Please be in prayer for these prayer requests from our prayer cards:

John lost his job recently and is concerned about finances and insurance.

A father prays for his sons to discover their future quickly.

Alissa prays for her mom and sister to refocus their lives for Christ and get back in church.

Safe travel for family traveling to Russia to pick-up their new daughter.

Salvation for Drew, Casey, Ethan, Walker, Ellie, Kyle, Kristen, and Alesha.

For a family as the father is serving in Iraq, and for the father too.

A member’s nephew is having surgery.

Safe travel for Joe and Linda as they come to KY to visit their family.

An infant has two important doctor appointments coming up that will help with wellness of life.

A wife wants a husband to take a step up in his faith.

Protection for a child in a difficult family issue.

Mental and Physical healing for a Desert Storm Vet.

Billy is serving in Iraq.  He has a wife and a son back home.

A daughter has a dying father.  She desires he experiences a Christ filled death.

That James, Brad, Todd, and Jennie will rededicate their lives to Christ.

A grandson prays for his Papa to get better.

By Gary Hughes (Elder)

What do we believe?
We believe that the universal Church is the body of all believers in all places at all times existing under the headship of Christ.

Why do we believe this?
Matthew 16:18 – And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Why does it matter?
To understand this passage, one must know what the rock is of which Jesus speaks. Jesus was speaking of all believers of all time as being built on this rock. The rock of which Jesus spoke was solid bedrock. We might think of the rock of Gibraltar in our minds, but this rock was even more foundational than that. Unfortunately, some have misidentified the rock as being Peter the apostle. It is true that the name Peter means “a rock,” but the type of rock is more like a pebble or chip off of a large stone. It seems that Jesus is making a contrast to Peter when He spoke of the rock instead of identifying the rock as Peter. So what is the rock?

Peter had just finished giving his answer to Jesus’ question “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered by saying, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God!” Jesus said that this answer was revealed to Peter by God the Father. He did not figure this out through logic. It is this confession and the fact behind it that would build Christ’s Church (“called out ones”). Each one who commits himself/herself to Christ after receiving/hearing the same revelation is also numbered among the Church.

Have you come to truly understand who Christ is, what that means for your life, and now stand on the solid Rock? Are you following Christ by living out citizenship in the universal Church by being a
member and involved in a local church?

By Mike Lewellen

What do we believe?

The church of Jesus Christ observes two ordinances: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Why do we believe this?

Acts 2:42-47 – And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

 Why does it matter?

I have always considered myself to be a responsible guy and not too forgetful.  The truth of the matter is that as the years go by I become more forgetful and I need to be reminded of things over and over again.  God knew I was that way when He created me.  God knew we were all that way when He instituted the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper for the church.  I was baptized many years ago.  I have this memory of my baptism which is not easy to forget.  It is a demonstration of what took place in life before the event.  I was a new creature; I was buried with Christ and raised to a new life.  Not only was it a sign to those around me but it was a memory I have forever and my children and grandchildren can capture that memory and realize that this memory is based on something that really happened in my life!

Just as baptism is a memory which can point me to the transforming work of Christ, the Lord’s Supper is a time to remember what Christ did for us on the cross.  The cross is the pinnacle of all time.  Now man can have a relationship with the one true God.  Now I can have a relationship with the God the Father!

By Jeff Carlisle

What do we believe?

That a local church is free to cooperate with like-minded churches and associations in order to fulfill its mission to the world.

Why do we believe this?

Ephesians 2:19-21 – So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

Why does it matter?

“Oh, I can do it by myself.” Those are some of my famous last words before getting hurt. This usually happens when I am trying to move something heavy. Isn’t it odd that I choose to do something alone and risk injury instead of getting help and doing a job more efficiently? Living Hope should be reaching out to our community, nation, and world for Christ. Nevertheless, it is going to take more than our church to change the world. Today’s passage refers to believers joining together. It is exciting to know that God uses other churches to reach the world. There are over 150,000 people in Warren County. Living Hope has about 2,000 worshippers on a weekend. If it were up to us to evangelize the county, it would take a while. But, there are 50 other Southern Baptist Churches in our county to share the load. There are 46,000 Southern Baptist Churches in our nation. It is vital that the local church collaborates with other like-minded churches to reach the world for Christ.

By Jeff Carlisle

What do we believe?

That the local church is to gather for worship, teaching, fellowship, and is entrusted with the mission of taking the Gospel to all the nations.

 Why do we believe this?

Matthew 28:19-20 – Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

 Why does it matter?

Everything in life has a purpose. A car’s purpose is to transport people from one place to another. Water’s purpose is keep us hydrated. Funnel cakes … well, it is there for pleasure. This passage of Scripture gives a believer a few of our purposes in life. There are two important action verbs here. Believers are to “go.” Our faith should be active, not still. When a body of water does not move or become refreshed, it can become stagnant. Our faith has that same danger if we do not “go.” A believer should also “make” disciples. This is not an option for a believer; it is a command. We need to have a purposeful plan to share our faith and help people understand God more. We see aspects of the discipleship process throughout the end of this passage. We see we are to baptize believers and teach them to be observant of God’s Word. Some people believe that baptism is a process. Others do not feel it is necessary. Those believers need to be encouraged to follow their conversion in believers’ baptism. When we live for our purpose, lives are changed. Our lives are energized because we are doing what we are designed to do, and others’ lives are changed for the good of the kingdom.

Monday by Mark Gilliam

What do we believe?

We believe that a New Testament church is an expression of God’s people gathered in a community of baptized believers who have entered into covenant with one another.

Why do we believe this?

1 Corinthians 12:12-13 – For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

We’ve heard Pastor Jason say it so many times from the pulpit at the beginning of our worship times, “Thank you for bringing the church into this room. The church is not a building; it’s people”. That group of baptized believers creates a community and as a community it is vitally important that we covenant together in the mission that Christ has for us as a church in fulfilling the Great Commission both locally and globally. When we covenant together, our mission is clarified as well as our expectations of each other. Within that covenant is real freedom as we worship together, prayer for one another and serve each other and others all for the glory of God and the salvation of those who would believe.

Many times when I go to make a visit to a hospital or a funeral home to minister to someone in our church, I hear stories of how a deacon or someone in their small group or their ABF has already been by to see them, pray for them or met some other type of  need. What a pleasure it is to see Christ’s bride, the church, function in the way that it is supposed to and what a witness to a lost world of the greatness and love of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Please pray for these requests from our prayer cards:

Kelly has pancreatic cancer.  Please pray for him as he goes through his chemo treatment.

Al has just been diagnosed with cancer.

Eddie has lung cancer…pray for his healing.

Harold was diagnosed with bone cancer.  He has just developed an infection.

Salvation for Michael, Steve, Barry, Gary, Bob, Steve, Ron, Rich, Tyler, Joe, Meadow, BJ, Matt, Dennis, Frank, Lenny, Jack, and Michelle

Strength and wellness of baby Julia

Thankful that Melissa was able to share her faith with a family member

Terry has brain cancer.  He has had surgery and is going through chemo

Stephanie is going through chemo and radiation for cervical cancer

Tommy grieving the loss of his father

Abbe coping with stress in school

Pray that Paul and Sarah will find peace, comfort, and trust with the Lord

Be in prayer for Pastor Jason today as he continues in the “Renew Your Belief” series.  Pray for strength and for the Holy Spirit to move as he speaks.

By Jason Pettus

What do we believe?

We believe that there is no salvation apart from personal faith in Jesus Christ.

Why do we believe this?

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Why does it matter?

The exclusive claim of Christianity that it is through faith in Jesus alone that people can be saved from an empty meaningless life and an eternal torment in hell, is disturbing for some.  There are two perspectives that it is wise to look at this fact from.

One, everyone has exclusive claims. For someone to say that Jesus is not the only means of salvation is an exclusive claim. It is a claim that calls Jesus Christ a liar or a lunatic because Jesus Himself claimed to be the only means of salvation (John 14:6).  So either He was not telling the truth of He was crazy. What can come across as an ecumenical compromising position is in reality an affront to any person that takes their faith system seriously.  For there to be truth, only one claim can be right.

Two, Jesus provides the only practical and plausible means of salvation. All other religious systems demand that a person earn the right to be saved. The problem is that the cost of sin is death. Unless a person can knowingly and willingly die and then by their own power be raised again, they cannot save themselves. There is no person and no religious system that provides that except Christianity. Jesus willingly took our place and died our death and was raised in victory. We receive the benefits of His divine intervention through faith and are saved.

This is from Leslee Bandy, a Hoper serving with Sojourn Church in Fargo.

Hey guys!
Just thought that I would give you all an update on the ongoings of Fargo! The past 3 weeks or so have been busy and super rewarding! School has been going great and I have been able to start a couple of good relationships with some of the people in my classes! Some specific ones to pray for there would be Myrantha, Luke, and Sara!
Work has had its ups and downs, but overall it has been great as well! One girl that I met there on my first day has been very open to talking to me and I am getting closer and closer to sharing the full gospel with her! Some specific people to pray for here would be Tasha, Ronnie, Sami, Austin, and Penny!
Well, thats what I have so far! and now I’m off to make some posters for Moorheads Fall Festival that Sojourn is doing! Hope all is well in BG!!