Antioch Devotionals- August 31- September 4
MONDAY, AUGUST 31ST Romans 10:15
THANK YOU, BOBBY TUCKER!
“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”- Romans 10:15
For fifty-three years Bobby Tucker has been preaching the good news. In those six decades, he has spread the news of Christ to thousands. Whether that be on Sunday mornings/nights or Wednesday nights at the churches he served, or speaking at conferences, camps, and revivals all over the place, many have heard about the grace of God from his lips. (And many have responded by surrendering their hearts and lives to Jesus.) Many souls will be around the throne of the Savior because of Bobby Tucker.
Today he begins a new chapter of his journey by beginning his retirement. And although this man is heading back to his boyhood home in the small eastern town of Minneola, Texas, we know that God is not through using this wonderful man of God. The LORD will continue to use this wonderful servant in the years ahead.
Bobby, we, here at Antioch in Conway, Arkansas, are forever grateful for your years of service to our church! Your passion for people, your love for God, your generous and giving heart, your wonderful giftedness in communicating God’s Word, and your love for everything Texas A&M, (okay, maybe we could have done without this part), have had a huge impact on all of us! We want to be better followers of Jesus because of you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH LOVES BOBBY TUCKER! May you enjoy your well-deserved retirement!
THANK YOU, BOBBY TUCKER!
“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”- Romans 10:15
For fifty-three years Bobby Tucker has been preaching the good news. In those six decades, he has spread the news of Christ to thousands. Whether that be on Sunday mornings/nights or Wednesday nights at the churches he served, or speaking at conferences, camps, and revivals all over the place, many have heard about the grace of God from his lips. (And many have responded by surrendering their hearts and lives to Jesus.) Many souls will be around the throne of the Savior because of Bobby Tucker.
Today he begins a new chapter of his journey by beginning his retirement. And although this man is heading back to his boyhood home in the small eastern town of Minneola, Texas, we know that God is not through using this wonderful man of God. The LORD will continue to use this wonderful servant in the years ahead.
Bobby, we, here at Antioch in Conway, Arkansas, are forever grateful for your years of service to our church! Your passion for people, your love for God, your generous and giving heart, your wonderful giftedness in communicating God’s Word, and your love for everything Texas A&M, (okay, maybe we could have done without this part), have had a huge impact on all of us! We want to be better followers of Jesus because of you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
ANTIOCH BAPTIST CHURCH LOVES BOBBY TUCKER! May you enjoy your well-deserved retirement!
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Powerfulness When Feeling Powerless by Paula McKee
“May all of us lead lives that point people to Jesus because he’s the only one who can make a difference.” Bobby Tucker, August 30th, 2020
I was once confronted by the guardian of a child I had directed to go to the office to get a new shirt to wear because hers wasn’t school appropriate. The girl had the word BOOM across her shirt, and she and her friends were laughing about the reference to that word in a song and what the reference meant. God guided my words as I talked to the 21-year-old sister/guardian. She thought I was a racist, unfairly judging her sister, but when she heard my sincere concern for her sister, her anger quickly diffused. When she left, we hugged. We had made a connection that could have only come from God.
While Jason preached about living a life worthy of the calling Christians have received (Ephesians 3:20), an image popped into my mind of a group of Christians kneeling in the street between the Black Lives Matter protesters and the gun-toking anti-protesters while police officers attempted to maintain order. I imagined the Christians kneeling and praying and singing hymns. A few of the protesters joined with the Christians. Then a few of the anti-protesters also joined along with police officers, and soon the hate and pain and fear diminished as people came together worshipping and praising God, the only one who can heal.
I am clinging to that image this week. I am powerless, but God is powerful. In all situations, HE IS POWERFUL. Look past the fear and anger in others and see their humanity; they are God's children. He doesn't desire to lose any of them.
Dear Heavenly Father, When I feel overwhelmed, fill me with your wisdom, love, and calm reassurance. Thank you for all of the times you have done that for me. All day, every day, guide me so that I lead a life that points people to you. In Jesus’ holy name I pray, Amen.
Powerfulness When Feeling Powerless by Paula McKee
“May all of us lead lives that point people to Jesus because he’s the only one who can make a difference.” Bobby Tucker, August 30th, 2020
I was once confronted by the guardian of a child I had directed to go to the office to get a new shirt to wear because hers wasn’t school appropriate. The girl had the word BOOM across her shirt, and she and her friends were laughing about the reference to that word in a song and what the reference meant. God guided my words as I talked to the 21-year-old sister/guardian. She thought I was a racist, unfairly judging her sister, but when she heard my sincere concern for her sister, her anger quickly diffused. When she left, we hugged. We had made a connection that could have only come from God.
While Jason preached about living a life worthy of the calling Christians have received (Ephesians 3:20), an image popped into my mind of a group of Christians kneeling in the street between the Black Lives Matter protesters and the gun-toking anti-protesters while police officers attempted to maintain order. I imagined the Christians kneeling and praying and singing hymns. A few of the protesters joined with the Christians. Then a few of the anti-protesters also joined along with police officers, and soon the hate and pain and fear diminished as people came together worshipping and praising God, the only one who can heal.
I am clinging to that image this week. I am powerless, but God is powerful. In all situations, HE IS POWERFUL. Look past the fear and anger in others and see their humanity; they are God's children. He doesn't desire to lose any of them.
Dear Heavenly Father, When I feel overwhelmed, fill me with your wisdom, love, and calm reassurance. Thank you for all of the times you have done that for me. All day, every day, guide me so that I lead a life that points people to you. In Jesus’ holy name I pray, Amen.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2ND Romans 12:4-6
By Cindy Beckman
‘For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…”-Romans 12:4-6
One of the first studies we participated in at Antioch was determining spiritual gifts. While we are ALL to love God and love others, Jesus gave us these gifts to equip us do those special things that He has called us specifically to do. God has designed you for a purpose and puts you in places where you can be His hands and feet to show His love to others.
Bobby Tucker taught that class but more so, in the years since I met him, he has lived out the principles he taught there. He has also quietly encouraged many others, including myself, to cultivate and use the special gifts God has given them. As he retires, to move on to the next chapter of what God has for his life, I know undoubtedly that he will continue to love God and love others, continuing to serve where he is planted and using the gifts God has given him.
Prayer: Help us see opportunities each day to show Your love to those around us. Help us to use the spiritual gifts and special grace You have given us to meet their needs.
By Cindy Beckman
‘For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them…”-Romans 12:4-6
One of the first studies we participated in at Antioch was determining spiritual gifts. While we are ALL to love God and love others, Jesus gave us these gifts to equip us do those special things that He has called us specifically to do. God has designed you for a purpose and puts you in places where you can be His hands and feet to show His love to others.
Bobby Tucker taught that class but more so, in the years since I met him, he has lived out the principles he taught there. He has also quietly encouraged many others, including myself, to cultivate and use the special gifts God has given them. As he retires, to move on to the next chapter of what God has for his life, I know undoubtedly that he will continue to love God and love others, continuing to serve where he is planted and using the gifts God has given him.
Prayer: Help us see opportunities each day to show Your love to those around us. Help us to use the spiritual gifts and special grace You have given us to meet their needs.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 3RD
Our Times by Paulette Herring
As we look to the future, hoping for a more exciting season ahead, we know that God is in control. Bro. Bobby said I've never seen God shut us down like this.
Our song Sunday said God is a way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, a light in the darkness. These times could be described as dark or we are on some kind of detour.
Paul said we are to have these things in our heart: we need to be humble, gentle, patient, truthful, kind, compassionate, and patient. We need to love God and love others.
God is up to something. He has the whole world's attention. We need to get on board for exciting times ahead.
Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Bro. Bobby's favorite song
Our Times by Paulette Herring
As we look to the future, hoping for a more exciting season ahead, we know that God is in control. Bro. Bobby said I've never seen God shut us down like this.
Our song Sunday said God is a way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, a light in the darkness. These times could be described as dark or we are on some kind of detour.
Paul said we are to have these things in our heart: we need to be humble, gentle, patient, truthful, kind, compassionate, and patient. We need to love God and love others.
God is up to something. He has the whole world's attention. We need to get on board for exciting times ahead.
Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Bro. Bobby's favorite song
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 4TH Ephesians 4:1 (NIV)
Cancel Culture by Chris Blacksmith
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”-Ephesians 4:1
“Cancel culture” has become two of the most debated buzzwords in recent months. The mere mention of this phrase promotes fear and anxiety simply because of its potential to erase a nation’s history and heritage. Thankfully God is not the God of fear and has graciously provided His children with that of, “...power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” it is for that very reason that we can be part of an everlasting cancel culture that began before the foundations of the earth and culminated in the death burial and resurrection of God’s son. Jesus truly began a cancel culture like no other. His act of love and obedience canceled the debt we owed but couldn’t pay, it canceled our condition of spiritual death we couldn’t overcome, and it canceled our bonds of guilt and shame we couldn’t free ourselves from. The beauty of this cancel culture is that it changes humanity for the good. Romans 10: 9, 10 & 13 says, “if you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ... for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Our role in this “cancel culture” is to proclaim the message of salvation to those who need it most: people like our family, our neighbors, our co-workers, and anyone else we come in contact with. Paul, who was a prisoner at the time, urged the church in Ephesus, and more importantly challenges us today, to be an active participant. This is most effective when each of us follows his charge to: “live a life worthy of the calling [we] have received.”
Cancel Culture by Chris Blacksmith
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.”-Ephesians 4:1
“Cancel culture” has become two of the most debated buzzwords in recent months. The mere mention of this phrase promotes fear and anxiety simply because of its potential to erase a nation’s history and heritage. Thankfully God is not the God of fear and has graciously provided His children with that of, “...power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” it is for that very reason that we can be part of an everlasting cancel culture that began before the foundations of the earth and culminated in the death burial and resurrection of God’s son. Jesus truly began a cancel culture like no other. His act of love and obedience canceled the debt we owed but couldn’t pay, it canceled our condition of spiritual death we couldn’t overcome, and it canceled our bonds of guilt and shame we couldn’t free ourselves from. The beauty of this cancel culture is that it changes humanity for the good. Romans 10: 9, 10 & 13 says, “if you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. ... for, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Our role in this “cancel culture” is to proclaim the message of salvation to those who need it most: people like our family, our neighbors, our co-workers, and anyone else we come in contact with. Paul, who was a prisoner at the time, urged the church in Ephesus, and more importantly challenges us today, to be an active participant. This is most effective when each of us follows his charge to: “live a life worthy of the calling [we] have received.”
Posted in Devotionals