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Recent Sermons

The Lights of Christmas

For a full audio version of this sermon please click on the "Audio Sermons" link.

Introduction:

Imagine a Christmas season without lights. How different would things look?


I. Why do these simple lights impact our lives so much?

A. Christmas lights affect people’s moods and make the holiday more joyful because “light” is the best expression of the life and mission of our Lord Jesus Christ.

B. Christmas lights affect people’s moods and make the holiday more joyful because “light” best defines Christianity! (Ephesians 5:8, Philippians 2:15, Matthew 5:14-16)

II. Three Different Types of Lights

A. The type that don’t light up

B. The type that flash on and off

C. The type that stay lit and shine bright

Conclusion:

Each person is one of these types of lights.

A. If you are not shining, make sure you are connected to the right source.

B. If you are flashing, understand that your circumstances should not determine if you are going to be obedient to God.

C. If you are shining brightly, continue to do so, but please understand why!

- Let us be the lights not only of Christmas, which shine only for a season; but let us be the lights of Christ and shine year round, bringing others to Him and advancing His kingdom and glory!

Preached by Brian Myers Outreach/Youth Ministries Director

Seeking Higher Ground (Youth Sermon)

Psalm 61

1 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. 2 From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 3 For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. 4 I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trusta in the covert of thy wings. Selah.
5 For thou, O God, hast heard my vows: thou hast given me the heritage of those that fear thy name. 6 Thou wilt prolong the king’s life: and his years as many generations. 7 He shall abide before God for ever: O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. 8 So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. (KJV)

A friend of mine was looking to get rid of one of his dogs - a pure breed Shih Tzu - and was giving it away free to a good home. Remembering that my Christmas wish was to get a small lap-dog, my friend Joey called me to see if I might be interested in her. We “dog-sat” from Friday to Monday and by Monday evening “Khloe” became a part of our family.

It has been pretty neat to see how this new pet, this silly animal has changed our household in such a short amount of time. My other dogs have allowed her to be their buddy. I have a little lap-warmer and protector as Khloe has decided that she is my dog, and of course my kids have a new play-mate.

This morning I was watching Mara and Khloe play, and after an hour or so, Khloe decided that playtime was over. Mara however had other plans, and started to follow (or should I say chase the dog) around the house.
Khloe became quite frustrated and began to run, which made Mara laugh and follow her even closer yelling “KHLOE FUNNY, KHLOE SO FUNNY”
Well, this made the dog nervous and she began to look for ways to distance herself from the Red-headed terror that was chasing her.
If the dog hid under a chair, Mara would get on the floor and belly crawl herself to the dog - the whole time giggling and saying “Khloe Hide-in, Me Find Her”
Finally the dog got smart and began to look up. Khloe found Lisa sitting on the couch and jumped from the floor to the ottoman to the seat of the couch and finally to the back of the couch behind where Lisa was sitting.
Mara could not get to her! Mara then decided to tempt the dog by going and getting a cookie and showing it to Khloe saying “Come on girl!”
The dog didn’t move, so accepting defeat Mara went back to playing with her dolls leaving the dog alone!

The silly dog, was able to outsmart the source of her frustration, aggravation, agitation, desperation, and temptation simply by looking to higher ground!


I shared this story to set up a very simple point we can observe from watching a 2-year old kid chase a dog:
Just like a silly dog, there are going to be times in our life when we will be overwhelmed!
And just like a little kid there will be those who purposely get on our nerves.

There will be times when someone or something is going to demand our time and attention.
There will be times when we feel frustrated; there will be times that we will become agitated and aggravated.
There will be moments when we feel despair and disappointment.
And the only way to overcome this is to look for higher ground!

Let’s look at Psalm 61 as this teaches us this lesson so beautifully.

-The first thing we need to observe is the way that David was feeling when he wrote this psalm:
(vs.1-2) “David’s Cry for Help”
He feels far away from God
He feels overwhelmed by his circumstances
He feels the need to seek Christ

(vs.3-7) “David’s Confidence in God”
He is sure of who God is
He is sure that God’s promises are true
He is sure that by faith He can access God directly

(v.8) “David’s Commitment to Honor and Praise God With His Life”
He makes a promise to God
He makes praises towards God

-The second thing we need to take notice of is the “I wills” that David states, as they are the example we should follow when we start to feel “overwhelmed” has he did:
(vs.1-2) I will cry out to God
(vs.3-4) I will abide in His presence
(vs.4-7) I will trust in His promises, protection and provision
(v.8) I will pray to Him and praise Him everyday


The Hymnist wrote:
I’m pressing on the upward way, new heights I’m gaining every day
Still praying as I’m onward bound “Lord plant my feet on higher ground”
My heart has no desire to stay, where doubts arise and fears dismay
Though some may dwell where those abound, my prayer my aim is higher ground
I want to live above the world, though Satan’s darts at me are hurled
For faith has caught the joyful sound: the song of saints on higher ground
I want to scale the utmost height, and catch a gleam of glory bright
But still I’ll pray till heaven I’ve found “Lord lead me on to higher ground”
Lord lift me up and let me stand by faith on heaven’s table land
A higher plain than I have found, Lord plant my feet on higher ground

Just as my silly new dog found refuge by going to higher ground, the same principle applies to us!

We can outsmart and defeat the source of our frustration, aggravation, agitation, desperation, and temptation simply by looking to higher ground!

As we close let us remember a few things:
-No matter how far away you drift or run from God, He hears your prayers.
David felt he was far from God, yet the Lord heard his prayer and answered.

-No matter how far down you sink, God can lift you up. When life overwhelms you, take time to pray. Let God lift you up and put you on the Rock that will never sink.

-No matter what circumstance you are facing, trust that God provides for, preserves and protects His people

-No matter how great things might be going remember that prayer & praise is not optional!
Do you find delight in prayer, or is prayer only an “emergency exercise” to get you out of trouble?
David ended the psalm with an expression of praise and an affirmation of obedience.
It has been said that "Prayer changes things, but prayer also changes people, starting with the one who does the praying!"


Maybe you are reading this and don’t know the source of the higher ground, you never found the Rock that is higher than you, you never placed your faith and trust in the completed works of Jesus Christ, (who is that Rock, that Higher Ground), for salvation.
If that describes you, I would be honored to show you in the Bible how you can be saved.

Maybe you are a Christian, but have been looking to other things to relieve you, rescue you and revive you from life’s trails, temptations and tragedies. If that describes you, I would love to pray with you and for you as you refocus your eyes on the Lord.

If you have any questions or prayer requests please feel free to contact me at (989) 893-3977 or email me at ministries.sbc@gmail.com

May God bless you in great and wonderful ways!

Brian Myers - Youth Leader

Spiritual Check-Up (Youth Sermon)

Hebrews 12:1-3

1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, 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, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Here in our Bible text, we are commanded to “run with patience the race that is set before us”.
In the previous chapter, the author of Hebrews lists a group of faithful people who had ran their race:
Abel— son of Adam and Eve; offered a more acceptable sacrifice to God than his brother did

Enoch—lived in close fellowship with God; he was taken up to heaven without dying

Noah—obeyed God and built the ark

Abraham—left his family, friends and home land and followed God to become the father of the Jewish nation

Sarah—trusted God to give her a child in her old age

Isaac—son of Abraham and Sarah; blessed his sons, Jacob and Esau, according to the will of God

Jacob—son of Isaac, renamed "Israel" had 12 sons who became the tribes of the nation of Israel.

Joseph—Jacob's favorite son, lived a godly life, was sold into slavery in Egypt, believed God would deliver the nation of Israel out from Egypt

Moses—courageously served God and led Israel out of Egypt

Rahab—obeyed God by sheltering Israelite spies in her home

Other Old Testament Leaders, Judges, Kings, Prophets and people of faith that accomplished great deeds for God and also suffered great persecution because of it.

That is quite an impressive list of some of the major key people in the Bible!
These “runners” have completed their race and are now handing the baton to you, so that you can run yours!

It is recommended by the medical professionals that before you do any extreme physical activity - such as running a race, you get a check up. The same holds true spiritually, and since this “race” is a spiritual one, we ought to get a spiritual check up on a daily basis.
- I have a rare medical condition called "Dysautonomia", I also suffer from multiple heart related conditions as well as Epilepsy, and because of my medical conditions I see several doctors, in fact I average a trip to a doctor’s office, hospital, lab or testing center at least once a week, on top of that I am married and a father of three - so I know a thing or two about having a check up.
- So what happens during a regular check up? 1. Questions are asked about health history, growth and development, and if there are any current symptoms that suggest that something may be wrong. 2. Habits are reviewed and evaluated to determine if they are healthy or harmful. 3. Tests are given. 4. If anything appears to be wrong or abnormal, treatments are prescribed - sometimes diets are altered and or vitamins and supplements are suggested, as well as follow up appointments being scheduled to see if you are improving. 5. There are times when the doctor will send you to see a specialist to help you get back on track.

After they find something wrong, doctors look for drastic changes in conditions! They keep a watchful eye on the patient to make sure that conditions don’t get any worse, and at the same time, look for proof of improvement in overall health!

The Spiritual check up follows the exact same guidelines. Except YOU are both the patient and the doctor! In other words we have to examine ourselves! And we should do so daily!

Physicians have medical journals that help them determine what is a healthy based on man’s wisdom & opinion, and your height and age.
Christians have the Word of God - the Bible, to help them determine what is healthy based on God’s absolute truth and your spiritual maturity!

Young people - it is time for your check up!
2Corinthians 13:5 says “examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves, how that Jesus is in you…”
So I want to challenge you today to do just that, give yourself a spiritual check up: *Question yourself about your spiritual history - can you remember a time in your life when you put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ for Salvation? *Check for spiritual growth and development - are you closer in your walk with Christ today than you were in the past? Are you becoming the Christ-like person God intended you to be? *Check and see if there are any current symptoms that suggest that something may be wrong - are you living what you say you believe? *Review and evaluate your habits of everyday life to determine if they are helpful or harmful to your relationship with the Lord. * Understand tests and trials are given, to help us grow closer to God. * As you examine yourself, see if anything appears to be wrong or abnormal in your spiritual life, and if so use the treatments that are prescribed in the Bible to help you put away the harmful things in your life. *Check to see what you are feeding yourself (the things you watch, read, listen to...the people you hang out with, etc)- see if a new diet is required. *Realize that prayer, Bible study and faithful church attendance are the medicines, vitamins and supplements that will help you improve your spiritual well-being. *Understand that Pastors and Youth Leaders are the specialists that you may need to visit to help overcome any particular problem.

This spiritual checkup helps us to focus on Jesus Christ!

It is only after we examine ourselves, begin the receive the proper treatment for whatever area in our life is ailing, and ill - and then focus on Jesus and on Him alone, that we are ready to run this race!

What will happen if we neglect to do this? Let’s Read our text again to see:
We will become “wearied and faint” (v.3)

There is one thing that I didn’t mention yet. It is the most popular test that a doctor orders - A blood test.
This common test contains most of the information about you.
Things can be detected and determined by this one simple test that will affect your overall physical health.

Did you know that there is a spiritual blood test that will affect you for all eternity?
It is not a test concerning the blood that is in you, but rather the blood that was shed for you on the cross of Calvary!

The test is pretty simple - Jesus Christ shed His blood as the payment for your sins, He was bruised, beaten and crucified because He loves you so much!

The Bible says in John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

He died, was buried and rose again providing eternal life for anyone who will confess that they are a sinner, and put their faith and trust in the completed works of Jesus Christ as their only means of Salvation.

Acts 16:31 says “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”

That is the whole test - Jesus Christ shed His blood for you, how do you react to that fact? There are only two answers: you can accept it by placing your faith and trust in Him for Salvation and spend eternity with Him in heaven, or you can deny it and spend eternity seperated from God in hell.

Young people - we love you too much to close this message without offering you an invitation to come to Christ!
If you are reading this and would like to know more about how to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior or how to have a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Him, I would encourage you to contact us at South Baptist Church and we will be more than happy to talk to you about this matter and pray for you and with you as you ponder the most important decision you will ever make.

If you are a Christian but you know that you wouldn’t do so well during your spiritual check up I would encourage you to pray, asking God to forgive you and restore a right relationship with Him!

If you have any questions or prayer requests please feel free to contact me at (989) 893-3977 or email me at ministries.sbc@gmail.com

May God bless you in great and wonderful ways!

Brian Myers - Youth Leader


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