The Plowman

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An exposition of Obadiah 1-21. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 25, 2008.

It is dangerous to assume that God owes us something simply because of some perceived “Christian” heritage. Are we really a “city set on a hill?” Our devotion should be to God and God alone. We should be longing for another city, the city of our King. But while we remain here on earth we should seek the peace of this land. How do we go about this and remain primarily devoted to God?

1. Our nation, both its people and our leaders, must understand that God rightly pronounces judgment on proud arrogant people.
2. We must find our comfort in the fact that God promises grace and peace toward his imperfect and often wavering people.
3. We must make sure that we understand that God rules over all the peoples of the world.

The people of God need to rise up and speak God’s truth to the  nation, and plead to God for his mercy over our nation.

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An exposition of Psalm 37:1-20. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 18, 2008.

Pastor Rod appropriately leads this message off with “Doctrine is a wonderful thing, but sometimes it really makes me mad.” There is indeed a struggle inside of each of us to see and understand the bigger picture. These words are simply a reminder of some things you already know but sometimes forget in trying times. Peace in the midst of trying times demands a clear vision and a trusting heart.

1. Believers must take their eyes off their sorrows in order to look up and look ahead. This is accomplished by:
a. putting things in perspective.
b. looking up.
1. Trust in the Lord (v.3).
2. Delight in the Lord (v. 4).
3. Commit yourself to the Lord (v. 5).
4. Wait patiently on the Lord (v. 7).
5. Refrain from anger (against God) (v. 8).
c. looking ahead to the future.
2. Believers must rest their hope in God’s sovereign control.

Conclusion: Peace in the storm is the result of a clear vision and a trusting heart.

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An exposition of Ephesians 4:1-6. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, May 14, 2008.

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A Mother’s-Day message from Proverbs 1:7-9. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 11, 2008.

Principles related to family:

1. God created and ordained the family (Ephesians 5:31-33).
2. God intends for the family to shape the children’s world view (Deuteronomy 6:4-7).
3. God expects children to joyfully to submit to their parents’ instruction.
4. God promises blessing in response to obedience. 29:25

Rejoice and give thanks if you have had a godly mother. If you are a parent, take seriously your obligation to honor God by raising your children to know God.

I stumbled across this a few days before Mother’s day. I thought it interesting how the role of the church in our lives so closely resembles the role of our physical mothers. What do you think?

But as it is now our purpose to discourse of the visible Church, let us learn, from her single title of Mother, how useful, nay, how necessary the knowledge of her is, since there is no other means of entering into life unless she conceive us in the womb and give us birth, unless she nourish us at her breasts, and, in short, keep us under her charge and government, until, divested of mortal flesh, we become like the angels (Mt. 22:30). For our weakness does not permit us to leave the school until we have spent our whole lives as scholars. Moreover, beyond the pale of the Church no forgiveness of sins, no salvation, can be hoped for, as Isaiah and Joel testify (Isa. 37:32; Joel 2:32). To their testimony Ezekiel subscribes, when he declares, “They shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel” (Ezek. 3:9); as, on the other hand, those who turn to the cultivation of true piety are said to inscribe their names among the citizens of Jerusalem. For which reason it is said in the psalm, “Remember me, O Lord, with the favour that thou bearest unto thy people: O visit me with thy salvation; that I may see the good of thy chosen, that I may rejoice in the gladness of thy nation, that I may glory with thine inheritance” (Ps. 106:4, 5). By these words the paternal favour of God and the special evidence of spiritual life are confined to his peculiar people, and hence the abandonment of the Church is always fatal.

John Calvin, Institutes; 4:1:4

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An exposition of Ephesians 3:14-21. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Wednesday evening, May 7, 2008.

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from Acts 19:1-10, 23; 1 John 3:1-3. This message by guest preacher Rev. Joe Howard was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, May 4, 2008.

1. When God’s people get serious there will be profession: vs. 1-7.
2. When God’s people get serious there will be proclamation: vs. 8-9.
3. When God’s people get serious there will be power: v. 6
4. When God’s people get serious there will be purification: vs. 1 John 3:1-3
5. When God’s people get serious there will be problems: v. 23

Conclusion: It’s time we get serious with God’s business.