Second Baytown

1 Kings 2:1-4 (ESV) 1 When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3 and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and...

Can God use me? Can God use me, again? But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord. -2 Samuel 11:27B, ESV Have mercy on me,O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Psalm 51:1 ESV God can use you again: According to His Abundant Mercy Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions...

Trust God fully while you wait on Him. 6 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments. 7And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, "Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands." 8...

How can you find the friend you want to have? As soon as he had finished speaking to Saul, the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. . 2 And Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father's house. 1 Samuel 18:1-2 ESV Extraordinary Friendships: Are guided by faith. "And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil...

God can use you to battle your giants when you exhibit extraordinary faith in Him. 1 Samuel 17 2 And Saul and the men of Israel were gathered, and encamped in the Valley of Elah, and drew up in line of battle against the Philistines. 3 And the Philistines stood on the mountain on the one side, and Israel stood on the mountain on the other side, with a valley between them. 4 And there came out from...

1 Samuel 16:1-13 (ESV) 1 The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I ha...

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go. Luke 10:1 ESV And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Luke 10:2 ESV See the Harvest. Pray for Workers. Go your way; beho...

Matthew 14:13-21 (ESV) 13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now ov...

Connecting with God involves both me…and we! 12 But when Christ[b] had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. Hebrews 10:12-14 “22 “let us draw near with a true heart in full a...

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV) 1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Matthew 16:26 (ESV) 26 For w...

What does love demand of me? What’s love got to do with the way we do church? What is the faith of your unbelieving friend worth? But some men came down from Judea and were teaching the brothers, “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved. Acts 15:1 ESV But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” Acts 15:11 ES...

Loving your community begins with obedience to God’s plan for your life. Jeremiah 29:11-14 29:1 These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 4 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the e...

A New Commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. John 13:34 ESV By this all people will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. -John 13:35 ESV What does love demand of me? What does love demand of me in regard to race relations? In regard to race relations: Love demands equality under the cross. For in Chr...

Proverbs 11:3 (ESV) The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them. integrity[ in-teg-ri-tee ] noun adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty. The Integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity. Psalm 11:3 (NIV) Christian integrity is living like Jesus all the time. Onl...

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord give...

46 And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah, and he gathered up his garment and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel. 1 Kings 18:46 19 Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tom...

20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. Matthew 5:22 28 But I say to you that...

Freedom is found only through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Freedom from guilt and shame comes through confession of our sins and receiving the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ. To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, in you I trust;     let me not be put to shame;     let not my enemies exult over me. 3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;     they shall be ashamed who a...

Galatians 5:1 (ESV) 1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:13-15 (ESV) 13 For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bi...

True Freedom can be found through following Jesus Christ. John 8:30-36 (ESV) 30 As he was saying these things, many believed in him. 31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33 They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How i...

Colossians 4:2-6 2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Pray continually. Pray continually with thanksgiving. 3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— 4 that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak. Pray continually with thanksgiving seeking...