The Principles of a Godly Family
Deuteronomy 6:1-9
 
Deuteronomy is a farewell address by Moses. In this book, Moses gathered the nation of Israel together for one last period of instruction. Moses knows that he is about to die, and he wishes to recap the blessings of God in their past and the commandments of God that will direct their future.
 
In the middle of this final “pep rally,” Moses takes time to address the family. Moses is wise enough to know that the family is the backbone of the nation. Moses recognizes that, “As the family goes, so goes the nation.”
 
It is within this address to the nation of Israel that we find great principles that should govern our families. We find three principles to help us have a godly family. 
 

1. Having an overwhelming affection for God will help us have godly families. (4-5)
   • We know that we have this affection when our heart seeks to please God above all else.
   • We know that we have this affection when our mind seeks to think about God above all else. 
   • John 8:29, Gal. 1:10, 1 Thess. 4:1, Psalms 40:8, Phil. 4:8
2. Having an obedient acceptance of the Word of God will help us have godly families. (6)
   1. Your obedience to God’s Word will be evidenced by your actions.
   2. Your obedience to God’s Word will be evidenced by your words.
   3. James 1:22, Matt. 12:34-35
3. Having an obvious atmosphere of godliness in our home will help us have godly families. (7-9)
   1. Speak his Word everywhere and all the time
   2. Talk about his goodness
   3. Praise his name
   4. Play godly music
   5. Turn off the TV (monitor it when on)
   6. Pray together
   7. Speak kindly one to another
   8. Display Scripture everywhere you can
   9. Throw out bad influences

 
 
Announcements for Tuesday, April 21, 2020
 

1. Mark 12:31 Challenge
2. Drive-in Church Sunday at 9 AM 
3. Tuesday and Thursday Devotions Online by 7PM
4. Tentative Re-entry – May 31 (worship only)
5. The monthly periodicals such as Journey and Home Life have arrived for June. If you would like a copy of any of the monthly literature or if you need Sunday School material, please let Carol Garner or I know.
6. Baptist Children’s Village Offering

 
I love you and I miss seeing you all. Lord willing, we are nearing the end of this trial. Lori and I are excited about this week! We can't wait to meet our son and bring him home! We are grateful for you, and we know that we couldn't have done this without your support and prayers. See you online, Tuesday!

Serving Christ by Serving You,

Pastor Scott

​Silver Creek Baptist Church
Phased Re-entry Plan
 
During the previous two months, we all have experienced events we thought we would never see in our lifetime, but God has been faithful. Despite the need to temporarily suspend our worship gatherings due to COVID-19, the mission of the church continued through the last two months. Our online and drive-in meetings have been successful; however, these methods are not sustainable. The church must gather together. At the same time, we must take certain precautions in how we begin to meet again. Below is a phased approach to re-entry which takes into consideration our need to gather together as well as the needs of everyone in our community.

The Grace of Suffering
1 Peter 2:19-25
 
Have you ever heard someone claim, “No good deed goes unpunished”? Some people in the world, and even some Christians, hold the idea that if someone suffers for doing good, then why do good at all? Peter answered that question for us. Simply, God gives us special grace when we suffer for his sake. Peter gave us tips to remember during times of suffering for Christ and a good conscience toward God.
 

• To be ensured during suffering: Remember not to confuse suffering for the cause of Christ with suffering because of your own sin. Although God also gives grace and mercy in those sinful situations, the special grace about which Peter wrote comes only through suffering for Christ.

 

• To endure through suffering: Remember, despite of our present suffering, better days are coming. Even if suffering ends in death, better days are coming. (Romans 8:17-18)

 

• To enjoy in the midst of suffering: Remember the sweet fellowship in suffering. This fellowship should not to be confused with misery loves company. God gives a sweet grace in the midst of suffering for Christ: fellowship with Him and fellowship with other suffering believers. This fellowship is a true fellowship. (Philippians 3:8-10)

 

• To engage others with the Gospel: Remember that no matter how much suffering we endure for the glory of God, our suffering will never match that of Christ’s suffering. Consider these comparisons:
  • Jesus suffered through the rejection of the very people He came to save, and we’ve suffered the rejection of friends and loved ones.
  • Jesus suffered through physical anguish, beatings, lashings, and the crucifixion. Many Christians have suffered physically, too. Peter was crucified upside down. Paul was stoned multiple times, whipped multiple times and endured physical suffering.
  • Christ experienced one suffering that we will never experience, but because of this suffering, we can have fellowship with him. What kind of suffering did Jesus experience, which we don’t have to experience? He suffered the wrath of God as the sin of the world, your sin and my sin, was laid upon Him. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Praise God, we will never know that suffering as Christians. Plus, if you are lost, you do not have to know that suffering either. Jesus can save you from suffering the wrath of God due to sin. How? Turn to Jesus! Submit your life to him. He will forgive you and save you!

 
As Christians, we can fellowship with Him in our time of suffering, whatever it may be. We can rest assured that God is with us when we suffer for his sake. “For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:15-16)
 
 
Prayer Requests
Revival
Magee Family (Daniel’s son, Toot, passed away.)
**Update** As of tomorrow, The Grove will have no active cases of COVID.
Re-opening
Lori, Levi, and me
 
 
Announcements
June Literature
Wednesday Youth Zoom
Feed My Sheep
Mark 12:31 Challenge

I love and miss you! I look forward to seeing you at Drive-in Church on Sunday! I am praying this current safer-at-home order will not last much longer, so we can start reopening our church. Please pray with me to that end!

Serving Him by Serving You,
Pastor Scott

Separation from the World 
1 Peter 2:4-12

Jesus said that we are in the world, but not of the world.  -John 17

• Separated out of the Darkness (9-12, 15b)
  • God has called us out to be special and sanctified. To be holy (1:14-16).
  • Holy = set apart for a purpose
  • 2 Corinthians 6:16-18
• Separated in Unity (4-6)
  • Unity for the sake of unity is not always a good thing. It is possible, and this day in time, common, to be united behind the wrong thing.
  • The church is to be united, but a local assembly may even be united behind the wrong thing.
  • Believers in general, and local bodies in particular, must unite:
    • Under the Banner of Christ (Living Stone, Cornerstone)
    • On the Bible and its doctrine
    • Frequently and Faithfully in the Local Assembly
  • Lively stones should represent the Cornerstone
  • These lively stones are joined together to make the house of God, the church, the bride of Christ (Ephesians 2:19-22)
  • Although we are unified as a holy priesthood, this same priesthood speaks to the ability of each believer to go to God and to hear from God.
  • We are separated in unity to work, to worship, and to win souls. The purpose of the church is to make disciples. This is a spiritual sacrifice that is acceptable to God. 
• Separated for Soul-winning (5, 7-8)
  • If you do not live a lifestyle that is separated from worldly living, your witness and testimony will have no credibility. 
  • We must get past the worry and fear that we are going to offend someone with the Gospel.
    • If the world is not offended by the Gospel you share, you’re not sharing the true Gospel.
    • If you live a life pleasing to God, the world will hate you.

Let us be a people called out of the darkness of this world, living in the light of Jesus Christ and calling out to others still in darkness.
 
 
Prayer Requests
1.     Revival
2.     Residents and Employees at the Grove
3.     Reopening Strategizing
4.     Mike and Peggy Anderson
5.     Jack Terrell
6.     Jimmy Magee
 
Announcements
1.     Drive-in Church Sunday @ 9 AM
2.     Feed My Sheep (Thursdays)
3.     Mark 12:31 Challenge
 
 
I love and miss each of you! Please pray with me, asking God to send an awakening. Reach out to me if I can do anything for you!
 
Serving Christ by Serving You,
 
Pastor Scott

Sincere Milk Overcomes Sinful Minds
1 Peter 2:1-3
 
Sins to Avoid (1)

1. Peter continues his thought in the second chapter writing, “wherefore.” He is pointing back to the call to holiness, the call to love God and love one another, and the brevity of life.
2. Because we are to be holy, because we are to love, and because life is so short, let us lay aside the sin in our life. Peter names five sins we must put behind us. Yes, we must turn from all sin, but these sins are familiar. These sins are prevalent in the body of Christ. As Christians, we must repent of them. Pastors much preach boldly against them.
3. Five sins we must avoid:
   1. Malice – literally wickedness. All sin is rooted in the heart. Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Wicked thoughts in our heads, wicked ponderings in our hearts, and wicked deeds on our hands. The sad truth is that many of our churches have very few Christian distinctives. Our people look, act, and speak just like a lost person. Adultery, fornication, pornography, alcohol, drugs, cheating and much more wickedness has found a home in our church pews. We must lay aside all wickedness.
   2. Guile – literally deceitful or two-facedness. People lie. People in the church lie. Stop it! Repent! Lay it aside and be honest with yourself, with God, and with one another.
   3. Hypocrisies – We all have a certain amount of hypocrisy within us. We want to hide things from public view. We pretend to be something more than we really are. We want to hide our sin and confess our good works, but God’s Word tells us to do the opposite. If our churches are going to do anything for the cause of Christ, we must lay this sin aside. 
   4. Envies – Church people do not get jealous, do they? They can be the worst! Jealous of another’s good works, attention, position, worldly goods, spouses and a host of other things. A little bit of jealousy will eat as doth a canker when it gets started in a believer’s heart.
   5. Evil Speakings – This may be the American Church’s pet sin. Gossip. Slander. Backbiting. A host of evil speaking surrounds the church’s choir room, parking lot, Sunday schools, prayer groups, and so on. We must lay this sin aside. If the world will know us by our love for one another, they will not recognize us unless we lay this sin aside.
4. The verbiage here reminds me of Paul’s admonition to put off the old man.
   1. Ephesians 4:22-24 “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
   2. Colossians 3:8-17 (This passage not only duplicates this correction, but it also adds several directives. In addition, Colossians 3 is somewhat of a parallel to many of the topics in 1 Peter 2 and 3.)

 
We must lay aside these sins if we are going to grow in Christ. Again, referencing Paul as he writes, “let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1b).
 
Sincere Milk to Desire (2-3)

1. A newborn calf must have colostrum, mother’s first milk, in order to survive. They will drink approximately one gallon of it during the first 24 hours and must get a portion of that gallon before the first six hours expires. If they do not receive this “first milk,” they will die.
2. Much like a newborn calf, Christians must be nurtured and discipled with the sincere milk of the Word. If they do not receive this, then they will very likely never make an impact for the cause of Christ.
3. I knew a man who owned a black heifer which gave birth to twins. The heifer accepted one of the calves and abandoned the other. The deserted calf laid in the cold. Alone. Desiring that “first milk.” No strength to cry. Not old enough to know what it needed. Rejected by its own mother. Starving to death in the cold. The man didn’t find the abandoned calf until the next day. He promptly rushed over to the Co-Op to get some colostrum and milk replacer, only to get back home to a dead calf, because it didn’t have the mother’s “first milk.”
4. Many of the people in our churches are the same way. They are starving for the Word of God. Pastors won’t stand on the Word. Pastors fail to preach the true Gospel. Pastors won’t stay faithful to God’s call when they’re in a hard spot. And, when we do decide to give some milk to those newborn babes in Christ, it’s as if they are already dead. How many pastors are preaching to dead congregations because somewhere along the way, the babes were starved to death for the Word of God? Let us not be guilty of that, brothers. Let us feed the flock of God! Let us give them the sincere milk of the Word. Let us preach sin bad, hell hot, and Jesus saves!
5. Simply, if we are going to grow as Christians, if we are going to disciple another believer, if we are going to be like Christ in any way, we must desire and be fed the sincere milk of the Word of God. 
6. Hebrews 5:10-6:2, John 4:31-38 – Moving on to the meat does not mean moving on to deeper topics as we sometimes think. Before we can be blessed my deeper truths, we must first be obedient to the truths God has already given us – milk.

 
The greatest way to stay out of sin is to stay in the Word. Beloved, do you desire the sincere milk of the Word of God? Without it, you will never thrive as a Christian.
 
Announcements for April 30, 2020

1. Drive-in Church Sunday @ 9 AM
2. Feed My Sheep (Thursdays)
3. Tornado Relief
4. Mark 12:31 Challenge
5. VBS, July 26-31 (Tentatively)

Do you remember Jonah? Have you ever wondered what happened to the Ninevites? Nahum records that story for us. In fact, Nahum was a large part of that story. Nahum prophesied to Nineveh, but this time without the plea for repentance. Nineveh had gone too far. 
 
We can learn a few things from Nahum. First, we learn about the mercy of God (1:3). Second, we learn about the goodness of God (1:7). Third, we learn about God’s restorative power. Finally, Nineveh crossed a line. We should realize that God wants to restore and redeem us, but the possibility exists that we can cross a line ourselves. A person can harden his or her heart and cross a line bringing him/herself to a place where God will no longer call us or restore us (c.f. 1 John 5:16). Do not cross that line. Repent today. If you are not saved, be saved today. If you are a Christian who has fallen away, repent and be restored today. Do not waste the call God is extending to you. This time may be the last. 
 
Take some time over the next day or two and read the short book of Nahum (A.K.A. Jonah’s Sequel).
 
 
Announcements for Tuesday April 28, 2020 
 

1. Drive-in Church Sunday @ 9 AM
2. Eva Gordon Elementary happies were delivered today! Thank you, Jamie and Donna!
3. We will continue to collect relief items for tornado victims.
4. Feed My Sheep (Thursday)
5. Mark 12:31 Challenge
6. May Day 2020 Cancelled 
7. DVD Ministry

 
 
Prayer Requests
 

1. Revival
2. Residents and Employees at The Grove
3. Tornado victims
4. Jerome Armstrong
5. Jessica Raynor
6. Frontline Heroes
7. Oil Industry Workers

The Value of Knowing Christ
Philippians 3:7-16
 
Paul wrote that he counted everything as loss when compared to knowing Christ as Lord. Paul uses this passage as another way to point to the priority of Christ. Our relationship with Christ should come before anything, everything, and everyone. The value, he wrote, of knowing Christ as Lord surpasses everything. What value do you place in your relationship with Christ? Some people try to value Jesus only as Savior but not as Lord. However, this valuation is improper. Jesus is either Lord of all or he is not Lord at all in your life. You must receive him as Lord to claim the benefits he offers as Savior.
 
Paul then gave us a way to keep the mindset of valuing the knowledge of Christ as Lord above all. Paul said he did one thing. Forget the past and press forward. We must forget past guilt. If indeed we have submitted our lives to the Lord, he has forgiven us of our past sin. We must forget the guilt of yesterday. We must forget the grief of yesterday as well. We have all experienced shattered dreams and losses of the past. Paul said to forget those things. Lastly, we must past glory. A lot of people want to live in the glory of yesteryear. However, we should praise God for what he has done in the past and move on. God wants to do more great things in us and around us for his glory, but we cannot move forward if we are living in the past. 
 
In verses 15-16, Paul told us that if we have anything in our lives contrary to this, we should allow God to reveal it to us. Repent of those things which decrease the value of knowing Christ as Lord. Do you put things like work, friends, or even family above Christ? Nothing compares to the value of knowing Christ as Lord. 
 
 
Announcements for Tuesday, April 21, 2020
 
- Mark 12:31 Challenge
- Tornado relief items are being collected at the parsonage to be delivered to Hurricane Creek. Items needed include: 

• Toiletries
• Cleaning Supplies
• Tarps
• Ropes
• Water
• Diapers
• Baby Wipes
• Canned Foods
• Bug Spray
• Sun Block
• Plastic Totes
• New Socks, Underwear, and T-shirts
• Gallon size ziplock bags
• Garbage bags
• Hair Brushes and Combs
• Pillows
• Blankets

- Feed My Sheep
- Thursday Devotion at 7 PM
- Drive-in Church Sunday at 9 AM. Please remain in your cars and remember that the building will remain closed.
- The monthly periodicals such as Journey and Home Life have arrived for May. If you would like a copy of any of the monthly literature, please let me know. 
- Youth Zoom Meeting Wednesday at 6:30 PM
- DVD Ministry
 
 
 
Prayer Requests

1. Revival
2. Residents and Employees at The Grove
3. Tornado Victims
4. Lois Canup (Lori’s Grandma)
   
5. Jimmy Magee

The Difference IT Makes
2 Corinthians 5:14-21
 
Have you ever been asked, “What difference does it make?” Sure, you have.  I have, too. My favorite saying related to this question is, “That don’t make a heal of beans!”
 
In thinking through the sweet salvation we have through Jesus, I thought one day, “What difference does it make?” Let me ask the question a little differently. When a person comes to faith in Jesus, what difference does it make? 
 
The person’s eternal destiny is changed. Yes! Hallelujah! When we get saved, our citizenship changes. Our names are written down in Heaven. We are no long bound for Hell. Heaven is our home. However, is that the only thing that changes? 
 
When we get saved, the control of our lives changes. Jesus died for us, so that we may live for Him. 
 
When we get saved, our character changes. We become an entirely new creature. We are no longer the same as we were before God saved us. When our character changes, we are the same person in public that we are in private. 
 
When we get saved, our conduct changes. We act differently. We don’t merely get a new hobby like church-going. We act like a completely different person!
 
Remember, we represent Christ. Therefore, at the moment of salvation, Jesus changes us and makes a real difference in our life.
 
Do you love Jesus enough to let him have complete control over your life?
 
 
Announcements for Thursday, April 16, 2020
 

1. Tornado relief items are being collected at the parsonage to be delivered to Jeff-Davis High School on Saturday. Items needed include:
   1. Toiletries
   2. Cleaning Supplies
   3. Tarps
   4. Ropes
   5. Water
   6. Diapers
   7. Baby Wipes
   8. Canned Foods
   9. Monetary donations may be given to Robert McNabb, and we will purchase needed items. 
2. Drive-in Church Sunday at 9 AM. Please remain in your cars and remember that the building will remain closed. If the weather forecast continues to show severe storms for Sunday, we will postpone our Drive-in service. (I hope we can meet in this way!!!)
3. The monthly periodicals such as Journey and Home Life have arrived for May. If you would like a copy of any of the monthly literature, please let me know. 
4. Blood Drive this Sunday. Test Tena Hall for more info.

 
Church, I love each one of you very much. Please let me know how I can help. Also, I’m excited about the possibility of seeing you on Sunday! I am praying for each of you!
 
Serving Christ by Serving You,
 
Pastor Scott

​Getting the Most Out of “Those” Passages of the Bible
Leviticus 16-17
 
Sometimes, when reading through Scripture, certain passages are tough to read and to make it through them. Sometimes, we may find it difficult to get a blessing out of a passage. Maybe our time in the Word seems dry. Maybe we find ourselves in the middle of a passage that is totally confusing or seemingly irrelevant to our current lives. I confess! Some are harder than others. So, what do we do? How do we navigate those Scriptures? I have found that the best thing to do when reading through those areas of Scripture is to look for golden nuggets. 
 
That is not to say that some passages are more useful than others. Remember that ALL of Scripture is useful (2 Timothy 3:16). However, some truths may be more readily relevant to our current situations. At the same time, other passages require a little more digging to uncover the golden nugget. Take for example the instructions for the Day of Atonement in Leviticus 16-17. What did Jesus do for us on the cross? He atoned for our sin. Look at the scapegoat in Lev. 16:22. Aaron, the high priest, imputed the sin of the nation of Israel onto the scapegoat. The scapegoat bore the sins of the entire nation, then was led into the wilderness. Isn’t that what Jesus did for us? Yes, God laid on Him our sin. Jesus bore our sin on the cross. Jesus atoned for our sin. Ah! Did you see it? There’s a golden nugget.
 
Announcements for Tuesday, April 14, 2020
 

1. Mark 12:31 Challenge
2. Youth Zoom Meeting Wednesday at 6:30 PM
3. We are collecting items at the parsonage for the tornado victims to be delivered Saturday. Items needed include: 
   1. Toiletries
   2. Cleaning Supplies
   3. Tarps
   4. Ropes
   5. Water
   6. Diapers
   7. Baby Wipes
   8. Canned Foods
   9. Monetary donations may be given to Robert McNabb, and we will purchase needed items. 
4. Feed My Sheep (Thursdays)
5. Blood Drive (Sunday, April 19)
6. DVD Ministry
7. Maybe! Drive-church this coming Sunday at 9 AM (will know for sure by Thursday)

 
I miss you all. I am praying for you! I miss you. Let me know how I can help you! Keep on being the church without the walls! I am proud to be a part of SCBC and what God is doing through you!
 
Serving God by Serving You,
Pastor Scott