Last Sunday we started listing the reasons why we need to be a part of a small group. The first two reasons are: small groups promote fellowship and secondly, small groups stimulate spiritual growth. Here are two more. Small Groups Provide Ministry Opportunities. Our small groups provide the ideal context for us to practice our spiritual gifts.There […]
The late John Stott wrote, “Small groups are indispensable for our growth into spiritual maturity.” I totally agree. We at HBC see small groups as a priority for every Christian. Small groups will restart next month. If you’re involved let me refresh your mind why small groups are important. And if you’re not involved – here’s […]
He hit me between the eyes. Paul David Tripp did it again. In his book, New Morning Mercies – a Daily Gospel Devotional, he writes, “Every day of your life you will find reasons to complain and every day of your life you will have reasons to be thankful … What is your default language? Do you find […]
Our current strategic plan addresses the importance of family. Last fall Susan and I facilitated a Sunday morning class discussing parenting. It was well received. What a joy hearing couples interact with each other regarding their parenting task. This September and October I will teach a class on marriage seeking to implement the strategic plan […]
For many years Holt Baptist Church was the recipient of sister churches helping us in pulpit supply. Phil Dufrin (Covenant Life), Pat Quinn and Thurm Payton (University Reformed), Keith Sova and Tim Van Loh (South), Paul Pelle (at the time, First Baptist Okemos) set aside their Sunday ministries to come to speak here when I […]
Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world, Red and yellow, black and white, They are precious in his sight, Jesus loves the little children of the world. I am thankful for Child Evangelism Fellowship’s Five Day Club which will be held next week (July 20-24). I hope our church kids participate […]
Writing for World magazine, Jane Chaney highlighted this July 4 being our semi-quincentennial – say that word fast 5 times! America is 250 years old. We are blessed. I well remember our Bicentennial in 1976. I had just finished my freshman year in college. Red, white and blue were seen everywhere. I had a pair of sneakers […]
Did you know there were two American revolutions in the 18th century? Before the political one of 1776 there was a religious revolution known as the Great Awakening. Susan and I enjoyed the movie produced by Sight & Sound last spring about the friendship between George Whitfield and Benjamin Franklin, The Great Awakening. We recommend it. […]
Happy Father’s Day. Jesus taught us to pray by calling God Father. We take these words for granted, but they would have been revolutionary in Jesus’ day. The OT Jew saw God in terms as Father only in relation to the nation of Israel – never personally. Abraham never prayed to God as his Father; […]
Our daughter, Trisha recently wrote online regarding their special needs daughter Eliana. I quote her. “Like many others, I saw the viral story of a couple who chose to terminate a pregnancy after receiving a diagnosis of Down Syndrome. As the parent of a child with special needs, I felt a pit in my stomach […]