Sunday Reflections

What wonderful services we had yesterday here on "The Hill" at Blue Ridge View Baptist Church! The Word of God was taught, sung, preached and shared. There was evangelism, discipleship, prayer, worship and ministry carried out yesterday. God was lifted high and decisions were made for Him.

Let's have a quick reminder of what we learned yesterday so that we can apply it today church!

AM Service
Subject: Prayer
Sermon: The Blueprint for Biblical Praying
Scripture: Matthew 6.5-15

INTRODUCTION
*Christ teaches us how to connect with God every time we pray.

I. THE PRESUPPOSITION OF THE CHRISTIAN'S PRAYER LIFE (5-6)

v.5: "when"
v.6: "when"
v.7: "when

*Praying is a given in the life of a Christian. How is our "prayer track?"

II. THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CHRISTIAN'S PRAYER LIFE (7-8)

v.7: Be careful of "rote", "going by the numbers" praying; cliches, coined phrases, canned prayers.

*It is not how much we say in our prayer that causes God to hear us...it is how we say what we say that garners His attention.

John Bunyan: "When you pray, it would be better to let your heart be without words than to let you words be without heart."

III. THE BLUEPRINT FOR THE CHRISTIAN'S PRAYER LIFE (9-13)

   A. Praise Him (9-10)

*Focus on the Father!
*Prayer is not to tell God what is on your mind; prayer seeks to find out what is on God's mind.

   B. Petition Him (11)

James 4.3

   C. Plead with Him (12)
     
     1. We Need to Get Forgiveness (12a)
     2. We Need to Give Forgiveness (12b)

   D. Receive Power from Him (13a)

   E. Praise Him...Again! (13b)

CONCLUSION

*In most of chapter 6, Jesus deals with hypocrisy: in our giving, fasting and praying. We need to make sure that we are not hypocritical in WHERE we pray, WHAT we pray, or in WHY we pray.


PM Service
Subject: Wisdom about Social Media
Sermon: The Blessings and Cursings of Social Media- Pt, 2 (Blessings)
Scripture: Various

INTRODUCTION

Reminder: (Titus 1.15) Perversion and sin with online activity is not a reflection of technology; it is a reflection of the user's heart. What I post on my Facebook account, etc., and what I participate in on the internet, is simply a window into my heart.

Blessings of Social Media: 
1.) ABILITY TO BE A WITNESS FOR CHRIST- "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel...
2.) ABILITY TO ENCOURAGE SPIRITUAL GROWTH- 2 Tim. 2.15
3. ABILITY TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS (thru text, email, Facebook...)- Prov. 25.11
4.) ABILITY TO KEEP IN TOUCH WITH ALL LOVED ONES
5.) ABILITY TO CREATE A VAST PRAYER CHAIN
6.) ABILITY TO ENHANCE YOUR EDUCATION
7.) ABILITY TO STRENGTHEN AND FORM GODLY RELATIONSHIPS AS WELL AS INFLUENCE.
8.) ABILITY TO SAVE TIME: Able to take care of the temporal quickly in order to spend time on the eternal.
9.) WORLD EVANGELISM! Social networking and media mobilizes us to reach the nations with the Gospel.

CONCLUSION/ADMONITION FOR SOCIAL MEDIA USE:

     1. Stay Accountable (programs, people, spouse)
     2. Engage people in face to face convo!
     3. Be real
     4. Avoid shady conversations and strangers
     5. Be moderate
     6. Keep motives pure


Challenge for today (Monday) BRV: Use your access to social media to encourage someone!

Until Next Time,
Brother Pastor
Gal. 2.20