October 1, 2006

Grace is not merely a doctrine, but an unstoppable force of God. It is never without effect! We are chosen by grace with the undeniable effect that we are His. We are redeemed by grace with the certain effect that we are free. We are called by grace with the inescapable effect that we come to Him. We are preserved by grace with the inevitable effect that we shall be with Him forever.

Pastor Joe Terrell

Daily Readings for the Week of October 1-8

             Sunday                    Matthew 19-21                                                     Thursday               Matthew 27-28

             Monday                  Matthew 22-23                                                     Friday                       Mark 1

             Tuesday                  Matthew 24-25                                                     Saturday                 Mark 2-3

             Wednesday         Matthew 26                                                              Sunday                    Mark 4-5

á          Pastor Gene Harmon (Rescue Baptist Church, Rescue, CA) will preach here on Sunday morning, October 15th. So that you can get a chance to visit with Bro. Harmon and his wife, Judy, while they are here, we will also have our Quarterly Fellowship Dinner on the 15th.

á          Bro. Larry Criss is preaching for Sovereign Grace Church in New Castle, IN today. Bro. Bruce Crabtree is pastor.

á          Bro. Ron Wood is preaching today for Bible Baptist Church in Madisonville, KY, where Bro. Maurice Montgomery is pastor.

Worthy, Worthy is the Lamb! Don Fortner

(Tune: #393 — Take My Life and Let it Be 77.77.7)

1.        Worthy, worthy is the Lamb!

Ransomed souls, your voices raise, —

Sing your great RedeemerÕs praise.

Praise Him, God, the great I AM!

Praise the sin-atoning Lamb!

2.        Worthy, worthy is the Lamb!

Sinners saved by GodÕs decree,

Praise the Lamb of Calvary!

Praise Him for His dying love!

Praise the Lamb enthroned above!

3.        Worthy, worthy is the Lamb!

Jesus, Savior, blessed Lamb,

We would ever praise Your name.

You redeemed us with Your blood,

Made us kings and priests to God!

4.        Worthy, worthy is the Lamb!

Righteous, just, faithful and true,

Are the wonders that You do!

Grace and glory in You shine,

Love and mercy all divine!

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!   Darrin Duff-5th

NURSERY DUTY THIS WEEK

Today: Pam Wood (AM) Nancy Criss (PM)          Tuesday: Celeste Peterson

 

Just for Preachers — Especially the Young

         The Holy Spirit teaches us that we must give Òno offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamedÓ (2 Cor. 6:3). The young pastor Timothy was exhorted by Paul the aged to give no one a reason to despise his youth. So we must take great care in word, in doctrine, and in behavior to represent our God, the gospel of his grace, and his family well. Let every gospel preacher make it his determination to bring no reproach upon the gospel we preach.

         It matters not how gifted a preacher you are, or how diligently you study, if the people to whom you preach do not respect (even admire) you and the way you live, the way you conduct yourself in the ordinary affairs of your life, they will not hear what you preach. To be as plain as I possibly can, I am saying to all who are or would be gospel preachersÉ

  1. Pay your bills.
  2. Take care that your language is proper. — Keep things spoken to you in private private. — Make certain that you always speak well of GodÕs people, Òthat which is good to the use of edifying.Ó
  3. Rule your household with firmness and love. — Make your children obey you.
  4. Maintain yourself, your home, your office, your car, etc. as one who represents the King of heaven.

         A preacher does not need to live in the nicest house on the block, but his house ought to be the cleanest and his yard the neatest — all the time. He does not need to drive the biggest, best, or newest car; but his car ought to be the cleanest. He and his family do not need to dress in the highest fashion; but their shoes should always be shined and their clothes clean and ironed.

         You may think, ÒThose mundane things are not important to me.Ó If they are not, that fact is obvious to everyone except you! GodÕs servants should always be conscious of the fact that we are his servants. These mundane affairs, whether they should or not, indicate to others the honor or lack of honor we place upon the work to which we have been called.

         Of this I am certain — Your response to what you have just read will tell you just how highly you esteem the blessed work of the gospel ministry. My brother, hear and heed this word from our God, for the glory of Christ and the honor of the gospel. — Give Òno offence in anything, that the ministry be not blamed.Ó

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Ascending to the House of God

Our Faith

Psalm 123

         Psalm 123 is another ÒSong of Degrees,Ó another of the ascension Psalms chanted by the children of God as they went up to the house of the Lord. In the first of these Psalms (120), as ZionÕs pilgrim begins his ascent to the place of worship, he is full of distress, crying to the Lord because he must live among the ungodly who hate peace. Then, in Psalm 121 he lifts his eyes unto the everlasting hills of covenant love and watchful care and rest secure, even in this world of woe, singing to his soul, ÒThe Lord shall preserve thee from all evil.Ó As he draws nearer the place where God meets with his people, his heart is gladdened, and he sings, ÒI was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LordÓ (Ps. 122).

         Here the pilgrim sings about our faith, the faith of all those who worship the Lord God in spirit and in truth, the faith that expresses itself in worship and is encouraged and strengthened in the house of God. His eyes of faith now look above the hills, and above JehovahÕs footstool on earth, to his throne in the heavens in joyful hope.

ÒUnto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us. Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt. Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud."

         This short Psalm shows us that many words do not make a prayer, but a fervent heart. Martin Luther wrote, ÒGreat and weighty matters may be comprised in a few words, if they proceed from the spirit and the unspeakable groanings of the heart, especially when our necessity is such as will not suffer any long prayer. Every prayer is long enough if it be fervent and proceed from a heart that understandeth the necessity of the saints.Ó

         This Psalm is the sigh of the heaven-born pilgrim who ascends to the house of God because he loves his God and Savior, whom he ascends to worship, not because he is duty bound to do so. He is ascending from earth to heaven, and while he is ascending, he lifts his eyes to him Òthat dwellest in the heavens.Ó As we lift our eyes to the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-man on his throne, we ascend to heaven. In that ascent we find all grace. If we would repent, we must look not on ourselves, but on him. If we would be humbled before God, we must look not on ourselves, but on him. If we would trust him, we must look not on ourselves, but on him. If we would truly love him and one another, we must look not on ourselves, but on him who dwells in the heavens. If we would have him turn his eyes from our sins, we must turn our eyes to him, his mercy and truth, his righteousness and his blood.

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Grace Bulletin

October 1, 2006

GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH of DANVILLE

2734 Old Stanford Road-Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438

Telephone (859) 236-8235 - E-Mail don@donfortner.com

Donald S. Fortner, Pastor

SCHEDULE OF REGULAR SERVICES

Sunday

10:00 A.M. Bible Classes

10:30 A.M. Morning Worship Service

6:30   P.M. Evening Worship Service

Tuesday

7:30 P.M. Mid-Week Worship Service

 

Television Broadcasts

Danville

Channel 6 - Sunday Morning 8:00 A.M.

Channel 6 - Wednesday Evening 6:00 P.M.

Channel 6 - Friday Evening 7:00 P.M.

Web Pages

http://www.donfortner.com

http://www.sovereign-grace/gracechurch.htm

http://www.freegrace.net/danville/default.asp