Is Your Church Suffering From Apathy?

[From Pastor Milton Gordon]

How can you know for sure? Check out the following symptoms:

1. Lack of thought and meditation.
2. Legalism.
3. Lack of heartfelt, fervent prayer.
4. Leaders who do not preach the cross of Christ with power.
5. Little mourning for sin in the midst of the church.
6. Lack of a growing spiritual capacity to embrace the love of God.
7. Lyrical content lacking focus on Christ and the cross in worship.

(By Wm. P. Farley)

Death Notice - Adela Rodriguez

I regret to inform that last Saturday, in the early hours of the morning, Bishop Elías Rodríguez's (COGOP Southeast Hispanic Overseer) mother passed way in the Dominican Republic.

Sister Adela is survived by her husband Tulio Rodríguez, (COGOP ex-overseer of Peru) and her children. The Rodriguez family has been and continues to be a blessing to the Kingdom of God and the Church of God of Prophecy.

Please pray and remember the Rodriguez family during this time.

How Many Are In Rebellion?

[By Mark Beeson]

Maybe I'm bamboozled,flummoxed and confused. I can't be certain because, by definition, if I was certain I wouldn't be confused. I freely admit my bewilderment.

I'm sobered by our remarkable capacity for self-deception. We can hear clear teaching from Jesus and say, "We don't get it." Really? How is that? Is His instruction too complicated?

• What about "Love the Lord your God" don't we understand?
• What about "Love your neighbor" can't we grasp?
• What about "Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men" escapes our comprehension?

Are the fundamental teachings of Jesus imprecise and vague? Was Jesus too ambiguous? Do we simultaneously comprehend and disdain his instruction? (Mark Twain admitted to more scriptural understanding than he preferred when he said, "It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.")

What if we discover our protests about Jesus' direction have more to do with rebellion than ignorance? What if we ascertain our remonstration is birthed in selfish ambition rather than feigned longing for greater clarity?

What if Jesus meant what he said? What if we know precisely what Jesus meant when Jesus said what he said?

What if we just don't like what Jesus said?

What then?

Recommended Books Before Easter

In a recent Pastor's Conference in Atlanta, is was recommended that pastors read at least one hour per day. There are numerous reasons.

The following five books are highly recommended and would be a good read leading up to Easter:

• The Cross He Bore - Amazon Westminster Books Monergism Books
• Living the Cross Centered Life - Amazon Westminster Books Monergism Books
• The Truth of the Cross - Amazon Westminster Books Monergism Books
• The Cross of Christ - Amazon Westminster Books Monergism Books
• Pierced for Our Transgressions - Amazon Westminster Books Monergism Books

Fresh Oil New Wine Begins Tonight

Tommy Bates kicks off the Fresh Oil New Wine Conference tonight at Abba's House, Pastor Ron Phillips, in Chattanooga!

Pre-service music begins at 6:45 p.m., or watch LIVE on the web.

More information