What I'm Reading and Re-Reading
Reading good Christian books is a great way to grow in your faith. Here are a few books I am reading (and re-reading) for your consideration. ...
Keep ReadingToday, Easter Sunday, we celebrated the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. 'He is Risen!' is the most incredible and important declaration in human history. Jesus' resurrection changes everything. Because He rose from the grave, all of the claims He made are true and He is worthy of our absolute love and devotion and obedience.
Because Jesus rose from the grave, the idea of our faith being a 'Christmas and Easter' only faith is nonsensical as is the idea of being a 'Sunday only' Christian. If we belong to Him, we belong to Him every hour of every day and we give Him our best-not our leftovers.
Because He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and because He is the Head of the Church, died for the Church, loves His Church, we do as well. It is in the context of the church, in community, where we learn and grow together, help each other become more like Christ, encourage each other and challenge each other to grow. We learn to love one another, to be patient with one another, to forgive one another, to persevere with one another. We build each other up. We are on mission together. That is Christ's intent for His people and His Church.
While it is true that we can worship Christ anywhere, it is equally true that we are saved into community and there are certain things that can only happen in terrms of our growth, in a corporate context. Much of the growth He desires for us cannot take place in any other context than in the community of believers, the Church.
Today we celebrated the resurrection, as we should, as is fitting! May we never grow dull and complacent as we consider the incredible reality: Jesus Christ, God the Son, took on flesh, dwelt among us, willingly laid down His life as a ransom for many, was crucified, paid the penalty for our sins, died, was buried and three days later rose from the grave!
But, even as we celebrate today, we must remember something very important: now the real work begins. When we look at the Gospels, after Jesus has shown Himself as the Risen Savior to His disciples, He does something very important: He commissions them (as He has us) to make disciples of all people. We are not to keep this incredible news of the Risen Savior to ourselves! Too much is at stake. Everything is at stake.
So, as a church as we look to the next few months, we ask the Lord to grant us the grace, wisdom and strength needed to pesevere, to lean into the things He has for us, to press forward to the calling He has for us individually and as a congregation. As we saw today in our sanctuary, a sanctuary that was for all practical purposes in overflow condition, we cannot reach more people if we do not move to a second service and Bible study. We have already begun taking first steps toward that. We are in process.
For the sake of the King and His Kingdom, let us stay in prayer, stay focused and move forward in faith! The Love of the Risen King compels us!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Kevin
March 14, 2017 by Dr. Kevin Prather
Jesus made amazing claims about Himself. There are only so many options when it comes to these claims. Jesus was either a legend, a liar, a lunatic or He was who He claimed to be, and if He was and is who He claimed to be, we must respond to Him. ...
March 3, 2017 by Dr. Kevin Prather
Our God is simply amazing! Pray for His will and he will open doors....
January 1, 2017 by Dr. Kevin Prather
There is so very much to be thankful for! We journeyed far in 2016, and we have more to look forward to in 2017....
September 15, 2021 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Category: Pastor's Blog | Tags: Faith, Jesus, Christianity, Culture, God, Holy Spirit, Christian growth, Books, Classics, Contemporary Issues
Reading good Christian books is a great way to grow in your faith. Here are a few books I am reading (and re-reading) for your consideration. ...
Keep ReadingSeptember 10, 2021 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Category: Pastor's Blog | Tags: Gospel, Jesus, prayer, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Suffering, Evil, 9/11, Remembering, Sovereignty of God, Turning to God, Praying for our Nation
We said, as a nation, after 9/11, that we would 'never forget,' and yet, on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, we must ask ourselves if we truly have remembered, and, if we have truly wrestled with what it means for God to be Sovereign over all things, including 9/11. What is He saying, and how should we respond?...
Keep ReadingSeptember 6, 2021 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Category: Pastor's Blog | Tags: Church, Faith, Jesus, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Trials, Following Jesus, Refining, Testing, Calling
Following Jesus is an amazing adventure. It can also be an uncomfortable thing at times as He calls us far beyond our comfort zones. That said, don't miss the blessing of the abundant life He promised by shrinking back and not following!...
Keep ReadingAugust 26, 2021 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Category: Pastor's Blog | Tags: Ministry, Church, Death, Jesus, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Revival, Pain, Suffering, Leadership, Fallen World, Evil, America, Afghanistan, Missions, Redeem the Time
It was a dark day for America today. The American withdrawal from Afghanistan has been a painful and terrible situation. What are we to make of such times? How can we pray? What can we do?...
Keep ReadingAugust 16, 2021 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Category: Pastor's Blog | Tags: Love, Truth, Evangelism, prayer, Christianity, Culture, DIscipleship, Lies, Boldness, Scripture, Following Jesus, Transformation, Courage, Do Not Conform
As the culture continues to buy and sell lies, and to demand conformity to the lies, Christians must be a people who walk in Truth, even if it is costly. ...
Keep ReadingJune 10, 2021 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: Love, Jesus, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Humility, Sanctification, Christians, Anger, Isolation, Cultural Anger, Cultural Moral and Spiritual Revolution, Hostility, Covid, Transformed, Do Not Conform, Self Control, Truth in Love
We live in angry times. There is much anger in our culture over many different issues. There is a great sense of fragmentation taking place. In addition, those who are leading the culture's moral and spiritual revolution, see Christians who are committed to the authority of Scripture as 'the opposition.' As such, there is greater hostility toward the Biblical worldview and...
Keep ReadingMay 12, 2021 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: Praise, Stonebridge Baptist Church, Church, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit, Thanksgiving, God's Great Deeds, To God Be the Glory, Soli Deo Gloria, Celebration
Our Great God has been so very good to our church. This weekend we stop to thank Him and Praise Him for all He has done and for who He is! ...
Keep ReadingApril 15, 2021 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Christianity, Church, Covid 19, Pandemic, Culture, Cultural Changes, Anxiety, Isolation, Fear, Frustration, Anger, Faith, Hope, Love
Much has changed in our culture over the past year. Many have isolated themselves over the past year and many experts report increases in cases of depression, anxiety and loneliness as a result. In addition, many report a general sense of fear, anger and frustration as they have tried to navigate the past year of Covid-19 as well as the economic uncertainty, social upheava...
Keep ReadingApril 10, 2021 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: Church, Jesus, Christianity, Culture, God, Holy Spirit, Scripture, Secularism, Bible, Christians, Culture. Spiritual Warfare, Cultural Storm, Woke Ideology, Intersectionality, Critical Race Theory, New Atheism, Queer Theory, Cultural Shifts, Spiritual perseverance
The coming cultural storm is ultimately a spiritual storm. Christians in America have not seen anything like it in our history. Are you prepared? How are we to live and what do we need to do?...
Keep ReadingMarch 29, 2021 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Truth, Resurrection, Jesus, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Who is Jesus, Easter Sunday
If Jesus rose from the grave, He is exactly who He claimed to be and is worthy of all praise, glory and honor. He is worthy of our everything. If He did not rise from the dead, then He is of no importance whatsoever....
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