more right with God
but you know I feel bad for these guys because they're taking the wrong approach
and look they do this to me they attack me
they try to tear me down thinking that somehow it's going to help their influence
and look even with their attacks on me I want to help them
you know because this is not going to help you
this is the illustration I think of whenever I think of this
imagine if my wife and I were having problems right?
imagine if I was just a lousy husband and my wife is just fed up with me
and I'm just always ignoring her
and I just come home and I play video games
and I'm just not a good provider
and I'm just not you know spending time with her and loving her
and my wife just gets fed up with it
and I decide man I got to do something about this
I know what I'll do
I'll just explain to my wife how lousy all the other husbands are
I mean honey you think I'm bad let me tell you about it soon
you think it's going to help my marriage?
now look I may successfully get my wife to hate all the other husbands
but that's not going to make her love me
you know what I need to do?
become a better husband
in fact when I become a better husband I don't even have to tear any other husbands down
and these guys they think oh well you know everybody in my church is listening to this other pastor
and so I got to tear them down
no how about you just become a better pastor
everybody in my church is listening to this other guy preach
why don't you become a better preacher?
everybody in my church is you know he's got all the influence
you know what an immature insecure pastor does?
he exploits it
you know what a mature secure pastor does?
he expects it
you say pastor what do you do?
because I love the fact that a lot of our church people listen to other pastors in this movement
it helps me
sometimes it helps me
when they rip face about something I'm like great now I don't have to do it
glad they helped you
but you know from time to time they teach things that I don't agree with
I teach things that I don't
what do you do?
you expect it
so what do you do?
you just love your people
you're there for your people
you teach great doctrines
you teach them hey here's what we do at Verity Baptist Church
here's how we do it
people all the time say well at this other church I say hey that's great
but here at Verity Baptist Church here's how we do it
you expect it and you just train your people
look you just try to become a better pastor
you just try to love your people
look and this is what I want to tell these guys
because they're all like well you know I don't like somebody pastoring my people online
well get used to it this is the world we live in
everyone's online
everyone's listening to everybody online
say well what do I do about it?
look do you realize this?
you have the home court advantage
they listen to you Sunday morning Sunday night Wednesday night
why don't you just preach better sermons?
why don't you just become a better communicator?
why don't you spend more time with your people?
love your people be there for them
hey husband don't think that tearing down every other husband is going to make you better
you need to become a better pastor
independent Baptist means that we all don't have to believe the exact same thing
you say yeah but that's a problem because if we don't believe the same things
you know what a mature insecure pastor expects it and an immature insecure pastor exploits it
let me say this
because you know you preach this and people always want to take it to extremes
oh well we don't all believe the same thing so I mean it's fine if I believe oneness right?
you know what let me explain something to you
there are some things that are not up for debate
there are some things that we must agree on in order to fellowship
and if you're gonna stop fellow if you're gonna stop believing certain things
and you say what are we gonna do we're gonna take your ordination away
we're not a denomination
but you know what we're gonna stop hanging out with you
we're gonna stop being friends with you
there are some things that we must all agree on
are you there in Jude?
look at verse 3
beloved this is Jude under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost
notice what he says
beloved when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation
Jude said I wanted to sit down and write a letter to you about salvation
you know and in the Bible you have a lot of letters about salvation
Paul wrote a lot about salvation the doctrine of salvation
Peter and different people wrote about things that accompany salvation
things you ought to do after you get saved
Jude said hey I sat down to write unto you of the common salvation
he said beloved when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation
it was needful for me to write unto you and to exhort you
that you should earnestly contend for the faith
which once once delivered unto the saints
you know what Jude said?
Jude said I sat down to write about the common salvation
but when I began to write about the common salvation
I realized that what I really need to write about
was the fact that we must earnestly contend for the faith
which was once delivered unto the saints
you know that there are some things that we've got to fight for?
hey salvation is something we fight about
salvation is something we earnestly contend in the faith for
you know and I want to bring this up
you know it's the Red Hop Preaching Conference
so I'll do what I want
say why is that?
because I'm an independent Baptist
you know some of our church people have been getting attacked on social media lately
and here's the thing about you know the very Baptist Church family
they don't have a pastor or a pastor's wife that is on social media
you know I'm not on Facebook my wife's not on Facebook
so we don't get to be there to defend them whenever they get attacked on social media
so unfortunately our church people they just have to wait till the Red Hop Preaching Conference
for their pastor to defend them
you know and you know let me just go ahead and say this
I'm not against pastors and pastor's wives being on social media
I realize that it's a great tool to reach people and connect with people and influence people
but I will tell you this there are some pastors and pastor's wives
who ought to be ashamed how much time they spend on social media
I want to talk to you about being a keyboard warrior
you're the most keyboard warrior there is
look you got to be embarrassed how much time
if you spend as much time soul winning as you spend on Facebook
you might actually get a crowd
you spend as much time studying for a sermon as you do on Facebook
you might actually preach a good sermon
you know I'm just thankful I can say I spend more time reading the Bible this week than I spend on Facebook
I spend more time on this sermon this week than I spend on Facebook
I spend more time with my wife and with my kids this week than I spend on Facebook
so they're getting attacked on social media
and they're getting attacked about the doctrine of salvation
you know there's this pastor Stacy Shiflett who wrote this book
and he wrote in his book his gospel presentation in the book
that you got to repent of your sins
repent of your sins parentheses turn from sin
and somebody brought that up and said hey you know this isn't something that we believe in the new IP
look is it controversial to say the new IP stands against repent of your sins
I thought that was like one of our main things
one of our main things that we believe
is that we don't believe you muddy the gospel with the repent of your sins
but you know they're just getting attacked
and look I understand this
the argument is this
well when somebody says repent of your sins lots of people use the word repent of your sins
lots of people use the word repent
there's a repentance you know
can mean a lot of things to different people
so you have to clarify what somebody means
here's the thing I agree with that
but when somebody writes a book
and puts the words repent of your sins
and then in parentheses puts the words turn from sin
now I've been accused about being uneducated
never read the Constitution
because I went to public school
I went to Christian school number one
but maybe you should have gone to public school
because a parentheses here's the definition
is a word clause or sentence inserted as an explanation
or an afterthought into a passage that is grammatically complete without it
oh he said repent of your sins you have to clarify
why do I need to clarify he already clarified what it means
when he put parentheses and he said to turn from your sins
oh no you got to clarify
well it's hard to clarify with a guy when you ask him what do you believe
I'm not gonna answer your question
it's like you're a pastor
you get paid to tell people what you believe
oh yeah no I missed that one right
when Jesus I thought Jesus said hey what you hear in the ear shouted upon the housetops
I thought I thought Jesus I thought Paul said that I have not shunned to declare unto you the whole counsel of God
like if somebody asked you what you believe you tell them
people call me all the time asking what do you believe about this what do you believe about
I know they're gonna hate me I know they're gonna talk crap about me
I know when somebody calls me and says what do you believe about homosexuals
I'm thinking myself why are you calling you know what I believe
everybody knows what I believe
and I know but you know do I sit there well let me tell you
I sit there and go I'm not gonna answer your question
look when somebody puts a parentheses to turn from your sins
you know what Jonah 3 10 says and God saw their works
and God saw their works that they turn from their evil way
if somebody believes that you have to turn away from sin to be saved
you're not saved
that's how you I can't believe you would reprobate someone
number one I didn't reprobate anybody
number two now we can't say somebody's not saved based on their salvation
oh well you will you call you know the problem with the statement
you know the the statement of faith is that everybody copies and paste the statement of faith
okay let me explain something to you when somebody writes a book
if your argument is well I just copied and pasted
you know what that's called that's called plagiarism
so either way we're calling you out buddy
oh no no I didn't write that I copied and pasted
okay so you copied and pasted into a book that you sold for profit
that's illegal
oh no no I wrote it okay then you then you're not saved
when you write a parentheses to turn from your sins
you know you well you need to clarify I don't need to clarify he just clarified
and let me tell you something about this Stacey Shiflett guy
because you know hey we we have to be careful about people coming in
and trying to influence it's funny how everybody wants to attack me and Pastor Anderson
because we're trying to influence their church
but when people try to influence our churches we can't defend ourselves
let me tell you something about the Stacey Shiflett guy
when he first came on the scene he came on the scene
because he was he was he was actually exposing Cameron Giovannelli
who is a predator pedophile
and Cameron Giovannelli was right here in Northern California
I mean just an hour and 20 minutes away from right here
at North Valley Baptist Church
and he put out a video exposing him and I thought great you know
I think we should expose all predators
we put on our YouTube channel
but then Jack Treiber started putting some pressure on this Stacey Shiflett guy
I get an email from Stacey Shiflett saying please take down the video
and I'm thinking to myself you put the video up
let me tell you something when you put something on the internet it stays there
please take down the video you know blah blah blah
I just respond no
I'm new IFB buddy Jack Treiber has no influence on me
I said no you know what I got from him the next day
and I got an email from the Christian Law Association
threatening to take legal action against me if I don't take the video down
that's Stacey Shiflett the great giant of the faith
doesn't even know that the Bible says you're not supposed to sue your brother in Christ
well I guess we're not brothers in Christ because he's repent of your sins
you say did you take the video down no never took it down
the video is down now the only reason the video is down is because YouTube took it down
and YouTube took it down when they took down our entire channel it just all went down
but here's what I'm telling you there's some things we fight about
there's some things that we don't you know
there's some things that I'm just like that's stupid whatever
it doesn't matter no big deal
earnestly because of the faith we're actually told to fight about salvation
we're actually told to fight and you know let me just let me tell you something
new IFB pastors this isn't the old IFB
where we all are you know alumnis from the same alma mater and whatever
you attack my church people don't be surprised if you get called out at the Red Op region conference
why would you do that because I'm an independent Baptist I do whatever I want
and you know our church people need to be defended especially when they're right
what does independent mean it means that we don't have to believe the exact same thing
mature and secure pastors expect this insecure and immature pastors exploit this
number two go back to the book of Acts if you would
and look if you don't like the sermon so far it's gonna get worse from here
you might as well find another church
number one independent means we don't have to believe the exact same thing
number two independent means we don't have to run our churches the exact same way
you know independent means we don't have to run our churches the exact same way
Acts chapter 15 let me give you an example verse 37
here we have Paul and Barnabas and they're disputing about bringing John Mark on the second missionary journey
Acts 15 verse 37 and Barnabas determined to take with him John whose surname was Mark
but Paul thought not good to take him Paul thought not good to take John Mark with them
with Paul and Barnabas why didn't Paul want to take him
because he departed from them from Pamphylia and went not with them to the work
they had already taken John Mark with them on the first missionary journey
and John Mark you know got homesick and got mama sick and quit on them halfway through
and now they're going on the second missionary journey and Barnabas wants to take John Mark
and Paul says no we're not going to take him
look at verse 39 and the contention was so sharp between them
all the drama just drama look there's when you're doing the work of the Lord there's always drama
there's always fights and the contention was so sharp between them that they departed asunder
one from the other and so Barnabas took Mark and sailed him to Cyprus and Paul chose Silas
and departed being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God
here you have two guys that want to do ministry differently
one wanted to take John Mark the other one didn't
and being good independent Baptist they got in a big fight about it
got all mad and angry and started fighting with each other
and one said fine and Barnabas takes John Mark and Paul chose Silas and went on his way
you know and the question we always like to ask as independent Baptist is well who was right
right whenever there's a fight you always want to know well who's right
so who's right in this situation
and I don't want to spend a lot of time on this but let me give you a couple reasons why the apostle Paul may have been right
number one Paul is the one who receives the recommendation from the brethren
look at verse 40 and Paul chose Silas and departed being recommended by the brethren unto the grace of God
it doesn't say that about Barnabas what does that mean?
that means that the church said okay you guys are going to split up that's fine
but we're sending Paul we're recommending Paul we're sending him with our authority
so Paul received the recommendation from the brethren
here's the second reason verse 39 and the contention was so sharp between them that they departed asunder one from the other
and so Barnabas took Mark and sailed into Cyprus
here's another reason why Paul may have been right and it's because of this
in Acts 15 39 that's the last time you read about Barnabas in the entire book of Acts
but yet the rest of the book of Acts is all about the apostle Paul
so if you want a couple reasons why Paul may have been right
let me, Paul may have been right is you know here's I think some good reasons Paul received the recommendation from the brethren
and Paul continues to be the focus of the book of Acts while Barnabas disappears
and you say oh wow okay so you think Paul was right I didn't say that
I just gave you a couple reasons why Paul may have been right
let me give you a couple reasons why Barnabas may have been right
you know here's a reason why Barnabas may have been right you don't have to turn there
but in 2 Timothy 4 11 towards the end of the apostle Paul's life he said this
only Luke is with me take Mark and bring him with thee for he is profitable to me for the ministry
here we have Paul changing his mind about Mark
you know that pastors and spiritual leaders can change their minds
towards the end of Paul's life he says hey take Mark and bring him with thee for he is profitable for me for the ministry
so if you want a couple of reasons why Barnabas may have been right
well maybe the fact that Paul later on said hey that guy is valuable
at one point I thought he was not valuable but now I think he is profitable for me for the ministry
you want another reason why Barnabas may have been right
here's a little reason Mark ended up writing a little book you might have heard about it
it's called the Gospel according to Mark
yeah but he quit he messed up you know but sometimes people can get right
you say well pastor you've confused me is Paul right or is Barnabas right
you know what I think I think they're both right
say what do you mean if you study the life of Paul you know what Paul is
he's just a hard charger
I mean the guy if the guy was a business owner he had been like the greatest CEO that ever lived
he took his name brand the gospel of Jesus Christ and took it into the entire world
the greatest missionary evangelist church planter preacher you know
the soul winner the world has ever known Paul had a ministry he was a man on a mission
and look it just I believe you say what do you mean they were both right
I just I don't think it was Paul's calling to be Mr. Merciful
Mr. helping this young Christian get right and get things going
Paul you know he just he couldn't be slowed down by that he was doing great things for God
and God blessed him the church recommended him and the entire book of Acts is about him
but yet Barnabas Barnabas who's called the son of consolation Barnabas loves John Mark
helps restore him to the point where a man like Paul would say about John Mark he's profitable
to the point where God would use him to write a gospel and by the way this is how Barnabas is
remember Paul before he was Paul his name was Saul who made a havoc of the church
when he got saved nobody wanted to talk to him nobody wanted to be his friend
who reached out to him Barnabas brought him along you know what I think I think God was using Barnabas
God had given Barnabas a spiritual gifts to reach out to people that were struggling that were hurting
and he was helping restore them he made the Apostle Paul he made Mark
so you say which one was right I think they're both right
so why are you bringing this up here's the answer to the question the answer to the question is this
not all of us have to have the exact same ministries we don't all have to run our ministries exactly the same
you know during the lockdowns Pastor Mejia started that podcast when I saw that podcast I thought to myself
this is a great idea this is what I thought to myself I said this to my wife I said this is a great idea
this is something great that is probably gonna take off and be really popular and reach out a lot of people
and I said this this is a great idea that I will never do are you against it no I think it's awesome
you say why would you never do that I'm not cool enough to do it you know what I just go get some puppets
do a puppet show I'm just telling you you know that not every ministry has to run the same
I promise you though I promise you in fact I know for a fact that there are some guys when we put out our first puppet show
there are some guys you know because they're always on their computer on social media
who are just watching and they're like huh honey honey we need to order some puppets
you know here's what I'm telling you we don't all have to run our churches the exact same way
I like the choir if you don't like the choir that's fine I like the orchestra you don't want orchestra no problem
you know every church you know what it means to be independent independent means we don't all have to believe the exact same thing
but you know what independent also means it means we all don't have to run our churches the exact same way
it means that we don't all have to do the exact same things go to the book of Luke Luke chapter 9 Matthew Mark Luke Luke chapter 9
let me give you a third one we're talking about make Baptist independent again
what does it mean to be independent independent means we don't all have to believe the exact same thing
independent means we don't all have to run our churches the exact same way
you know independent means we don't all have to be friends with the exact same people
do you know that there are some good people outside of the IFB world
Luke chapter 9 verse 49 and John answered and said Luke 9 49 and John answered and said
master we saw one casting out devils in thy name and we forbade him because he followeth not with us
we forbade him because he's not on our Facebook group we forbade him because he's not in our movement
and Jesus said unto him forbade him not for he that is not against us is for us
so why do you guys get up and preach against pastors you know the only pastors I preach against are the ones that are trying to hurt our ministry
is there some guy out there just minding his own business doing whatever he's saved and he's doing whatever
if he's not hurting us hey we Jesus said he that is not against us is for us
he that is not against us look we don't have to try to pick a fight
wait well it's just us for it no more
you know there are people outside the IFB world that are good people
I'll be honest with you look I'll be honest with you I don't want to be friends with anybody who's not an independent pharaobaptist
are you trying to attack look I'm not trying to attack anybody you say why is that because I am not a friendly guy
I'll just be honest with you I'm not that friendly
you know I just you know some people they really like to connect with us or whatever I you know I just kind of like to be home and play with my puppets
I just like to be home and spend time with my family you know I just I don't spend a lot of time you know talking with people
if people call me I like to talk to them whatever I'm just I'm just not that type of person
but you know ask me if I care if my pastor friends have friends I don't care
let me explain something to you I don't need to approve all of my friends friends
I don't need to approve go to the book of Proverbs if you wouldn't
if you open up your Bible just right in the center right after right after the book of Proverbs
you know that I don't need to approve all my friends friends let me explain them to you
number one I don't have the time to approve my friends friends are you serious
look I get it if you spend eight hours a day on Facebook and you don't actually pastor anybody and write good sermons
and maybe you have the time to dig into everybody's personal detail about what they're doing I don't have the time
but even if I did I would never sit there and make it a requirement that I approve my friends friends
you know what that is that's a cult we're not even a denomination much less a cult
I had a pastor call me he's trying to get me to turn against Pastor Anderson of course
that's the only time maybe he calls me
somebody invites me to preach I'm like oh they must be fighting with Pastor Anderson
you know this guy calls me he's trying to get me to turn around pastor and by the way let me just say this
let me just if I haven't made this clear you know I've been friends with Pastor Anderson for 18 years
I've been friends with him since I was 16 years old I've been friends with him since before either one of us was married
since before either one of us was a pastor since before either one of us knew any of you
since before there was a new IP since before there was a faithful word Baptist Church since before there was a Verity Baptist Church
you know you said why are you saying this because you know our enemies would love nothing more than to just see me and Pastor Anderson
just just fight each other and turn on each other let me explain something to you we've been friends for a long time
I'm not gonna turn on Pastor Anderson I'm gonna turn on you before I turn on him
oh it's because you're a cult no it's called being a friend and look when you've been friends with somebody this long
it takes more than a phone call to get you to turn on them are you there in Proverbs 27 look at verse 10
you know what we need we need a revival of loyalty Proverbs 27 verse 10
thy own friend and my father's friend forsake not neither go into thy brother's house in the day of thy calamity
for better is a neighbor that is near than a brother afar off go to Proverbs 18 go to Proverbs 18 and verse 24
Proverbs 18 and verse 24 a man that has friends must show himself friendly and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother
look we need to just get back to just some biblical friendship Christianity some biblical friendship Christianity that says I'm an independent Baptist
and I'm not gonna worry about what another independent Baptist Church is doing and I'm an independent Baptist I don't have to sit there and approve all my friends friends
that's cultish that's a cult keep your place there in Proverbs we're gonna come right back to it but go to the second Kings if you would second Kings chapter 3
if you find all the one and two books they're all clustered together for second Samuel for second Kings for second Chronicles second Kings chapter 3
so this pastor called me you know trying to get me to turn on pastor Anderson and of course these guys they never have any Bible to back them up
you know I'm getting sick and tired of these like I don't know Southern or non-California preachers I guess or non-West Coast preachers I guess
because they always have their little idioms you know this guy calls me say well brother I don't rub shoulders with people that rub shoulders with confidence
you know and I've heard that my whole I don't rub shoulders with people that rub shoulders with liberals and you know when they said it to me I thought to myself
yeah it's an interesting thought because number one you didn't quote the Bible to me but I thought to myself I wonder if you can find that concept in the Bible
that I'm supposed to verify everyone who I rub shoulders with whatever that means you know who they rub shoulder is that a biblical concept
so I started actually thinking about it and read as I was reading the Bible and just kind of thinking through the stories and you know this was the the best example I came up with second Kings 3 look at verse 13
and Elisha here you have a man of God said unto the king of Israel and this is Jehoram the son of Ahab what have I to do with thee get thee to the prophets of thy father
because they asked him to prophesy they're about to go to war they asked Elisha to prophesy the king of Israel the king of Edom and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah
and Elisha said unto the king of Israel what have I to do with thee get thee to the prophets of thy fathers and to the prophets of thy mother
and the king of Israel said unto him nay for the Lord hath called these three kings together to deliver them into the hands of Moab notice verse 14
and Elisha said I can't help you because I don't rub shoulders with people that rub shoulders is that what he said
and Elisha said as the Lord of hosts liveth before whom I stand surely were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah I would not look toward thee nor see thee
and then he calls for a minstrel and he helps them you just did you catch what I just showed you you know what Elisha just said
Elisha just looked at the king of Israel and said I don't like you I wouldn't even talk to you I want nothing to do with you
but you know what Jehoshaphat is my friend and you're rubbing shoulders with him so I'll go ahead and help
brother I don't rub shoulders people I rub why don't you read the Bible
you know Elisha I don't have time to verify all my friends friends that's cultish
you say well yeah are you and it's funny because they try to turn around like oh well you don't care who their friends are you must be in a cult
no actually it's the exact opposite I don't care who their friends are I must be independent
I must be an autonomous pastor of a local church that just doesn't care
that just you know what's interesting about Verity Baptist Church is that we have this red hot preaching conference
and all these pastors get up and I loved it I thought the sermons this year were probably the best sermons we've ever had
and all these pastors get up and they're ripping face and half of our church family is like what are you talking about
we have to send out like a group text to the Verity family like okay well what happened was that
and like oh wow say why don't they know because I don't care
I don't get up and just preach about everything that's going on everywhere because I'm an independent Baptist
what does it mean to be independent independent means we don't have to believe the exact same things
independent means we don't have to run our churches the exact same way independent means that we don't have to be friends with the exact same people
and look if one of my friends wants to be friends with someone outside of the IFB world then just let me be clear read my lips
I don't care and if you do you want a cult that's what you want you want a denomination I'm too independent to care
go back to the book of Proverbs Proverbs chapter number 11 I said number one independent means we don't have to believe the exact same things
I said number two independent means we don't have to run our churches the exact same way
I said number three independent means we don't have to be friends with the exact same people
here's point number four independent means we don't have to be involved in everybody else's problems
Proverbs chapter 11 and verse 13 notice what the Bible says
a tale bearer reveal his secrets but he that is of a faithful spirit conceals the matter
you know that it is a tale bearer who says oh let me tell you about this situation
you know that the Bible says that someone who's of a faithful spirit actually conceals a matter
go to Proverbs chapter 20 verse 19 Proverbs chapter 20 and verse 19
he that goeth about as a tale bearer reveal his secrets
therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips
go to Proverbs 25 and look at verse 9 debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself
you know that if you have a problem with someone you just go to that person and deal with it
debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself and discover not a secret on Facebook
and discover not a secret on Twitter and discover not a secret on Instagram
debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself and discover not a secret to another
you know what let me explain something to you
and I've always taught this and I've always believed this
at Verity Baptist Church people leave here all the time because they're mad about something
and you know what if people leave here and they're mad and they just leave and go quietly
we never acknowledge it I never preach against them
the funny thing is that there's an entire list of people that I could name right now
that our church people have forgotten about
I could list probably 10 people right now who if I said their names you'd be like
oh yeah what did happen to that guy they all left mad but quietly and we never acknowledged it
we just left them alone in fact let me give you the list no I'm just kidding
you know why you don't know the list cause I never acknowledge them
but when people leave here and they decide that they're gonna start a campaign against our church
start calling everybody trying to get people to turn on us
you know when they start talking crap about me and my wife on social media publicly
once you cross the line publicly then your name's coming out at the Red Outpreaching Conference
you say who are you talking about I'm talking about Chad and Michelle Morgan
I don't think you should call their names by name
or really like Alexander the coppersmith like Hymenaeus like Demetrius
you know in the Bible the men of God are constantly calling out names
you say well why do you have to do that you know why I have to do that
because they're calling everybody
they're calling our staff families
they're calling my own family
they're calling my mom and dad my siblings
you know while they're talking crap about me on social media
they're calling my family oh can we do a favor for you
you know what that is that's a psychopath
okay can I can I help you with something
while they're just talking crap about me my wife and my kids
calling our staff families calling you say why do you have to call my name
because I don't know who they talk to
so I'm just gonna say it for everybody
Chad and Michelle Morgan are a piece of crap
they're wicked people
you know there's a situation I don't want to get into details because I'm not a tailbearer
there's a situation where a bunch of kids got in trouble in a church like 700 miles from here
and they want to call all our church people like oh let me send you all the information
let me send you all the screenshots
let me let me give you all this information
what look why do I need to know what's going on in a church
I'm an independent Baptist
and you say well why are they doing here's why you're doing it
because they want to use that to try to like get me to attack these fellow pastors
well you're still friends with them
here's the accusation I'm aiding and abetting a cover-up
by being friends with a pastor who had some issue with kids
look churches have issues all the time
there's stuff that goes down at our church
and we deal with it and we restore people
and many of our church people are thankful that I'm not going around telling all their business to everybody
oh you're aiding and abetting a cover-up
and it's like okay well are the pastors involved do they know about the situation
yeah okay all these kids are living at home under the authority of their parents
and all the parents have been made aware
yeah then how is it a cover-up
well we just want everybody on Facebook to know
there's something wicked with your heart
when you want every juicy detail
you say well you know let me let me just explain to you
how I teach our church people here at Verity Baptist Church what gossip is
this is how I teach it you should maybe write this down
is it my place is it my problem
here's what I mean by that is it my place
is it do I have a position of authority
where I have to deal with this
because look if it's my place and you come and tell me something
and it's my place my position authority that's not gossip
because I need to deal with it
or is it my problem and when I say that I don't mean like it's not my problem
I mean like is it affecting me
is it hurting me is it hurting our church is it hurting
you know if it's my place
and if it's my problem then that's not gossip
but if you want to just go and tell the whole world
about something that's neither their place nor their problem
you're a wicked person
you're wicked as hell
it's gossip and there's something wrong with you
there's something wrong with your mind
and something wrong with your heart
when you just want to give out every little detail about situations
I'd say you need to get right with God but I don't think that's possible
you say well how do I know if it's gossip is it my place is my problem
is it my place is my problem
and look we're independent baptists
Chad and Michelle Morgan they showed up here
they wanted me to church discipline Matthew 18 church discipline Pastor Anderson
I sat him down I'm like I don't think you understand how this works
it's church discipline
not I'm the pastor of a church hundreds of miles away discipline
but you know what you say well I don't think you should be talking about them
well they're talking about me
they're trying to hurt my ministry
they're trying to turn the people closest to me against me
so they made it public so let's do it
you know Chad and Michelle Morgan and our church family knows this
they showed up and I had to give a public announcement
because they had all this drama at another church
and they came to me and they said we want to get right
we want to put this behind us
and you know look the biggest problem that we have as pastors
is that we just try to help people too much I think
some of the biggest regrets I have in ministry is me trying to help somebody
I should have just kicked them while they were down
yeah but they come to me and they're like we want to try to get
and I said hey you know what if you want to try to make things right
if you want to forsake those things which are behind
then we'll help you
I had a talk with our church family I said this family is coming
they've had issues they want to put it behind them
and I told our church people that night I said don't talk to them
don't try to ask them questions don't try to pry information from them
about what happened it's not your place it's not your problem
that's exactly what I said
they came here I said I said I sat across from a table
my desk from Chad and Michelle Morgan
I said you can come here
I said but I'm going to ask of you what I ask of every member of Verity Baptist Church
and it's this that you don't talk crap about other pastors
I wasn't asking that of them specifically
I asked that of every member
if you get on social media and you talk crap about other pastors
I don't care you know what the situation is
that's not your place
and I'm going to become your problem
and I said to them I said you don't talk
they said we won't
and he said to me in fact we're just going to get off of social media completely
and this is what I said to him
I said I'm not asking you to do that
I said I'm not trying to control your life or lord over you or whatever
I'm not asking you to do that
you can have social media, you can have Facebook, you can do whatever you want
I said I just don't want you talking crap about other pastors
and he said we will agree to that
and we will just put on
even above and beyond
we're just not going to be on social media at all
and then I find out that they have a secret social media account
where they're just talking crap about everybody
so I take him to my office
I didn't yell at them
I didn't say anything to me
I said is this you? Yeah?
okay well this is not what we agreed on
and I corrected them
could not take correction
they tried to stay here for a couple of seconds
she sat right over there just mad the entire time
thinking what did I do?
what did I do?
when I put my neck out to try to help you
I ask of you and I ask of every member of this church
that you not talk crap about
you went above and beyond and then you lie about it
you have these secret accounts
I correct you nicely and you can't take correction
then they leave here and they say
Pastor Jimenez is in a cult
because he won't fight Pastor Anderson
no actually maybe I'm just a little too independent
maybe your problem with me
is that I just don't care
what's happening in another church
and you know what Chad
because I know you're watching
let me just explain this to you
your wife's fascination with Adam Fannin is weird
I'd be worried if I were you
I mean let me just say
some of you guys need to just watch
how your wives act on Facebook
and you know ask because everybody's thinking
to themselves like man does this guy
is he missing something?
when your wife is just fawning over some other man
it's weird
I don't think you should say that
well you know what I just want to make sure
everybody back to church knows exactly where I stand on it
this is the first time you've heard me bring up their name
they left a long time ago
my thoughts were if they go quietly
I don't need to bring them up
but when they sit there
and contact my family
and contact my staff
and contact my church members
while they're railing on me and my wife
trying to turn people against us
manipulate people against us
I'm gonna call you out
and I don't have a Facebook account
so I gotta do it here
independent means we don't have to be involved
in everybody else's problems
Proverbs 26 look at verse 17
Proverbs 26 and verse 17
he that passeth by
and meddleth with strife
belonging not to him
is like one that taketh a dog by the ears
and you know what
when you take a dog by the ears
you're liable to get bit
so you know what you should learn
you should learn to mind your own business
well pastor why don't you want to get involved
you know whenever there's drama in the new IFB
number one is
if you don't get involved
if you don't get involved in the drama in the new IFB
number one
I don't have to make a video talking about
I'm not gonna get involved in the drama
you know what I do
I just don't get involved in the drama
when you make a video
about not getting involved in the drama
you know what you just did
you got involved in the drama
we always want to know
you know because they're always trying to get me
to fight with pastor Anderson
me to fight with pastor Thompson
me to fight with you know pastor mayor or whatever
because I don't care
because that's an independent Baptist church
but let me just explain something to you
if you must know
I always side with the man of God
because I am an independent Baptist
because I do believe in the autonomy of local church
because I do believe that churches
should be self-governing
whatever the leader of that church said
I side with him
and you know what I've learned
every time I do that I end up making the right choice
because then these people go off
look when you're making comments
you know what I mean
wicked as hell enemies of our churches
when you're commenting
and saying favorable things
there's no excuse for that
you know we need to be careful about the fact
go to Galatians chapter 6
we'll finish up right here
and you know the reason
that I don't want to just expose everybody's sins
you know why
because you know what we're trying to do
we're trying to restore people
Galatians chapter 6 and verse 1
brethren if a man be overtaken in a fault
ye which are spiritual
restore such in one
in the spirit of meekness
don't miss this
considering thyself lest thou also be tempted
one of the great
the golden rule of the Bible
what is it
treat people the way you'd like to be treated
you know what Paul said
hey you should consider yourself
if I were to fall
if my kids were to do something stupid
how would I want to be treated
these stupid people said
they sent me an email with all this crap
you know what I thought to myself
what if this was my kids
would I want somebody to just be reading this
delete
I didn't read it I didn't need to
just delete it
consider you know
I watch these pastors you know
they want to put out their little sermons
on the occasions of a pastor
you know what I think though
you know what the Bible says
the king of Israel answered and said
tell him let not him that girdeth on his harness
boast himself as he that putteth it off
that's one of my favorite verses in the Bible
it's actually king Ahab who said it
but you know what even unsafe people can say good things
or bad people can say good things
and you know what that means
let not him that putteth on his harness
boast himself as he that putteth it off
here's what he's saying he's saying
the reason I don't get up and just talk crap
about other pastors and issues in their church
and their kids you know why
because I'm still raising my kids
you know I watch this guy get up
let me preach about the qualification of the pastor
I think to myself I hope your kids never do something
that embarrasses you
you know because you know what the Bible says
with what measure ye meet it shall be measured unto you again
you know what the Bible says
the Bible says you reap what you sow
you know what the Bible says
the Bible says that when it comes ye that are spiritual
restore such an one in the spirit of meekness
considering thyself
lest thou also be tempted
and sometimes that'll get you in trouble
because when a Chad and Michelle crappy Morgan show up
and you think to yourself well you know
if it was me what would I want someone to do
you know but you say are you mad about it
what do you think
are you gonna stop loving people though
you know what I'm just gonna I'm just gonna keep
loving people and let God deal with it
avenge not yourself
give place unto wrath
and preach about it at the Red Hot Breaking Conference
you know our attitude our attitude
when people sin ought to be this
restore such an one
how do we do it the way you'd like someone
to do it for you
the way you'd like someone to do it for your kids
the way you'd like someone to do it
for your family for your wife
ye that are spiritual
restore such an one in the spirit of meekness
considering thyself
lest thou also be tempted
so here's all I'm saying this morning
I'm saying let's make Baptist independent again
let's have a reassurance
of independence
we are autonomous
local
self-governing assemblies
that fellowship together
from time to time
that do works together from time to time
but let's not lose sight of the fact
that we are independent Baptist
and that means that
when we're independent means that
we don't have to believe the exact same thing
we don't have to run our churches the exact same way
it means that we don't have to be friends
with the exact same people
and it means that we don't have to be involved
in everybody else's problems
you say what because you're in a cult
no actually because I'm independent
and I just really don't care
let's bow our heads and have a word of prayer
Heavenly Father
Lord I thank you for these churches represented here this morning
Lord I will be the first to admit
that every one of these churches has issues
Verity Baptist Church has issues
we are sinful people trying to do our best
of course we're going to have problems
Lord I believe that these are the churches
that you are using in this country
these are the churches that have your Holy Spirit upon them
and Lord I just pray that you would help us to remember
that we're independent
it's that new I F.B.
help us to just remember
I want us to act like it
I don't have to involve myself in everybody else's problems
I don't have to know about everybody else's problems
if it's not my place and it's not my problem
then I don't need to know
Lord I pray that you would just help us to realize
that we don't have to believe the exact same things
we don't have to run our churches the exact same way
we don't have to be friends with the exact same people
but there are some things we must fight over
we must earnestly contend for the faith
and major doctrines of scripture
Lord I thank you for this group
I pray that you would bless this group
and Lord I pray that you would bless the rest of today
in the matchless name of Christ we pray
Amen
I want to thank you for being here this morning
and I just want to remind you a couple of things
first of all if you need to be baptized this morning
while we sing you can step out that door
and we'll get you situated for baptism
and if not then don't forget
that we have soul winning at 2 p.m.
if you'd like to go soul winning
we'd love for you to be a part of that
and then tonight at 6 p.m. we have popcorn preaching
and then we're going to have Baskin Robbins after the service
and then we'll be back for the evening service
we'd love to have you
we'll have Brother Matt come up and lead us in a final song
We're going to sing 414
414, let's sing it out on the first
Stand up, stand up, 14
Hold on, stretch that, 413
413 on the first
Stand up, stand up, O Jesus
We soldiers of the cross
Lift high his royal banner
Make what's not suffer lost
From victory up to victory
His army shall be free
Till every blow is made
And Christ is glory
Stand up, stand up, O Jesus
The trumping call awaits
For to the mighty conflict
He makes His glorious day
Be that old man who'll serve Him
When the eternal number falls
Let church rise with danger
And strength to strength all the while
Stand up, stand up, O Jesus
Stand him with strength alone
The army fast will build him
He will not trust your own
For on the gospel of you
Embracing the true prayer
Where to he calls for danger
Remember once again
Amen, good singing
If you are a guest here from the Sacramento area
and you'd like to talk to one of us about salvation, church membership, or baptism
The pastor will be at the door, he'd love to talk to you or direct you to someone who's trained to talk to you about that
Let's go ahead and bow our heads forward in prayer
Dear heavenly father, we just thank you for this morning, the sermon that was preached, Lord
I thank you for your word and I pray, Lord, that you would be gracious unto us, Lord, have mercy on us
I pray for all the soul owners that are going out today, that you bless them
and bring us back to church safely tonight, in Jesus' name we pray, Amen
Amen.