Mount Zion Baptist Church

December 09, 2018

Pastor Boyd preached a message out of Deuteronomy 14:22-29 titled Principle about Tithing

Background

• One of the main issues of a church is tithing

  
Main Points

• We are stewards - everything that we have is lent to us by God for a season (Psalm 24:1).

• As a steward, one is responsible for someone else's resources.

• We have to give an account to God regarding how we handle His resources.

• Tithing ought to be a regular practice.

• We ought to give a tenth of our resources back to God. 

• When we tithe, we are giving back to God.

• When we tithe, we are trusting God for an increase. 

• There should be regular, consistent tithing - not just when we want to.

• Tithing should be at the worship center. 

• Tithing teaches us how to revere, respect, trust, and love God. 

• Tithing is to be a spiritual testimony, for it can also teach others to fear the Lord. 

• God blesses us so that we can be a blessing to others.

• Our tithing demonstrates our love towards God and should be a joyful experience.

• We need to be cheerful givers (2 Corinth 9:7).

• Tithing is to be a benevolent witness.

• In the book of Deuteronomy, tithing was used to take care of the Levites, the fatherless, the widows, and the needy. There was no welfare at the time, so the responsibility fell on the church.

• We need to be a blessing to the church, not a hindrance. ​

December 02, 2018

Pastor Boyd preached a message out of Deuteronomy 28:1-8 titled The Blessings of God

Background

• Moses is the writer of Deuteronomy.

• He is preaching two sermons:

  • Blessings and obedience, and

  • Disobedience

  
Main Points

• We must obey the Lord. 

  • Obedience - willing to obey instantly.

  • When we don't obey God instantly, this is considered compliance.

  • God blesses obedience, not compliance.

  • We are blessed to be a blessing to others.  

  • If God tells us to do something, He wants it to be done thoroughly, not partially (Joshua 1:8).

  • The Bible contains everything we need; therefore, meditate on the Word daily.

  • Our blessings are tied to meditating on the Bible.

• The blessing is fruitfulness in everything: body, spiritually, finances, etc.

  • We need God to bless everything we do.

  • You cannot be in the presence of God and not change. The change should be evident that others will notice it.​

• The victory over your enemies is a blessing from God.  Spiritual enemies that we face:

  • Back biting

  • Those who despise others

  • Those who steal

  • Persecutors

  • Loss of loved ones

  • Loss of job

  • Liars

  • Diseased bodies

  • Doubt and unbelief ​

November 25, 2018

Pastor Boyd preached a message out of John 21:15-17 titled Do We Do Our Own Thing or Follow Christ? (Part 2)

Background

• We all sometimes do our own thing.  When we do that, we are in our flesh (not in the spirit).

  
Main Points

• Our human weakness and failures can cause us to do our own thing (Matt. 26:31-35;69-75).

  • There are appointed places where we should meet the Lord:

    • At prayer

    • In devotion

    • In worship

    • At Bible Study

• When we are a mess, Jesus is always waiting for us
  • ​Sometimes we don't recognize when we are messed up. 
  • The disciples were disappointed. 
  • There are times we try to accomplish things on our own only to find out that won't work. 
  • As long as you try to provide for yourself, you won't be successful.  
  • Only when you do things the right way, God's way, will you be successful​​
• The divine power will lead to success
  • John (the Beloved) is always the one to recognize Jesus, and Peter always put things into action
  • Jesus was already on the shore providing for the disciples (Jesus doesn't need us to provide for Him).  He is always ready to provide for us (including our physical needs).
  • Jesus sometimes see the potential in us that we don't always see ourselves​
• There are four types of loves:
  • Between husband and wife (eros)
  • Between family (storge)
  • Brotherly love (philia)
  • Agape love - divine, unconditional love​

• ​God has given us each a charge, but we are too busy trying to do things our own way

​

• We need to do things God's way!  The focus has to be about doing God's will and not our own will.​

November 18, 2018

Pastor Boyd preached a message out of Psalm 100:1-5 titled We Should Always Express Thankfulness

Background
We should always express thankfulness, gratefulness

•   Things could always be a lot worse

• Be thankful for what God  continues to do for you, to you, and through you

• God wants us to come into His presence with thanksgiving in our hearts

• Praise is an outward experience with an inner expression

• As long as we receive mercy, we must be givers of thanks

• When you enter into the house of God, come with a joyful spirit

• God is the Creator and the Owner of His sheep

  
Main Points
Thank God for the privilege of access

•   Be thankful for salvation through Jesus (2 Cor. 9:15)

• Thank God even in the midst of trials and persecution because He has promised to be with us (James 1:2)

• Thank God for the material blessings that He gives us (1 Chron. 29:12-14)

• Thank God for the people in our lives (too many times we take people for granted) (1 Cor. 1:4)

• Thank God for His continuous presence and power in our lives