Processing the Events in Israel and Praying for Israel
Watching the events unfold in Israel is heartbreaking. How are we to respond and how are we to pray as Christians?...
Keep ReadingToday, Easter Sunday, we celebrated the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. 'He is Risen!' is the most incredible and important declaration in human history. Jesus' resurrection changes everything. Because He rose from the grave, all of the claims He made are true and He is worthy of our absolute love and devotion and obedience.
Because Jesus rose from the grave, the idea of our faith being a 'Christmas and Easter' only faith is nonsensical as is the idea of being a 'Sunday only' Christian. If we belong to Him, we belong to Him every hour of every day and we give Him our best-not our leftovers.
Because He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords and because He is the Head of the Church, died for the Church, loves His Church, we do as well. It is in the context of the church, in community, where we learn and grow together, help each other become more like Christ, encourage each other and challenge each other to grow. We learn to love one another, to be patient with one another, to forgive one another, to persevere with one another. We build each other up. We are on mission together. That is Christ's intent for His people and His Church.
While it is true that we can worship Christ anywhere, it is equally true that we are saved into community and there are certain things that can only happen in terrms of our growth, in a corporate context. Much of the growth He desires for us cannot take place in any other context than in the community of believers, the Church.
Today we celebrated the resurrection, as we should, as is fitting! May we never grow dull and complacent as we consider the incredible reality: Jesus Christ, God the Son, took on flesh, dwelt among us, willingly laid down His life as a ransom for many, was crucified, paid the penalty for our sins, died, was buried and three days later rose from the grave!
But, even as we celebrate today, we must remember something very important: now the real work begins. When we look at the Gospels, after Jesus has shown Himself as the Risen Savior to His disciples, He does something very important: He commissions them (as He has us) to make disciples of all people. We are not to keep this incredible news of the Risen Savior to ourselves! Too much is at stake. Everything is at stake.
So, as a church as we look to the next few months, we ask the Lord to grant us the grace, wisdom and strength needed to pesevere, to lean into the things He has for us, to press forward to the calling He has for us individually and as a congregation. As we saw today in our sanctuary, a sanctuary that was for all practical purposes in overflow condition, we cannot reach more people if we do not move to a second service and Bible study. We have already begun taking first steps toward that. We are in process.
For the sake of the King and His Kingdom, let us stay in prayer, stay focused and move forward in faith! The Love of the Risen King compels us!
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Kevin
March 14, 2017 by Dr. Kevin Prather
Jesus made amazing claims about Himself. There are only so many options when it comes to these claims. Jesus was either a legend, a liar, a lunatic or He was who He claimed to be, and if He was and is who He claimed to be, we must respond to Him. ...
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October 9, 2023 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Category: Pastor's Blog | Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Word of God, Israel, Hamas, Hezbollah, prayer, evil and suffering, terrorism, war, Palestine, God's Sovereignty, The gospel
Watching the events unfold in Israel is heartbreaking. How are we to respond and how are we to pray as Christians?...
Keep ReadingSeptember 13, 2022 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Category: Pastor's Blog | Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Church, Love, Truth, Jesus, prayer, God, Holy Spirit, Renewal, Scripture, God's Word, Refining, Pruning, God's Goodness, Unity, Reviving, God's Greatness, Life Transformation, The Work of God
What an amazing work the Lord is doing in our church! We must stay in prayer, in the Word, and praise and thank God for who He is, what He is doing, and continue to seek Him as we walk by faith. God is moving in our church!...
Keep ReadingJune 9, 2022 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Category: Pastor's Blog | Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Love, Mission, Jesus, prayer, God, Holy Spirit, Revival, Salvation, Unity, Sabbatical, Baptisms, New Members, Looking Ahead
As I prepare to leave for Sabbatical, I not only want to say 'thank you' to the church family, but also praise and thank God for the wonderful things He is doing. I also want to encourage you all to keep your eyes on Him and continue to move forward in faith! ...
Keep ReadingSeptember 10, 2021 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Category: Pastor's Blog | Tags: Gospel, Jesus, prayer, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Suffering, Evil, 9/11, Remembering, Sovereignty of God, Turning to God, Praying for our Nation
We said, as a nation, after 9/11, that we would 'never forget,' and yet, on the 20th anniversary of 9/11, we must ask ourselves if we truly have remembered, and, if we have truly wrestled with what it means for God to be Sovereign over all things, including 9/11. What is He saying, and how should we respond?...
Keep ReadingAugust 16, 2021 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Category: Pastor's Blog | Tags: Love, Truth, Evangelism, prayer, Christianity, Culture, DIscipleship, Lies, Boldness, Scripture, Following Jesus, Transformation, Courage, Do Not Conform
As the culture continues to buy and sell lies, and to demand conformity to the lies, Christians must be a people who walk in Truth, even if it is costly. ...
Keep ReadingSeptember 16, 2020 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: Gospel, Church, Mission, Jesus, prayer, God, Holy Spirit, Hope, Racism, Christians, Rioting, Shootings, Burning Cities, Destruction, Sexual Immorality, Hatred, Fragmentation, Anarchy, Distrust, Engage
Yes the times are dark. They seem to be getting darker by the day. The answer is not escapism, nor is it retreat. The answer is and has always been Jesus. How the people who bear His Name respond in these tumultuous times, is so very important. ...
Keep ReadingApril 3, 2020 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Fear, Faith, Anxiety, prayer, God's Word, Ministry, Time, Life, Death, Run the Race Well
The Covid-19 pandemic is real. Suffering and pain are real. Financial stress, concern over employment and family and loved ones is real. Sometimes, however, if we are not careful, our fears dictate our lives. This should not be the case for God's people. We can rest in God. He is Good. He is Sovereign. He loves you. He is in this time with all of us....
Keep ReadingMarch 29, 2020 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: Coronavirus, Covid 19, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Movement of God, Christianity, Seeking Hope, Gospel, Awakening, Revival, prayer, Hunger for Word
These are uncertain times, and people are justifiably concerned, but the Lord is at work! We must stay in prayer and in the Word and fix our eyes on Christ to run the race before us....
Keep ReadingOctober 16, 2019 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: Gospel, Church, Jesus, prayer, God, Holy Spirit, Scripture, Secularism, Pietro Ciavarella, Florence, Italy, Firenza, Witness, God's Word, Engaging Culture, Persevering
America is rapidly sliding into secularism. Many in the American evangelical church are worried, scared or confused. Others still have no idea as to the severity of the storm that is already making landfall. I am thankful to call Pastor/Professor Pietro Ciavarella my friend and brother in Christ. Pietro pastors in Firenza (Florence), Italy, birthplace of the Renaissanc...
Keep ReadingOctober 5, 2018 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, prayer, Preaching, Teaching, Scripture, Evangelism, DIscipleship, Doctrine, Theology, Church, Community Transformation
As our culture rapidly changes and moves toward a new type of Dark Age, evangelical Christians in America must have a compelling vision for not only preserving the faith, but advancing the kingdom despite increasing hostility and opposition. ...
Keep ReadingOctober 3, 2018 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: Christ, Culture, God, Holy Spirit, Bible, Scripture, Word of God, prayer, Worship, Community, Teaching, Learning, Mission, DIscipleship
The way forward in this new 'Dark Age' is to return to the ancient paths....
Keep ReadingFebruary 19, 2018 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: Stonebridge Baptist Church, Jesus, God, Holy Spirit, Gospel, Revival, Revivalism, Church, prayer, Scripture, Humility, Mission, Kingdom of God
Our churches need revival. God is working in our church. We must not confuse praying for authentic revival with revivalism. ...
Keep ReadingJanuary 29, 2018 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, prayer, Answered Prayer, Staff, Roger Perez, John Sodulcan, Worship Pastor, Associate Pastor, Two Services, Campus Missionary and Minister of Missions, Unreached People Groups, More Ahead in 2018
We should always thank God for His grace and mercy toward us...
Keep ReadingOctober 9, 2017 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Category: Pastor's Blog | Tags: Jesus, Evangelism, Objections to Christianity, DIscipleship, prayer, Awana, Wednesday Nights, Adults, Youth, Children, Saturday Services, Sunday Services, Connect, God, Gospel, Communities, Stonebridge Baptist Church
There are some exciting and new things taking place on Wednesdays and Saturdays! Come check them out!...
Keep ReadingAugust 6, 2017 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Tags: Jesus, Gospel, Church, Community, Schools, Harlan High School, Folks Middle School, prayer, Intercession, God, Holy Spirit
If we are to move forward in a way that honors Christ we must be in tune with the Holy Spirit and abiding in Christ. As such, we must be united in prayer....
Keep ReadingJune 4, 2017 by Dr. Kevin Prather | Category: Pastor's Blog | Tags: Children, 78253, Gospel, Stonebridge Baptist Church, Jesus, prayer, Vacation Bible School, God, Invitation, Community
This coming Sunday, Stonebridge Baptist Church launches our summer Vacation Bible School! Thetheme this year is: 'Galactic Starveyors.' Sundaynight through Thursday night, 6:00 p.m.-8:30 p.m., children willlearn aboutThe God Who Created All Things. It is for young people who have completed Kindergarten-completed 6th Grade. Not only will they learnthat theOne who spoke all...
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