Beale Memorial Baptist Church

Yesterday I posted a video from the Passion of the Christ. It is the scnene that depicts Jesus saving the woman caught in adultery.  That video does not run the music from the Passion movie.  The music on that clip comes from this group out of the Netherlands.

I can offer very few details about this group, other than their name and country.  They are singing in Dutch and Hebrew.  Other than that, I got nothing!

Even though we can't speak their language, I believe we can feel the power of the Holy Spirit through the song.  I hope this song blesses your heart the way it has mine.

This Sunday, January 18th, we will continue our theme based on Words that Can Change Your Life.  This week we will look at John 8 as we hear this, "You Are Forgiven."

All of us have been to the place in life when we needed to hear this message.  We need to personally encounter the story of redemption as presented in Jesus.  Some of us struggle with guilt from events long ago, and we need to hear how God forgives completely. 

The following is a video that has been posted here before.  It was taken from the Passion of the Christ and depicts events from John 8.  Turn your volume up and be blessed by the message.

Once a week, I receive an email from Rick Warren's ministry.  Each issue has a variety of topics for church leaders to ponder.  This week's focus is on growing a 'friendly' church.  Here is an article that you might enjoy reading and seeking to apply.

My purpose in posting this is for church leaders to consider ways in which they can extend God's grace in simple ways to new families that are attending church.  Some of these ideas may not apply to your situation, but others you can connect. 

How to make your church guest-friendly
by Rick Warren

A guest’s first 12 minutes dramatically influence whether they’re coming back or not. You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Rick Warren

There are a lot of reasons a church might grow. Sometimes people come because of the preaching. Sometimes people come because of the music. Some people like the great programs for kids and youth.

But I’m convinced there’s an often overlooked factor in church growth: Growing churches are friendly to guests. All churches think they’re friendly, but when you take a good look at them, you often discover they’re friendly to people who have been attending for 15 years or more – not to new people.

Today was the second message in the series, ‘Words that Can Change Your Life.’  The focus this morning was on the statement, “You Have Made a Difference.” 

I began the sermon with the ending clip from the movie, Saving Private Ryan.  That is the scene where ‘James Ryan,’ visits the grave of ‘John Miller,’ who died while leading a mission to bring him home.

The movie began with a much older James Ryan walking to the American Cemetery at Normandy.  Ryan is with his family striding with intent to a specific grave.  When he arrives at Capt. Miller’s grave, he falls to his knees in tears and the flashback to Normandy begins.

The final combat scene of the movie depicts Capt Miller challenging Ryan to earn what has been given for him.  Meaning, make something of your life for those who died to give you life.  That scene changes to Ryan with his wife at Miller’s grave.  He asks his wife if he has been a good man. 

The drama of that moment in the movie is powerful.  I cannot watch it without tears.  But I think that moment is a reflection of a question we all ask.  Have we made a difference? Do I have time to make a difference?  Has my life been good?

Here are two clips from the movie, and you can listen to the sermon if you like.