Daily Scripture

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere....

Psalm 84:10

Daily Scripture

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty.

Psalm 84:1

He Is Risen!

Today we celebrate. We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We see the story of the resurrection in Matthew 28:1-6:

1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb 2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.

The death of Jesus on Good Friday represents the culmination of darkness in the world as Jesus took the burden of our sins upon himself. The resurrection of Jesus could not have happened without the darkness and death of Good Friday.

When times seem hard and the end is nowhere in sight, remember Good Friday. The world was a dark place on that day, but on the third day, the Light of the world broke through the darkness. Because of the Light, we can celebrate every day. Don't give up when you are down. There is light ahead. Some of the greatest victories emerge after some of the darkest defeats.

So celebrate Easter today and each day to come. The Light has won!

Daily Scripture

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”- 1 Peter 2:24

Waiting

Easter Saturday is a day of reflection. Yesterday, we thought about the sins and burdens in our lives that we need to turn over to Jesus. Are you in despair? Do you feel like the world is caving in on you? There is hope! Easter is coming.

Good Friday

What does Good Friday mean to you? To many people it is a day off from work or school or the beginning of Spring Break. Maybe you should take a moment today to think about what Good Friday represents in your life.

On this day over two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ was ridiculed, beaten, spit upon and abandoned by the majority of those who had been cheering his entry into Jerusalem just days before. Matthew 27 shows us a glimpse of what transpired that day:

27Then the governor's soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said. 30They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

Sometimes our actions have the same result on Jesus as the actions of the Roman soldiers. When we live our lives far from him, we are ridiculing Him and mocking Him. Are you taking His sacrifice for granted?

The humiliation is carried out to the very extreme as Jesus takes the weight of the world's sin upon his back. Matthew 27 further describes the events of that fateful day so long ago:

45From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 47When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah." 48Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him." 50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"

On Good Friday, Jesus paid the ultimate price for us. There could be no darker moment in history than at that time on the cross. The Son of God died for us.

Take a moment and reflect on your Good Friday. What difficulties are in your life? Have you lost a job, lost a loved one, are you having financial difficulties? Is there something in your life keeping you from walking close with Jesus? Don't give up! For as we will see, this is not the end of the story. There is hope. A brighter day is ahead.

Daily Scripture

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.- Romans 5:6-8

Daily Scripture

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

Why Giving Matters

Giving is an important part of our walk with Christ. Part of our vision at Alice Drive is to help people Grow Character because we need to be like Jesus.

Some of the reasons I believe giving is important are:
Giving draws our hearts toward Christ – “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21
Giving develops character.
Giving allows us to invest for eternity – “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven….” Matthew 6:20

Is it time for you to take your next step? Step in and see how giving can transform your life and grow you to be like Jesus.

Daily Scripture

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

John 6:27

Daily Scripture

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 3:17

Daily Scripture

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Daily Scripture

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

1 Corinthians 10:13

Daily Scripture

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

2 Corinthians 5:17

Counting Down

Operation In As Much at Alice Drive Baptist Church is now just two days away. While it is raining today, we expect beautiful weather on Saturday for the projects. I just spoke to Joel Singletary, our Helps Ministry Coordinator, and he informed me volunteers are still calling him - to the tune of over 500 having already signed up.

This is going to be a great day of service in our community to share the love of Jesus Christ with others. If you haven't signed up, it's not too late. Join us at ADBC at 8:30 for a kickoff rally and then we will go out and serve.

I hope to see you Saturday morning.

Monthly Report

March Report

Baptisms 3
Average Worship Attendance 1140
Average Bible Community Attendance 806

Ministry Offerings Given $168,101.30
Build on the Rock $33,167.14
Debt Retirement $2,550.00

Daily Scripture

Who, then, is the man that fears the LORD ? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.

Psalm 25:12,13

Daily Scripture

Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing and benefits those who see the sun.

Ecclesiastes 7:11