This week, we had a special outdoor service and baptism with The River (a local like-minded church).  Our message this week encouraged us to be the church.  The church is not merely the four walls we attend on a Sunday – it is a family of believers living out the Christian life.

Pastor Brent and Pastor Mike Schneider also shared what believer’s baptism is.

The post Be the Church appeared first on Freedom Fellowship - Church in Jackson, WI.

Church isn’t about style.  It is called to be a house of prayer.  We are called to pray for one another.  The fellowship time we have on our Sunday morning service is to be a time to gather and invest in people.  To have a healthy church, we need to watch out for routine and get rid of the rot in our lives. 

If you would like to experience the complete service (including worship and prayer time), please view our Live Stream of the service on our Facebook page.

Watch out for Routine

“Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him (Lk 22:39).”  The disciples followed Jesus to the Mount of Olives out of routine.  It is so easy to get stuck in a rut.  We get so wrapped up in our daily lives that miss what God is doing.

Routine can happen in prayer as well.

“But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.”  Mt 6:7-8 (KJV)

Other versions call this babbling.  We are not to merely repeat phrases over and over in prayer.

Get Rid of the Rot

“The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.  The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.”  Acts 16:29-34

The jailer saw a miracle and then believed in the Lord Jesus.  He and his entire household believed and were baptized.

Baptism is about obedience and surrender.  It is about dying to yourself.

Pastor Brent was working on his parents’ house.  At first glance, things looked fine.  As he scraped away the paint, he found that it was full of rotten wood.  Without dealing with the rotten sections, the house would continue to rot away.  How like our lives!  We get into the routine of going to church (which looks nice) but we’re not dealing with the rot (sin) in our lives.  We need to repent.  Sin will enslave us (Titus 3:3).  When the Holy Spirit convicts you of something, DEAL with it!!

The post Breaking out of Routine appeared first on Freedom Fellowship - Church in Jackson, WI.