The service began with the Psalm 34, the Gloria Patri, and the hymn of praise was "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." We had words of joy and testimony and special music by Priscilla Stapleton. Today was a special day, the baptism of Korynne Mae Blanton. The congregation shared in the family's joy.
The theme for today's sermon was Prevenient Grace...A Wonderfully Terrible Thing.
Jg 13:1
And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.
Jg 13:2
And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.
Jg 13:3
And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.
Jg 13:4
Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:
Jg 13:5
For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
Jg 13:6
Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:
Jg 13:7
But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.
Pastor Robbie shared experiences from his own life, noting that being chosen carries with it great responsibility. God has chosen us for special things, but gave us free will. We are free to choose the Great Promise, or to let the Promise go unfulfilled.
Isa 45:4
For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.
Ga 1:15
But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
This is the Prevenient Grace of God - that goes before us always, and draws us to do God's Will. It is up to us whether or not to accept the challenge. So, Pastor Robbie explained, it is a wonderful thing, yet at the same time a terrible responsibility.
The closing hymn was "Amazing Grace."
The congregation had a special dinner in honor of Alice Rosenfelt, who will soon be moving from the area.
