Vacation Bible School is scheduled on June 11-13.

Our annual Bible Conference is scheduled for Oct.10-12. Scheduled speakers are Bruce Crabtree. David Eddmenson, and Don Fortner.

ASSURANCE

At one time or another, every believer struggles with assurance. Assurance of our salvation can never be found by looking at ourselves. Nothing about us can give any assurance of salvation. Nothing we do, or don’t do, can give any assurance of salvation. Assurance can only be had by looking to Christ who is our salvation. Charles Spurgeon once said “I looked to Christ and the dove of peace flew into my heart. I looked into my heart and the dove flew away.”

Assurance is had through faith in Christ. Through faith in Christ a believer is given FULL assurance. “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”

(Heb 10:22) My conscience cannot destroy my assurance if I know that Christ shed His blood to pay for my sin.

Faith in Christ also gives us the knowledge that Christ is our righteousness. A believer has complete assurance knowing that Christ is our righteousness. “And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” (Isaiah 32:17)

Every child of God is assured of eternal life because Christ, who is our righteousness, died, was buried, and rose again for us. What sweet assurance!

THE MID-WEEK SERVICE

Should the mid-week service, usually held on Wednesday night, be a prayer meeting or a preaching service? Why not both? I feel that as much preparation and concern should be devoted to the mid-week service as we give to Sunday morning or Sunday evening. There are six long days between Sundays, during which believers are tried, tested and vexed with the burdens and cares of an unfriendly world. They need a refreshing oasis in the middle of that long journey to be encouraged, comforted and reminded of the blessings and benefits we have in Christ Jesus. Sinners need to hear the gospel as much on Wednesday as they do on Sunday and believers need to be exhorted and edified as much when they come together on Wednesday as on Sunday! Many pastors complain about poor attendance on Wednesday night. Perhaps it's because people are not interested in business meetings, hastily prepared devotions and sermonettes, or brief, ill-prepared services which are not worth the effort to attend. When a table is set and thoroughly furnished with the food of the Word, hungry people will come to eat. I challenge churches to have a mid-week service as interesting and inviting as Sunday morning with much praise, prayer, worship, fellowship, and good preaching. Some of our members have said that they took forward to and enjoy the Wednesday night service more than any other service.

Henry Mahan

And Now Why Tarriest Thou? - Arise And Be Baptized!

There are people in our assemblies who have heard the gospel of Christ with the heart. They believe Him, they love Him, and they truly rest in Him as Lord and Redeemer; but they have not confessed Christ in believer's baptism. The question is asked, "Why tarriest thou?" I believe I can answer for them.

1. They are troubled by the presence and strength of indwelling sin–"In my flesh dwelleth no good thing."

2. They are shocked, by the weakness of their faith.

3. They fear that they will fail and dishonor the Lord and embarrass the church.

4. They are waiting for greater assurance and more grace.

5. They are by nature very timid and shun public demonstrations.

But no such reasons are valid; for in baptism we are not confessing our holiness, but His; not our strength, but His; not our life, but His! "We are dead and our life is hid with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3).

Henry Mahan