Covenant Life Today

Reading Through the Bible in 2012, week 2

2012-01-09T19:23:00.001-06:00

This week's reading of Genesis 22-36 and Psalms 9-14 offer some honest views of struggle, fear and depression. Sometimes we fall into the trap of believing that true Christians never feel these sorts of emotions, but, thankfully, God gives us real pictures of His people struggling throughout His Word. As you read these stories and psalms learn from the faith of those enduring pain and find

Reading Through the Bible in 2012

2012-01-02T10:46:00.001-06:00

Our church is taking on the challenge of reading through the entire Bible in 2012. Here's a link to our website that offers this week's reading list and some notes that I wrote to use as a reading guide. Join us in reading through God's Word this year!

Tripping over Traditions

2011-10-19T15:27:00.001-05:00

In Colossians 2 Paul warns Christians to be careful to guard against being carried away by human traditions. Those early Christians were being influenced heavily by those that wanted to enforce traditions and customs from the Law and the rule of the Jewish Priests. Even if it isn't from Jewish priests, today we face the same challenges. If we aren't vigilant we can make our own human

What Do You Need?

2011-10-12T11:13:00.001-05:00

I have a friend that has a running joke with his wife and it goes like this: Whenever one of them asks for something or says, "I want...", the other responds with, "and that's all I need..." The joke is funny because it is so true. We try to convince ourselves that the next object of our eye or heart will bring the satisfaction we've been searching for all of our lives. In the second chapter

God's Glory Matters Most

2011-07-07T10:30:00.001-05:00

I grew up attending Baptist churches in Georgia and Kentucky. God graciously brought me to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ at the young age of five. I have had the privilege of serving in Baptist churches in Alabama and Kentucky over the past 18 years. Thankfully, I have grown up in and around the church. Yet, a few years ago I found there was something I was missing. While attending

Is Meditation for You?

2011-05-11T11:41:00.001-05:00

Recently on ABC's World News Tonight there was a clip on mediation and its benefits. I've embedded the clip here. This clip immediately made me think of Dr. Donald S. Whitney who has done a tremendous amount of work on meditation and the Christian life. As you see the benefits of the clip from ABC, think about how much more beneficial mediation would be if you align it with God's Word. You

What is The Gospel?

2011-04-23T20:59:00.001-05:00

What is the Gospel? Here's a short video where John Piper, pastor of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, offers an explanation.

I'm Afraid of Being Nice

2011-04-11T14:39:00.002-05:00

I'm afraid of being nice. It's not that I don't want to be kind or helpful to you. The fear is rooted in being misunderstood. There is no doubt that I should be nice because you are neighbor, friend or family member. But I should be nice for a greater reason. I should be nice because you are a fellow citizen, driver, shopper or thinker. But I should be nice for a greater reason. Where I

How Do You Evaluate Your Love for God?

2011-03-16T15:17:00.002-05:00

Jesus says the greatest love a person should possess is their love for God. He says in Mark 12:28-34 that people should love God with all of their being. Here's my question: How do you know that you are loving God this fully? Post some answers and let's discuss it.

Is God with Us?

2010-12-21T10:25:00.003-06:00

The final Sunday in Advent 2010 reminds us that Immanuel - God is with us. This is something we find encouraging, but challenging as we struggle to understand what this means. Think of the beginning of the Bible. In Genesis 3:8 God comes to walk with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening. In earlier Genesis passages we overhear regular discussion between God and Adam. Before sin entered

The Great Healer

2010-12-13T15:46:00.001-06:00

The third week of the 2010 Advent season is upon us. This week we are focusing on how Jesus heals the sick, gives sight to the blind, causes the lame to walk, and restores mobility to the lame. There are countless stories in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John of Jesus restoring the health of those that were close to Him, those that He passed by along the road and those brought to Him

Change Your Ways

2010-12-13T14:07:00.001-06:00

This is the second week of the 2010 Advent season and this week we focus on the change that God has called us to make in our lives. It is a change from a life of sin to a life of love and dependence upon God. It is a change that only God can enable and, ultimately, only He can accomplish in our lives. Yet, we are called to join fully and wholeheartedly with Him in this change. The Son of God

Preparing to Eat

2010-12-03T14:05:00.001-06:00

This Sunday - the second Sunday of Advent 2010 - we are preparing to take the Lord's Supper together. It is a special and sacred time when we remember what the church has been remembering for nearly 2,000 years. We will remember and rejoice in the life, death and resurrection of our Savior. We will remember our hope. There is a stern warning, though, as we approach the Lord's table. Paul

Light Shining in Darkness

2010-11-29T10:04:00.001-06:00

Light Shining in Darkness November 29, 2010 We grew up in the country. Kids that lived in the city would call it the boondocks when they came to visit. I miss living in the country. Especially at night. Far from the city lights the sky was so clear during the winter. There were so many stars and the moon seemed so close. The nights during a full moon were a special treat. The night seemed

The Purposeful Love

2010-10-25T06:45:00.001-05:00

Have you ever thought about the purpose of someone’s love? When a couple is married they purpose to love one another through any circumstance of life until one of them dies. When a child is born, parents purpose to love that child’s so that their needs will be met and they will know care and encouragement. Whether you realize it or not, there is a purpose to every ounce of love you extend to

You Can't Earn God's Love

2010-10-18T11:39:00.002-05:00

Did you the know Old Testament of the Bible contains over 600 commands from God? In the first century AD, the Jewish religious leaders had studied these laws in such detail that they tell us there are 365 negative ones and 248 positive ones. The negative ones are things people should not do and the positive ones are things people should do. One day, Jesus was in a discussion with religious

Why Does Church Membership Matter?

2010-10-13T14:11:00.001-05:00

Church membership, though not directly mandated in the New Testament, does seem to be implied in the New Testament. Here's a helpful blog from a friend, Ben Simpson, who is the pastor of West Main Baptist Church in Alexandria, TN. Read carefully and it will be a great help to you.

God the Deliverer

2010-10-04T06:18:00.001-05:00

God's great desire is to deliver you for His glory. And He is really serious about this. He is at work to deliver you even if you don't know that you need to be delivered. Because the truth is you need to be delivered from something all the time. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because

Satisfaction in Suffering

2010-10-01T09:28:00.001-05:00

Suffering is never easy, but the Bible says it is useful. Here's a sermon I preached at West Main Baptist Church in Alexandria, TN on Tuesday, September 28, 2010. Listen and let me know what you think. http://westmainbaptist.com/pour/sermon-audio?sermon_id=126

Rebel Restored

2010-08-16T15:34:00.001-05:00

What is sin? What comes to your mind? Would you call yourself a sinner? If so, could you name three specific sins you committed today? Are there sinful actions or attitudes in your life recently? While many believe sin exists and would reluctantly acknowledge that we sin we are often slow to list the specific sins we are struggling with at the moment. Let’s ask another question and that is

Real Hope for Real Life

2010-08-09T15:02:00.001-05:00

Hope for hope’s sake is no hope at all. Do you ever hope for hope’s sake? Do you ever find yourself offering reassurance hoping that everything will somehow work out in the end? Your intentions are good; you just don’t have any basis for your faith. Sometimes we say these things because we don’t have anything else to say and we don’t want there to be empty air in a moment that seems really

Are You Hospitable?

2010-07-22T09:21:00.002-05:00

I was reading in 1 Peter today and read this verse in 1 Peter 4:9, “Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.” Let’s see how our definition of hospitality compares with Peter’s intent. In the ancient setting this hospitality could have meant to show kindness to strangers who were in need as they traveled. It seems that much of the ancient nomadic culture was based upon the hope that

Will You Live by Faith?

2010-06-28T13:33:00.001-05:00

Is there more to life than this? Have you ever asked, “Is this it?” All of us have probably asked that question at one time or another. Frustration and disappointment make for quick friends and can stay longer than they’re welcome. These feelings especially seem to appear when we count on our own abilities. Everyone’s intellect and strength are limited, but often we act like they are

Will You Be There?

2010-06-18T11:22:00.001-05:00

Where will you be on this day?After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the

Earnest Love

2010-06-07T15:19:00.001-05:00

Earnest LoveJune 7, 2010Earnest is a word that we don’t use much. I hear it occasionally and even use it sometimes, but I don’t think about its definition very often. Honestly, I thought it meant to be really serious. However, I have recently discovered that the Bible uses this word in a different way.In 1 Peter 1:22-25, Peter talks about the love that Christians should have for one another

Worthwhile Suffering

2010-05-19T14:06:00.001-05:00

I suppose when we value the outcome, we’ll endure many things. People will eat tasteless food for months to be able to fit in clothes they’ve outgrown. People will allow doctors to cut and wound them to the point of inflicting great pain because they believe it will bring relief and healing. People will make limitless sacrifices if they believe it would bring a desirable outcome.When you think

God at Work

2010-05-12T06:28:00.001-05:00

God is kind to us. He is at work in our lives when we do not realize it. Today I read about the angels God sent to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah in Genesis 19. In verse 16 we hear the angels took Lot and his family by the hand because they were hesitant to leave. The writer tells us it was an act of kindness by God.In a very different scenario, a friend of mine had surgery to remove cancer in a

The Lord Is A Stronghold

2010-05-03T16:05:00.001-05:00

Life is fragile. The rising waters of this weekend’s rains make us well aware how quickly we can lose the control we believe we have over life. In a short amount of time our homes, possessions and security can be washed away. Though we don’t face physical disaster like this often, we regularly face overwhelming situations. How do you handle those situations? Are you prepared with a plan of

Lessons from God and Benjamin

2010-04-22T14:16:00.001-05:00

It was four years ago today that our son, Benjamin, was stillborn. While there is still sorrow, God has been very gracious and faithful in using his life. On Wednesday, April 21, I shared our story and some lessons that God has taught us at Immanuel Baptist. I called the testimony Lessons from God and Benjamin. I hope you are encouraged to hear how God works even through our pain. He never

Where Do You Find Assurance?

2010-04-20T10:40:00.000-05:00

Perhaps someone has asked you, “If you died today, how do you know you would go to Heaven?” or “If you died tonight, where would you wake up?” I know I have had people from a few different religious groups ask this question. None of us delight in spending much time thinking about what will happen to us when we die, but the truth is that death is a reality that none escape. What if where you go

A Lesson from Suffering

2010-04-12T14:03:00.000-05:00

Suffering is something that no one can escape. I am often reminded when preaching a funeral that one day I’ll be mourning the loss of someone in my family. I will be the one seeking the comfort rather than simply trying to give it. I think we often overlook the great lesson of humility that should come with suffering. Suffering causes us to ask questions that we don’t like to face. These

It Was Love

2010-04-07T14:35:00.001-05:00

It was love that carried Him from the table to the cross. It was love that caused Him to be betrayed by a kiss. It was love that coped with the whip’s strong blow. It was love.It was love that relentlessly drove Him to the hill. It was love that received the hammer’s blows. It was love that restrained His cries for relief. It was love.It was love that offered up His life. It was love that

Humility Before Honor

2010-03-22T10:25:00.001-05:00

Proverbs 15:33 says, “The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.”In each proverb thoughts are intentionally linked together. Isn’t it interesting that the fear of the Lord, instruction and wisdom are linked together with humility? Many times instruction puffs us up. Not so with the wisdom that comes from knowing and loving God. When we learn of God’s

Find It Here - Easter Radio Commercials

2010-03-17T10:39:00.001-05:00

Here are the three Easter commercials we have airing on local radio. Tell a friend about them and use them to invite folks to join us on Easter Sunday!Immanuel Easter Commercial 2010 01Immanuel Easter Commercial 2010 02Immanuel Easter Commercial 2010 03

Knowing God

2010-03-15T14:54:00.001-05:00

What can be known about God by observing nature? In Barren County we live in a beautiful area that is filled with mysterious caves, beautiful lakes and rivers and intriguing wildlife. Perhaps there are many people that would consider nature to be their sanctuary as its beauty brings hope and encouragement when we admire it.On the other hand, we’ve experienced the shock of nature’s destruction.

The Inheritance to Come

2010-03-13T20:22:00.001-06:00

The Apostle Peter delivered God's Words powerfully when he wrote, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through

A Family Update

2010-03-11T16:07:00.001-06:00

It is cancer. The words no one wants to hear. So, Pop's tumor is malignant and now we wait to see what the treatment and options will be. For those of you who have emailed, called and talked to us in person - thank you. Your prayers and encouraging words are wonderful gifts.Now, Pop has been moved to a rehabilitation center where he will have the opportunity to work on the mobility of his hip

Hope That Will Not Fail

2010-03-10T09:48:00.001-06:00

I have a prayer request for you all. My 83 year old grandfather in GA is not doing well. He fell about three weeks ago and broke his hip. That is now repaired, but there have been many complications to the point that they inserted a feeding tube yesterday. The valve/flap that helps food flow to his stomach and air to his lungs is not functioning. It is stuck and everything is flowing to his

How God Speaks

2010-03-04T09:02:00.001-06:00

God has spoken to humanity. He still speaks to humanity. Do you know how? Are you listening?God has spoken through Jesus Christ. John 1:1 says that the Word became flesh and lived among us. John 1:14 says, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."God has spoken through His decrees. These are

Are You Afraid?

2010-03-01T15:14:00.001-06:00

What intimidates you? I’m sure something quickly pops into your mind. It’s uncontrollable. You can’t stop the thoughts. That’s because we’re all afraid of something. Did you know that God does not desire for us to live this way. He desires that we live with peace and confidence in Christ. He does not want us to live a live of fear and insecurity.Where does your strength originate?

The Hope of Suffering

2010-02-15T15:58:00.001-06:00

In more than one place the Bible calls suffering Christians to rejoice. Sounds strange to our ears, huh? It almost sounds illogical. It is not a call to go out and seek suffering because you are a glutton for punishment, but it is a call to properly face suffering realizing that there is good to be found in it.The logic is found when we read passages such as this in Romans 5, “…we rejoice in

Protecting a Life

2010-02-08T11:19:00.002-06:00

There is a magazine I look at often that charts the progress of babies as they grow in their mother’s womb. It is a fascinating magazine that tells of the process of the infant during the time of fetal development. It speaks of their brain and body development and even talks about when the baby starts hearing and recognizing sounds and voices outside of the womb. Even more, there are pictures

Just Listen to Yourself

2010-01-27T08:45:00.001-06:00

How often do you listen to what you’re saying? When you speak to others in conversation or instruction, do you take note of your tone of voice or the way you are talking to the other person? Often we are so busy trying to convey our own message that we don’t think about what we are saying and how we are saying whatever it is. I wonder if you would want to be talked to in the way you talk to

Want to be Free from Guilt?

2010-01-22T09:23:00.002-06:00

Guilt is heavy. It is a great weight around our necks. Many of us carry guilt for things we have said, done or even wanted to do. We battle these accusations in our mind and wonder if we can ever be free from the shame and the embarrassment that seems to be ever near. Whether anyone else knows of these offenses or not, the guilt is heavy and wants to derail our lives. Guilt Does Not Surprise

Generous Love

2010-01-19T06:15:00.000-06:00

Would you consider yourself a loving person? Do you think others view you as loving? The Apostle Paul says that if we are followers of Christ we will follow His pattern of becoming poor for the sake of others. This state of intentional poverty is to be a display of love. Let's think about what it means.Sometimes our poverty is expressed in humility as we are right in a situation and are

Relief May Not Look Like What You Think

2010-01-18T14:44:00.001-06:00

I was listening to radio news recently as I drove home from one of our Worship Services. It was the most intense radio report I had ever heard. The reporter was deeply concerned about a group of babies that were in an orphanage. He believed they would die if aid didn’t come to them immediately. In anger he declared that there were several aid agencies and government forces that knew their

Helping the Churches of Haiti

2010-01-16T21:46:00.001-06:00

This evening I have become aware of two pastors that I respect that are working to help the Christian church in Haiti. Mark Driscoll and James MacDonald are on the way to Haiti to gather information and establish ways churches around the world can help the churches of Haiti. I am excited about how God will use them. I hope you will join me in praying for these men and the team they are taking

Mercy and Faithfulness

2010-01-15T06:11:00.000-06:00

This Psalm seems very fitting for the events of this week. We are people in desperate need of God’s mercy. I hope we realize it.Let Your Glory Be over All the EarthPsalm 57 1 Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. 2 I cry out to God Most High,

What Influences You?

2010-01-11T21:50:00.001-06:00

Here's the video featuring some thoughts from Ephesians 2. Hope they are helpful to you!Ephesians Two Overview, Part 1 from Brandon Porter on Vimeo.

Discerning What Influences You

2010-01-11T21:46:00.000-06:00

Our 20-month-old son just stares at the television and says, “Elmo?” He is starting to push buttons on the front of the TV hoping it will make one of his best friends magically appear. He is our first child with an Elmo obsession as we surpassed this era with our other children. It’s interesting to watch our children as they interact with technology. Our seven-year-old boys and even our

Brit Hume, Tiger Woods and Jesus

2010-01-10T07:02:00.001-06:00

Brit Hume's comments concerning Tiger Woods are a week old now, but I wonder if you have seen it. If not, take a look...

Learning to Grieve

2010-01-07T07:24:00.000-06:00

Grieving is hard work. If you are not prepared for this work most likely it will be even worse than you can imagine. I don’t think I’ve ever served a grieving family and heard them say, “This is much easier than we thought it was going to be.” I am convinced that if you are going to grieve well, and you should grieve, you must be as prepared as you can be. When grief comes you will not be

Facing a Storm of Sorrow

2010-01-04T09:52:00.001-06:00

When was a time you faced deep grief? Perhaps it was when you lost someone you loved. That isn’t the only time we grieve, though. Divorce brings grief. Even severe arguments that bring a deep divide cause grief. Certainly we could list many other causes of grief, but more than focusing on the grief itself or the cause of the grief let’s see how the Bible deals with grief. We’ll use Psalm 31

A Look into Ephesians

2010-01-02T08:19:00.000-06:00

In January and February 2010 we hope to work through the book of Ephesians on Sunday mornings. Below is a video that offers from brief thoughts about the first chapter of Ephesians. Join us each week at ImmanuelGlasgow.org as we offer the Sunday morning sermon for download, a Scripture memory verse for the week and a video with some thoughts about the specific chapter of Ephesians we've just

What Kind of Planner Are You?

2009-12-31T07:10:00.001-06:00

James 4:13-17 (ESV)Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in

Are Your Goals SMART?

2009-12-29T07:46:00.001-06:00

One of the things that has caught my attention in Scripture lately is the phrase "according to His will" or "according to His purpose". God didn't create this world without a plan or purpose in place. There isn't one thing that He has done or has not done that has not served a well thought out purpose. So, as we think about living intentionally we should view it as a form of Godliness as we

Living Intentionally

2009-12-25T21:43:00.001-06:00

We’ve begun the discussion about taking down the Christmas decorations at our house. Now, our attention begins to turn from the anticipation of celebrating Christ’s birth to enjoying the remainder of the break and looking forward to a new year. Sound familiar? Maybe it’s a similar theme at your house. Perhaps you’ve already been mulling around your resolutions for 2010. I know I have.An

What Do You Expect?

2009-12-21T06:03:00.003-06:00