1st Night of Red Hot Preaching Conference

The first night of the Red Hot Preaching Conference in Sacramento was an exciting time of fellowship and preaching. As we arrived, I noticed about six protestors, a couple of local TV stations, and a reporter from the Sacramento Bee, which is the main newspaper there. I gave the Bee reporter a piece of my mind when I was approached before the service since they have repeatedly published lies about Verity’s attendance. It was great to see old friends as well as some new faces.

We got to hear Brother Al Chiappetta give his testimony about how he ended up at Verity Baptist Church. He told us that he used to go to a “lame church,” and was encouraged to do more by like-minded believers, which helped get him more “fired up” about soul winning. This led to him making about a four hour round trip for two years straight from the Bay Area to Sacramento to attend Verity. He is now very thankful to live in Sacramento just minutes from the church.

I preached a sermon on "The Signs of the Times" where I started out talking about how we are moving toward a one-world government and cashless society and how people in this generation are lovers of themselves. There were a few serious rants where I preached directly at the media, and the reporters ended up walking out of the sermon before it was over.

I confronted an effeminate-looking protestor after the service, and I rebuked him with a few verses. This was filmed by the BBC reporter who has been following me for several weeks for an upcoming documentary. All in all, it was a great night, and I’m looking forward to the soul winning and preaching services that are still to come. If at all possible, I hope even more of you can join us tonight for more hard preaching.

Here is the sermon on The Signs of the Times.

Give Attendance to Reading

One of the most important things you can teach your children is how to read so that they can continue to learn things on their own. When teaching children to read, it is important to teach phonics and not the “look-see” method or "see and say" method. While they do need to memorize a few “sight words,” don’t have them just memorize hundreds of words as if they were Chinese characters or something.

Take the time to teach them the phonics rules, and be patient enough to sit there and listen as they struggle to sound out words. My mom taught me to read before I ever started school, which gave me a great head start on a life-long journey of learning. Teaching your children to read well is one of the greatest gifts you can give them.

The A Beka curriculum is one example of a phonics-based curriculum in case you aren’t already familiar with phonics. You can also teach a child to read from the books of your choice if you have a firm grasp of phonics rules. Children love books with pictures, but picture books tend to be predictable, so be sure to also have your child read from plain, black and white books.

The Bible is the best textbook for reading since it starts out at a relatively easy reading level in Genesis. As you work your way through the Old Testament, the genealogies will force you to sound out unfamiliar names. This is especially beneficial if you have a tendency to guess at words based on context clues. Reading the genealogies out loud will help improve phonics skills in both children and adults.

The very best way to study academic subjects is not from a video, or an audio recording, but from a book. After all, God chose to give us the Bible in the form of a book. Highly intelligent men of the past learned at home from the Bible and other written works. E-books, audiobooks, videos, and educational phone apps are all useful tools, but be sure to also read from real, paper and ink books - especially the Bible.

“The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.” 2 Timothy 4:13

Studies show that people connect emotionally more and comprehend more when reading print as opposed to e-books. It’s great to utilize technology for learning on the go, but be sure to include reading from real, paper and ink books as part of your daily routine.

Reading and studying isn’t just for students, either. Learning doesn’t end when you graduate but should be a life-long pursuit. When your children see you reading regularly, they will likely become avid readers as well.

“Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.” 1 Timothy 4:13

Here is a sermon on How to Learn.

Behind the Scenes of Live TV Interview

Teleprompter

Many of you probably saw this interview a while back, and I have been meaning to post these behind-the-scenes photos taken by a buddy of mine who was with me that day. As you can see, the interviewer was reading his questions from a teleprompter. Either the questions were planned ahead of time, or there was a Cyrano de Bergerac character in another room feeding the interviewer ideas. Even with the advantage of a teleprompter, the questions were a joke—just the typical race baiting that one would expect from the mainstream media.

Straw Man Argument

I find it offensive when people compare certain ethnicities to vile reprobates. Our society has become so perverse that they often list race right next to “sexual orientation” as if the homos were just another minority group. As Christians, we should not discriminate against any “race” or ethnicity. In fact, I don’t even believe in the Darwinian concept of race. God divided people by language and religion but never skin color. In this sermon on Interracial Marriage, I prove that we are ALL descendants of Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

“And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;” Acts 17:26

“For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.” Romans 10:12

Illiterate Interviewer

If you listen to the interview, you can see why this guy needed the prompts. I mean, who says “THOUT shalt not?” or calls the Taliban, the “TaliBAND?” And I guess I was supposed to be surprised that an unbelieving Jew worked for a TV station. Shocker!

Religious Zealot

The guy seemed surprised that I was totally fine with being called a religious zealot. Here are a few verses on zeal, which is a good thing:

“For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance [for] clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.” Isaiah 59:17

“Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14

“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” Revelation 3:19

Here is a link to the full interview

3 Reasons to Homeschool your Children this Year

School starts next month, so now is a good time for homeschooling parents to do a little planning for the upcoming school year. If you feel unprepared to teach a higher grade, purchase the curriculum early and start studying, so that you can stay one step ahead of your student. If you are not planning to homeschool, consider the following three reasons to do so.

1. Avoid Government Brainwashing

Here’s a start: Don’t let some teacher tell your child that there is no God, being a homo is normal, and that the environment and animals are more important than human life. These days, the teacher might even be a Sodomite. Anti-god world views are especially dangerous for very young children who may not even understand salvation yet, but liberal, humanistic views can still have a negative impact on older children who have a solid foundation.

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.” Psalm 14:1

2. Teach Your Children the Bible

We are commanded to teach our children God’s laws and talk with them about the Bible at various times of day, and the homeschooling lifestyle provides plenty of opportunities to do this. In addition to the usual academic subjects taught in schools, Bible reading and memorization are an important part of our children’s education. The Bible is also interwoven into a lot of the curriculum since we use materials that quote the King James Bible and teach from a Christian perspective.

“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” Deuteronomy 6:7

“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.” Psalm 1:1-3

3. Minimize Bad Influences

Minimizing bad influences is probably the single most important reason to homeschool. Even if you live in the Bible belt where some of the teachers are Baptists or your children are in an exclusive private school, they are still going to school with a wide variety of students. Even as adults we are susceptible to peer pressure, and most kids just don’t take a strong enough stand in a school setting. If you have any rules at all, your children will begin to believe you are nuts since most of the other parents are so permissive in comparison. In junior high and high school, especially, kids will likely be exposed to pornography, drugs, and the advances of other students. Before you know it, your teenager might think he or she is in love with an unbeliever and completely rebel.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” 2 Corinthians 6:14

Ladies, homeschooling is gaining in popularity among Christians, so chances are, there is an experienced homeschooling mom in your church that can help you navigate through the state regulations, curriculum choices, and the challenges of teaching multiple grades with babies under foot. There is also a lot of information available online about how to homeschool. My wife’s blog is an excellent resource since she has been homeschooling our children for several years.

“That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,” Titus 2:4

Here is a sermon on homeschooling.

Someone Swiped the Church Debit Card

A man recently walked into the church office here at Faithful Word Baptist Church with an envelope. He appeared very nervous as he handed it to our deacon. He quickly muttered that he had found the church debit card and was returning it. The deacon took the envelope and thanked him, and the man quickly left.

When the deacon opened the envelope, there was more than just the debit card inside. There was also a receipt, some cash, and a note. In the note, the man explained that he was sorry for taking the debit card. He had needed some things, which he had purchased on the card, but then he felt bad about what he had done. It turned out the card had been dropped in a parking lot the night before.

Sir, if you are reading this we forgive you. Rarely do people voluntarily make restitution after stealing something. It took courage for you to right this wrong. God bless you. You are welcome at our church any time.

“Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.” Ephesians 4:28

There are a couple of thoughts that came to mind when I heard this story:

1. We need to forgive people—especially when they repent and ask for forgiveness.

“And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:32

“Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.” Galatians 6:1

2. We should ask for forgiveness when we wrong someone and do our best to make it right.

The biblical penalty for stealing is restitution. In the end, this man did the right he thing. He not only apologized, but he made restitution.

1 If a man shall steal an ox, or a sheep, and kill it, or sell it; he shall restore five oxen for an ox, and four sheep for a sheep.
2 If a thief be found breaking up, and be smitten that he die, there shall no blood be shed for him.
3 If the sun be risen upon him, there shall be blood shed for him; for he should make full restitution; if he have nothing, then he shall be sold for his theft.
4 If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.
5 If a man shall cause a field or vineyard to be eaten, and shall put in his beast, and shall feed in another man's field; of the best of his own field, and of the best of his own vineyard, shall he make restitution.
6 If fire break out, and catch in thorns, so that the stacks of corn, or the standing corn, or the field, be consumed therewith; he that kindled the fire shall surely make restitution.

Exodus 22:1-6

Here is a sermon to go with this article.

Breaking Down the Houses to Fortify the Wall

“And ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem, and the houses have ye broken down to fortify the wall.” Isaiah 22:10

Throughout the Bible, we are taught that we should focus on the inside before the outside. People have a tendency to do the opposite and work on their exterior as opposed their interior. We all have an exterior wall that others see, but we should not be working on the outside at the expense of the inside. This important principle can be applied to many areas of life.

Personal Appearance

“Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” 1 Peter 3:3-4

This particular passage is speaking to ladies, but this principle can be applied to men as well. We ought to look presentable, but we shouldn’t spend more time on getting physically ready for the day than we do on preparing ourselves spiritually. Whether you’re a man or a woman, who you are on the inside is more important to God than the way you look on the outside.

“But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

Public Image

Being overly concerned about the way that you appear to others often has nothing to do with looks or clothing. Some people’s metaphorical wall involves doing only that which will get them public recognition. When we do things for the Lord, we shouldn’t be doing them for the praise of men. Yes, we do want to be an encouragement and an example to others, but the primary reason we serve in the church should be for the Lord. People won’t know how much you pray or read your Bible at home, so there can be a tendency to neglect those areas. Are you spending more time debating doctrine on Facebook than actually reading the Bible? Social media might be an exterior wall, which is causing you to neglect the inside.

Salvation

“For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” Romans 10:10

To be truly saved, one has to believe the gospel in his or her heart. Other religions teach a works salvation which focuses on the external. Baptism, repenting of sins, communion, etc., are all outward works that cannot save. People need to get saved first, and then hopefully, they will love the Lord enough to start building the wall of good works.

“Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.” Matthew 23:26

It is important to “let your light so shine before men,” but let’s make sure that we have the interior to match. A city is built first before adding the exterior wall. The exterior should be an outflow of the interior.

Here is a sermon to go with this article.

The Strange Fire of Religious Icons

“And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which he commanded them not. And there went out fire from the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord.” Leviticus 10: 1-2

When God tells us how to do something, we need to do it his way. Just because someone’s heart is in the right place, does not mean God will accept whatever they do. It’s just like when Cain brought vegetables instead of a lamb—God did not accept that. Images and icons used today to represent Christianity are “strange fire,” since God never told us to use these things. In fact, he commanded us not to make graven images or likenesses. It’s not just that he didn’t want us worshipping false gods, either.

When God reminded the Children of Israel that they saw “no similitude” when he spoke unto them, he was telling them not to not even make an image of HIM. A crucifix on a necklace or a picture of Jesus on the wall counts as a “similitude” or “likeness.” A molten fish or a molten dove on the back of your car are molten images of the two animals God specifically used as examples of what not to make. Get rid of those things, and, while you are at it, stop displaying that picture of the long-haired “Jesus.” That’s not what he looked like, anyway. In fact, he did not leave us any picture to remember him by. He left us his word. Trying to represent Christianity with religious icons that we are commanded not to use is offering “strange fire.”

12 And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.
13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.
14 And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.
15 Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the Lord spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:
16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,
17 The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,
18 The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:
19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the Lord thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.
20 But the Lord hath taken you, and brought you forth out of the iron furnace, even out of Egypt, to be unto him a people of inheritance, as ye are this day.
21 Furthermore the Lord was angry with me for your sakes, and sware that I should not go over Jordan, and that I should not go in unto that good land, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance:
22 But I must die in this land, I must not go over Jordan: but ye shall go over, and possess that good land.
23 Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the Lord your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the Lord thy God hath forbidden thee.
24 For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

Deuteronomy 4:12-24

“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” Exodus 20:4

Here is a sermon to go along with this article

Beware of Flattery

Today, the word flattery can mean anything from “a flattering compliment” to “insincere, excessive praise.” The flattery talked about in the Bible isn’t a regular compliment. The flattery that the Bible condemns is a dishonest, laying-it-on-thick form of flattery that people will use to try to butter you up. God warns us in the Bible that people who use flattery are setting a trap, and the person who flatters you just might be your enemy.

“A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet.” Proverbs 29:5

“Lead me, O Lord, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.” Psalm 5:8-9

If you are living a godly, Christian life, there will be people that are out to get you. Occasionally, reprobates will creep into the church and try to target key players. Sometimes it is hard for us as Christians to comprehend that some people have very sinister motives.

“Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.” Micah 2:1

People who are young and naïve are often susceptible to flattery-- like when a predator tells a girl he can make her a model and she ends up the victim of a sex-trafficking ring. Learn the difference between a regular compliment and suspicious behavior. People who flatter you probably want something from you.

The flatterer in church will try to gain your confidence and then betray you since the Bible says they are also talebearers. People want to be liked, and they want to open up to their friends, but you shouldn’t tell people too much too soon—especially if they seem to be flattering you while gossiping about others.

“A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.” Proverbs 29:11

“He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.” Proverbs 20:19

Flattery probably isn’t a tactic that you’ll have to deal with on a day-to-day basis, but it does happen—especially in churches. If someone flatters you to the point where you feel uncomfortable, it’s probably a red flag, and you should avoid that person.

Here is a sermon to go with this article.

The Christian Flag Exposed

“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the ecumenical movement…” 

Is it just me or do you feel uncomfortable with the “Christian flag,” which is displayed and even pledged to in many independent Baptist churches? The Christian flag originated in some kind of Protestant Sunday school class and the Methodists wrote its corresponding pledge. Although the flag is said to be primarily used by Protestants, I heard about a Catholic school in Sacramento, California, having students pledge to it, so apparently Catholics now fly this flag as well.

The Christian flag has also been widely accepted by independent Baptists who are supposedly “separated.” (Baptists are not Protestants by the way.) Although the Roman Catholic church and many other closely related European denominations each have their own specific flag, many of these, including the Eastern Orthodox church, have now adopted the Christian flag. The following is a quote from Wikipedia:

“The ecumenical Christian organization, Federal Council of Churches, now succeeded by the National Council of Churches and Christian Churches Together, adopted the flag on 23 January 1942.[1] The Christian Flag intentionally has no patent, as the designer dedicated the flag to all of Christendom.”

Another flag that also had a red cross on it was flown during the Crusades when Christians were persecuted and murdered by the Catholic church. It seems obvious to assume that the modern-day Christian flag will someday represent the one world religion of the anti-Christ, and we are certainly not allegiant to that. As if that weren’t reason enough, the Christian flag is just another religious icon that has no place in a Baptist church.

A pledge of allegiance might even be considered a vow or a vain repetition of sorts, but if you insist on pledging allegiance to something, pledge allegiance to God and the Bible. Countries change, so-called Christianity changes, but the Word of God is unchanging. The following is the Bible pledge that they say in some churches.

“I pledge allegiance to the Bible, God's Holy Word, I will make it a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path and will hide its words in my heart that I might not sin against God.”

Churches on occasion will have ceremonies where they pledge to the American flag, the Christian flag and the Bible, so you may want to sit it out during a couple of those. However you feel about pledging allegiance to our country these days (I don’t), at least stop pledging to the “Christian” flag.

“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

Here is a sermon to go with this article

The Green Grass of Social Media

If you spend too much time on social media and don’t socialize enough in real life, you could end up feeling like a failure. Most people put their best foot forward online, so when you aren’t around people in real life, their proverbial grass might start to look greener.

That girl you went to school with might be showing you the best selfie out of 27 takes. Her obese figure is conveniently cropped out and so is her husband’s court-ordered ankle bracelet. When your cousin took that picture of his baby in an immaculate-looking home, his wife shoved the laundry pile and dirty dishes out of view just before snapping the picture. Another buddy of yours might only post on special occasions, so you get the impression he is always going out to eat or on a family vacation. When you see his adult son photographed at the Thanksgiving table, what you don’t see is that he’s a drunk that they hardly ever hear from. You might see photos of his joyous wedding a few years later and assume he was always the perfect son.

It’s not just pictures that can be deceiving, but those select snippets of life that are deemed worth sharing with virtually everyone we know. We’ll post statuses when our children say something thoughtful, our spouse does something romantic, or we get promoted at work. What you don’t see much of on Facebook is marital strife, credit card debt, and dysfunctional families.

This is not to say that Christians should air their dirty laundry on the internet. Criticizing your spouse publicly is disrespectful and could damage your relationship, and children and teens are easily embarrassed. Yes, keep most of your posts positive, and retain a good testimony to your unsaved acquaintances, but don’t be a braggart either. Keep it real, but realize that others might not be as transparent. People are more likely to confide in you one-on-one than in a post geared toward everyone on their friend list.

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16

There is already a tendency to envy people when you don’t live with them and see how they act at home, but social media can exacerbate this problem by providing an even more skewed view of others. If everyone’s posts make it seem like you’ve missed the boat, perhaps you need to unplug for a while and socialize with real people in real life. Then, at least you won’t be looking at everyone else’s life through the filtered lens of social media.

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.” Exodus 20:17

Here is a sermon on covetousness.

Appreciating your Spouse

“Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.” Proverbs 31:31

A common complaint people have in marriage is not feeling appreciated. Husbands and wives often take each other for granted, which is detrimental to the relationship. In Song of Solomon, which is about the romance between a husband and wife, both spouses pay each other compliments.

The Bible makes it clear that men and women have specific roles, so being in your proper roles as husband and wife is first and foremost. Men primarily want respect, and women want love, but what the husband and wife BOTH want is to be appreciated.

Men, your wife wants to be noticed if she wears a new outfit, loses weight or does something different with her hair. Other people are probably paying her compliments, but the one person she wants to be noticed by is you. Being amorous in the bedroom doesn’t count as appreciating your wife’s beauty. You need to tell her she looks good. She also wants to know that you respect the work she does. Praise her cooking, notice how productive she is around the house, and acknowledge the time and effort she spends educating the children.

Ladies, when your husband lands that new job or fixes the dishwasher, he wants you to take notice. If he does something that is usually within your realm of responsibility, he expects you to appreciate it even more. I mean, if you come home from the ladies’ activity and your husband has the house clean and dinner on the table, you dead sure better thank him. Now isn’t the time to tell him that Pine-Sol isn’t a green product, he put all of the kids’ clothes in the wrong drawers, and that corn AND rice is two starches in the same meal.

Another important way to show your appreciation for your spouse is to listen to him or her. Put down your cell phone and pay attention to what he or she has to say. Men, she listens intently to your stories about work, now listen to her vent about her day. Perhaps she works from home or has a hobby she is passionate about. Take an interest, and don’t downplay what she does. Ladies, don’t downplay your husband’s job even if you feel like cleaning up after the children is harder. Even if he sits at a desk, his job is probably stressful, and he wants to know you appreciate that.

Ladies, when your husband gets home from work, you ought to serve him his plate first. This simple gesture shows that you respect the fact that he is the one providing for the family financially.

“The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.” 2 Timothy 2:6

There’s no one size fits all in marriage. Different people feel appreciated in different ways, but you need to figure out what your spouse needs. For ladies, it’s usually verbal affirmation, but for men, it might be as simple as smiling at him knowingly or showing some extra affection when he’s done something right.

Here is a sermon on Loving your Wife

501c3 = Lame Excuse Not to Go to Church

"Every church around me is 501c3, so I just do church online."

First of all, Faithful Word Baptist Church is not a 501c3 certified church, but I am not sure why that is so important to some people. Each pastor has to do the best that he can to sort out the legalities of running a church. Whether or not a church is a 501c3 does not in any way hinder which passages of the Bible a pastor is allowed to preach on. Instead of focusing on how a church files with the I.R.S., listen to the pastor preach to find out if he is bold or not. If he isn’t taking the stands he should, it is because he is a coward—not because the government is stopping him.

Many of these tax laws are designed to prevent political organizations from getting the tax benefits of a church. Why would any legitimate pastor want to spend more than 5% of his time trying to influence an election, which is probably rigged anyway? I know I don’t. Whether a church is a 501c3 or not, it is automatically tax exempt—so long as it is set up as some kind of legal church. Faithful Word Baptist Church is not a political organization--we are here to spread the gospel and edify the saints. I try to provide a balanced diet with my sermons, but I will never refrain from preaching on the less popular parts of the Bible, even if it does eventually become illegal.

“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” Acts 5:29

Don’t believe everything you read or hear on the internet, folks. Cult-like preachers are envious of legitimate ministries and will often bring up straw-man arguments to try to slander them. When you go to a bona-fide church, whether it is 501c3 or not, your donations are tax deductible. On the other hand, giving money to some self-appointed lunatic that happens to have a camcorder and a youtube channel is not deductible. Rest assured that Faithful Word is not a 501c3, but don’t come to me making railing accusations against a brother in Christ that happens to file differently than we do. This is simply not a Bible issue, and when you call godly men false teachers, you are bearing false witness against them.

“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:17-19

Here is a sermon to go with this article.

5 Signs You are in the Right Church

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

1. You are learning

A common complaint among churchgoers is that they feel like they are not being fed spiritually. If you are attending all three services at a church and feel like you aren’t learning anything, you should look for another church. Even just hearing the Bible read in church is powerful, but unfortunately, some pastors only read one “springboard” verse at the beginning of the sermon or preach only out of the New Testament. The more Bible in the sermon, the better, and the more you will learn.

2. The sermon is exactly what you needed

No, someone didn’t talk to the pastor ahead of time and tell him what your sins are or which trials you are going through. Sometimes the Lord lays something on a preacher’s heart at a time when you need it most. Spirit-filled preaching, where God speaks to you through his word, will often provide you with the assurance that you are in the right church.

3. You are making friends

Studies show that people who have friends in a church are more likely to stay in it for the long haul. I heard someone say that, “You are or will soon become who you hang around.” Having the right kind of friends will benefit you spiritually, and a good church is the place to find them.

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17

4. You are encouraged to go soul-winning

People who are not part of a church are highly unlikely to go soul-winning on a regular basis. The right church will provide organized soul-winning.

“And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

“The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.” Proverbs 11:30

5. Your pastor has enemies

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” Luke 6:26

That’s great that your church has a five-star review on facebook or Yelp, but hopefully that just means the pastor isn’t well-known on the internet. These days, a pastor who takes a stand will have at least a few haters.

Here is a sermon to go along with this article.

3 Reasons to Attend the Red Hot Preaching Conference

Verity’s Red Hot Preaching Conference is fast approaching. Join us Thursday, July 28th, through Sunday, July 31st, in Sacramento, California, at Verity Baptist Church. I hope that you will start planning now to make it to this historic event and attend one or more of the services. My friends, Pastor Roger Jimenez, Pastor Donnie Romero, Pastor David Berzins, and I will all be preaching at the conference. There is, of course, no cost to attend—you’ll just need to find a way to get there, make your own hotel reservations, etc. This conference will be a great time of preaching as well as a time of fellowship with like-minded believers from across the United States, and we are praying it will be a time of revival. Consider the following reasons to attend:

1. Meet Like-Minded Independent, Fundamental Baptists

This exciting event is an opportunity to meet other dedicated, like-minded Christians. Enjoying fellowship with others of like faith is so important--especially if you are single or have teenagers. On Saturday evening, there will be a youth activity for teenagers 13 and up and also an activity for never-married singles, ages 18 and up.

2. Hear Powerful, Spirit-Filled Preaching in Person

This is a rare opportunity to hear several dynamic, fire-breathing preachers all in one place. No matter how many sermons you have heard online, it is so much more powerful to hear the preaching live. As a pastor, I need to hear preaching, too, so I am excited about this once in a lifetime opportunity to hear these great men of God all in one place.

3. Take a Stand Against the Homo Agenda

If you have any type of anti-Sodomite attire, such as “straight pride” tee-shirts, etc., this would be a great time to wear it since there will likely be a few protestors on the sidewalk. Just being at this event is a great way to encourage the people of Verity Baptist Church and show your support for the spiritual battle they are facing.

Here is the schedule:

Thursday: Evening Service at 7:00 p.m.

Friday: Soul-Winning at 9:30 a.m. and Evening Service at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday: Soul-Winning at 9:30 a.m., Lunch for Soul-Winners at 12:00 p.m., Afternoon Service at 2:00 p.m., and Teen and Singles Activities at 5:00 p.m.

Sunday: Coffee and Donuts at 10:00 a.m., Morning Service at 10:30 a.m., and Evening Service at 6:00 p.m.

“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” Isaiah 58:1

Click here for more details on the conference

The Zero Church

"So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." - Luke 17:10

If you are going to the best church in your area, and it’s not feasible for you to move, then that’s understandable…but some of you are intentionally settling for a “zero church.” You might assume that a zero church means a church that does nothing for the Lord, but what I mean by a zero church is one that does the bare minimum.

“Pastor Zero” might read from the King James Bible, but he’s not King James only. He might say he is King James only, but he studies commentaries by authors that use other versions. He might have a soul-winning program, but a church member had to push him to start it--or perhaps he had to be asked to reform his tracts or website to reflect the correct plan of salvation. He might preach the right doctrine, but his guest speakers don’t. He might tell his people to win souls, but he doesn’t teach by example.

Sometimes to avoid persecution, people decide to settle for one of these more watered-down churches. Consider the story in Numbers 32 where Reuben and Gad decided they were content to settle outside the promised land. They still ended up being required to fight the battle, just with a lesser result in the end. God can still put trials in your life even if you don’t go to a church that is on the front lines in the spiritual battle.

“Yea, and ALL that live godly shall suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12

If you have no choice but to settle for a zero church, you should do your best to bloom where you are planted. Whether you are in a good church or a mediocre one, don’t be a zero Christian. Realize that when you do the minimum, you are at zero.

Go to church more than just on Sunday mornings. Read more than one Bible verse a day. Pray more. Go soul winning more than you’ve done in the past. Love your enemies--not just the people that love you. Don’t ever get to the point where you feel like you have arrived.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

A zero Christian is not someone who does nothing. It’s someone who does the minimum.

Here is a sermon on the Zero Christian.

The Duties of a Pastor’s Wife

The Bible talks about the offices of a bishop (pastor) and a deacon. These men are supposed to be married, but their wives don’t have any duties other than just being of good behavior and being wives and mothers. Today, a lot of people think of the pastor’s wife as a job title within the church, but I submit to you that the pastor’s wife is just that—the PASTOR’S wife.

In today’s society, too much responsibility is placed on women. The world expects women to have a career and also successfully care for their children and home. This results in a lot of stress and leaves little free time for a wife to spend with her husband. The Bible says that the woman was created for the man and teaches that women should be keepers at home. Being a wife and mother is a full time job. Not only that, but families save money when the wife has enough time to find good deals and cook meals from scratch.

When a husband gets home from work, he looks forward to his wife focusing on him. As a pastor, I’m no different than men with other jobs. My wife has enough to do taking care of our family and home, and at the end of the day, I want her all to myself. I’m not going to burden my wife with a full time job in the church while also expecting her to cook, clean, homeschool the children and spend quality time with me. My wife and I don’t pastor the church—I pastor the church, and I’m not going to work my wife to death.

Many of the jobs typically done by pastor’s wives like cleaning the church building, giving younger women advice etc., can be done by more than one church member. My wife does volunteer a lot of her time for the church planning special events, designing the bulletin, etc., but it’s voluntarily—just like anyone else might volunteer to serve in a church. In different seasons of life, for example when the children are older, ladies might have more time to take on more responsibilities, but many pastor’s wives of all ages are spread too thin. It is perfectly okay if a wife and mother is too busy to volunteer for the church.

People shouldn’t expect a pastor’s wife to be at their beck and call for counseling or whatever else. The next time you feel like giving your pastor’s wife a job to do or somehow feel like you are being neglected by her, remember that she is not YOUR pastor’s wife. She is the PASTOR’s wife.

Here is a sermon on pastors' wives

Thoughts on Sending Out Missionaries

We Should Be Selective about the Missionaries We Support

If you’ve been in church for a while, you’ve probably heard pastors rant about lazy missionaries who hardly even go soul winning while here in the United States. If a missionary won’t win souls here, he probably won’t do it somewhere else either. The first qualification for a missionary is that he be sent out and trained in a local church. The second is that he must demonstrate the ability to preach and evangelize while serving locally. We are all for supporting missionaries that we can trust to be productive on the mission field, but churches definitely need to be selective in the area of missions.

“Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” 1 Corinthians 4:2

“And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2

We Should Send Missionaries to Receptive Areas

Our church prefers to concentrate more on receptive areas, which I believe is biblical:

“And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium.” Acts 13:49-51

“And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.” Luke 9:5

The Bible clearly teaches that if people aren’t interested, you move on. Instead of going to a country where your church has to be underground, you could get more people saved by going to a receptive area where it is legal to preach. In some countries missionaries practice lifestyle evangelism for months before they feel like it is even safe to bring up the gospel. I understand the value of one soul, but what about the value of many more souls?

Reach Foreign Immigrants

Another way to reach people in areas that don’t have much freedom, is by giving the gospel to immigrants from those countries. I can take you soul winning in areas of Phoenix, Arizona, where you’ll feel like you’re in Africa, the Middle East, or China. By reaching immigrants with the gospel, you could indirectly reach their family members overseas.

Send the Best of the Best

A missionary needs to be willing to speak out against the false religions in the area and also preach hard on sin. A foreign country isn’t the place to send someone who lacks boldness or does not have the aptitude to teach. Just like a pastor, a missionary, or evangelist as the Bible calls it, needs to be a very strong man of God.

Here’s a sermon to go with this article

When Church Gets Expensive

At Faithful Word Baptist Church, we don’t charge for anything. We give away Bibles, CDs and DVDs, and all church activities are free of charge. The reason we don’t charge for these things is found in John Chapter Two. Not only is it wrong to make God’s house a house of merchandise, but people don’t like being put on the spot and asked to spend money. Unfortunately, attending some churches can get expensive.

Youth Ministry or Youth Industry?

In one large independent fundamental Baptist church I heard about, teenagers in a Sunday School class were asked to give five dollars each to help pay for a “staff gift.” The youth leader harangued the class, telling the kids they probably spent their money on the weekends at a local amusement park. Many teens do not even have jobs, and if they did, there would be nothing wrong with them having fun with their own money. That same church hosts a large annual youth conference, which serves mainly as a live infomercial for their Bible college as well as for books and CDs brought in by the guest speakers.

Buy this Commentary

At another church in the same circle, women were pressured to buy a book on dress standards, so they would know what they were expected to wear. Most of the ladies in the church bought the book, but a woman I spoke with who went there felt that if they wanted her to read it so badly, they should have given it to her for free. 

Multi-Level Marketing

It’s not just the leadership asking for money, either. In churches that sell merchandise on the back table, people will often assume it is okay to market their own wares. Don’t walk in with your Mary Kay catalogue or whatever else you happen to be peddling, and we won’t ask you to buy anything either. There is a time and a place for making money, and it’s not at church.

Sunday Morning Soda

Soda machines at church also irritate people, because it can cause their children to ask for money every service—not to mention the obvious health concerns.

If you attend a church that has a book store or soda machines, you should refrain from buying anything. Not only did Jesus teach us not to make God’s house a house of merchandise, but we can see from reading the story, that it makes him extremely angry:

“And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.” - John 2:13-16

Here is a sermon called "Houses of Merchandise"

Gandhi, Thou Hypocrite!

"I'd be a Christian, if it were not for Christians" Gandhi

I am sick and tired of Christians repeating the mantra, “Hate the sin, love the sinner,” as if it were in the Bible or something. This saying is actually a Mahatma Gandhi quote, and Gandhi was not the hero you think he was. Stop quoting this hypocrite, false teacher, and pervert who is burning in Hell!

Pro-War Tracts

“An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” Gandhi

Gandhi preached non-violence; however, like many politicians, he was a hypocrite. In fact, this self-proclaimed pacifist wrote a leaflet during World War 1 entitled, “An Appeal for Enlistment.” Later, in World War 2, he offered “non-violent moral support” to the British. Although Gandhi could never hurt a fly, he encouraged others to fight in wars, which was in opposition to his non-violent principles.

Fruitarianism

"It is an arrogant assumption to say that human beings are lords and masters of the lower creations.” Gandhi

Gandhi, like many Hindus, was a vegetarian and taught that it was a crime to eat meat, which he disdainfully referred to as carcasses. He was against eating animal products and went on an extreme “fruitarian” diet for five years, causing him to suffer from pleurisy. When his doctor told him he couldn’t live off of fruit, he reluctantly started drinking goat’s milk.

Celibacy

Gandhi taught that other than during efforts at procreation, celibacy in married couples was the superior state. Gandhi took a vow of celibacy later in his marriage, discontinuing physical relations with his own wife. He was instead frequently accompanied by naked young women in his bed, which he claimed was a “test.” His writings, which contained the sordid details of these encounters were suppressed for several years after his death.

Stop quoting Gandhi, a Hindu/Buddhist fraud, and make the Bible your authority.

“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:” 1 Timothy 4:1-4

“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” Genesis 1:26

“Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,” Exodus 21:24

“A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:8

Here is a sermon on Hypocrisy that talks about Gandhi

3 Side Benefits of Soul Winning

By going soul winning, we are fulfilling part of the Great Commission and helping keep people out of Hell. That should be reason enough to go, but we all have times when we don’t feel like going. Considering some of the following benefits might help get you motivated to go soul winning:

Friendship

One of the factors that keeps people in a church for the long haul is friendship. It is important to have Christian friends, which is one of the reasons you need to be part of a local church. There is a certain camaraderie that develops from the shared experience of laboring together in the gospel.

“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” Proverbs 27:17

“And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.” Philippians 4:3

“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up. Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone? And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Exercise

A lot of people today don’t get enough sunshine or exercise. Soul winning is a great way to get some walking in while doing something for the Lord.

“For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.” 1 Timothy 4:8

Learning the Bible

Whenever you teach something to someone else, you learn in the process. One of the most important benefits of soul winning is that it will help you learn the Bible better as you constantly expound it to others.

“For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Hebrews 5:12-14

Here is a sermon to go with this article

Pope Francis is Too Liberal Even for Most Catholics

“If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?” was Pope Francis’ famous statement regarding homosexuality. The truth is, even most Catholics find the current pope to be too liberal.

Pope Francis Literally Embraces Sodomites

The following is an excerpt from the Washington Post Article, 8 of Pope Francis’ Most Liberal Statements where we are given the pope’s reaction to transgenderism:

“In a quietly arranged meeting at the Vatican, Francis welcomed Diego Neria Lejarraga, 48. Born a woman, Lejarraga later underwent a procedure to become a transgender man. Once called “the devil’s daughter” by a local priest in his native Spain, Lejarraga sought solace from Francis in a meeting privately confirmed by Vatican officials. Francis invited both Lejarraga and his fiancee to the Vatican for an audience. When Lejarrage asked the pope if he had a place in the church, the pontiff reportedly responded by embracing him.” Go Diego Go! (to Hell) You see, according to Pope Francis, even atheists go to Heaven.

The Catholic Church is Changing Fast

Another Washington Post article, Pope Francis Calls for Inclusion of Gays in Society, Saying he has no Right to ‘Judge’ highlights the difference between the previous pope, Benedict, and the current pope, Francis:

“Even though Benedict called on Catholics to show “great respect for [gay] people,” he oversaw the publication of a church document that called homosexual inclinations “disordered” and called for men with “deep-seated” homo tendencies to be barred from the priesthood. He also said same-sex marriage was an insidious threat to the common good.”

Catholicism is a pagan religion that teaches a works salvation. All Catholic popes are wicked, but my point is that Pope Francis being so liberal is a sign of the times. Society is changing fast.

“1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”- 2 Timothy 3

The next generation of Catholics might be less likely to notice as their popes wax worse and worse, but right now at least some Catholics are searching for a more biblical alternative. People think that hard preaching only turns people away, but often, it has the opposite effect. Recently, I heard about some Catholics visiting a Baptist church after hearing that the pastor preached hard against the Sodomites.

Here is a hard sermon against Pope Francis

Jim Jones' Cult vs. True Christianity

People often accuse fundamental Baptists of being a "cult" or "like Jim Jones." Jim Jones was actually a communist liberal, not a fundamentalist Christian. Here is a video of him singing the Soviet Union national anthem.

The following excerpt from this Wikipedia article on Jim Jones shows just how politically liberal and anti-God Jim Jones was:

“According to religious studies professor Catherine Wessinger, while Jones always spoke of the social gospel's virtues, before the late 1960s Jones chose to conceal that his gospel was actually communism.^[15] By the late 1960s, Jones began at least partially openly revealing the details of his "Apostolic Socialism" concept in Temple sermons.^[15] Jones also taught that "those who remained drugged with the opiate of religion had to be brought to enlightenment — socialism".^[39] Jones often mixed these ideas, such as preaching that, "If you're born in capitalist America, racist America, fascist America, then you're born in sin. But if you're born in socialism, you're not born in sin."^[40]

By the early 1970s, Jones began deriding traditional Christianity as "fly away religion", rejecting the Bible as being a tool to oppress women and non-whites, and denouncing a "Sky God" who was no God at all.^[15] Jones wrote a booklet titled "The Letter Killeth", criticizing the King James Bible.^[41] Jones also began preaching that he was the reincarnation of Mahatma Gandhi, Father Divine, Jesus, Gautama Buddha and Vladimir Lenin. Former Temple member Hue Fortson, Jr. quoted Jones as saying, "What you need to believe in is what you can see ... If you see me as your friend, I'll be your friend. As you see me as your father, I'll be your father, for those of you that don't have a father ... If you see me as your savior, I'll be your savior. If you see me as your God, I'll be your God."^[10]

So as you can see, it’s not like people thought they were in a Bible-believing church until they were suddenly asked to drink the Kool-Aid.

People need to realize that some practices are preferences as opposed to convictions. For example, the reason my wife chooses to do home birth and we eat an organic diet is because I believe that a natural lifestyle is beneficial, so that’s our preference for our family. We may bend those rules from time to time since doing so would not be sinful. For example, some pregnancy complications could obviously necessitate a hospital birth in the future, and we do eat at restaurants from time to time.

Don’t assume a church is a cult just because people tend to rub off on those around them. This is human nature. It’s just like at your job when a lot of the men start growing beards at once or when your wife suddenly wanted to buy a maxi skirt with a chevron print. People are influenced by trends and get ideas from whoever they hang around. If you attend a good soul-winning church, then chances are your pastor has some practical wisdom about life, and some of the members just might decide to adopt some of his preferences. If that’s you, don’t make your church seem like a cult by “majoring on the minors.” If another family chooses to do some things differently, that’s perfectly fine, and nobody should confront them about those differences.

Jim Jones hated the Bible, called himself Jesus, and admitted to being an atheist. Stop comparing independent Baptist churches to bizarre cults. Cult members blindly follow a man, but, as Baptists, the Bible is our authority for all areas of faith and practice, which is why people should bring their Bibles to church.

“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” Acts 17:11

Here is a sermon on Convictions vs. Preferences

Deal Breakers vs. Excuses for Not Going to Church

Unfortunately, some of you who listen to preaching online do not go to church anywhere. If you live in the United States, there is probably a pretty good church within driving distance, so I implore you to find a local church and get involved. The website, militarygetsaved, is a good place to start when researching churches in your area. One way to find good churches using that site is to use the control “F” feature and search for the word “soul.” Usually churches that advertise soul winning are right on salvation and use the King James Bible. If that doesn't work, try searching the word "hyles." Selecting a church is often a process of elimination, so watch out for the following deal breakers:

Wrong Bible

Using the wrong Bible version is a serious deal breaker. Be sure that any Bible quotes on a church’s website are from the King James Version. If a church is using a modern perversion, then they will inevitably be led into false doctrine. Unfortunately, even churches with the right Bible can be wrong on key doctrines, but if they don’t have the right Bible, there is no hope of accurate teaching.

Another Gospel

Salvation by works in any form is another automatic deal breaker. Always check the plan of salvation on the church website before visiting to make sure they teach salvation by grace through faith. Don’t be too lazy to visit a church in person if poring over their website is inconclusive. Once you get there, check out their invitations or tracts, which might be on the back table. If you don’t find a published plan of salvation anywhere, then keep your ears open during the service. If the preacher is going to tell people they have to turn from their sins to be saved, he might throw that in at the end, during the “invitation.”

No Soul Winning

Keep in mind that the soul winning might be called “visitation” or “outreach” at some churches since soul winning time is sometimes combined with following-up with people who have visited the church, but it is a better sign if they actually use the term, “soul winning.” If they have somehow left their first love and don’t have any organized soul winning, then you can attempt to start your own soul winning program. If they give your idea the thumbs down, then they are not a legitimate church.

There are a few common doctrinal differences that are not deal breakers. Perhaps the pastor has a different view on the tribulation or supports the nation of Israel politically. Maybe the church offers Sunday School classes instead of having a family-integrated service. I disagree with all of those things, but they are not necessarily deal breakers. Either overlook these differences or move somewhere close to a church that you can agree with. It is important to go to church somewhere—in fact--the Bible commands it. Now stop making excuses and go to church!

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

Here is a sermon on deal breakers

3 Ways to be a Bad Church Member

1. Try to Change the Pastor

First of all, you need to realize that no two Christians believe exactly alike on every single thing. Find a church that you agree with on the important things and then overlook the rest. One person met with a pastor several times trying to get him to change the entire structure of his church before he ever visited even once. This person should have either adapted or gone somewhere else. It’s fine to humbly ask your pastor questions about verses that support your differing belief, but don’t sweat the small stuff. You might even be the one in the wrong. Just get your butt into a good church, and sit down and shut up.

“Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;” 1 Timothy 5:1

2. Avoid Fellowship

If you’ve been going to a church for several years, and people are still asking if you are a first time visitor, you aren’t showing yourself friendly. One person that this happened to admitted that she understood why it happened because she never talked to anybody, and she really didn’t. Let that never be said of you, friend.

“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24

3. Create Drama

You don’t have to be best friends with everyone in the church, but can you at least just smile and say hi when you accidentally cross paths when someone you don’t like? Maybe if you pray for that person your heart will change over time. The only person you can control is yourself. This is an important principle, which applies to all relationships—not just friendships between church members.

“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16

The best way to be a good church member is to find a church where you can respect the pastor. Be friendly, and avoid voicing minor disagreements. When you get home, don’t complain about your church to your family. When you have roast preacher for dinner, you are causing your children or spouse to have a bad attitude. Don’t criticize the man of God on the internet either. Anything you put in writing can be shown to someone else, and your pastor might just throw you out of the church as a railer and a backbiter. If you do have to leave, go out gracefully and avoid stirring the pot by contacting the remaining members.

Here is a sermon on Being Friendly

Open Letter to the Person Protesting Verity Baptist Church

If you are hoping for me to name your name in this post so you’ll have something to brag about to your Sodomite friends, you will be disappointed. At this point, there’s no need to use our internet presence to give you any notoriety. It’s not the Christians that are interested in slandering and defaming people, but you and your friends. You won’t see us holding up signs down at the homo-friendly Methodist and Unitarian churches. We won’t photograph you or take down your license plate numbers. We are too busy raising our children and serving the Lord, and we don’t go looking for trouble.

We don’t have a lot of time to spend worrying about some burned out old queer bait with nothing better to do than try to recruit a gang of rejects to heckle people walking in and out of a church. You’re the one that is obsessed. We won’t be posting your name publicly, but you, an enemy of the Lord’s work, are on a lot of our prayer lists—and not in a good way.

It's laughable how many comments I’ve seen where people have threatened to get Pastor Jimenez fired for preaching on unpopular passages in the Bible. Independent Baptists are not part of a Baptist denomination such as the Southern Baptist Convention or the American Baptists. We are sent out by other independent Baptist churches, and each church is autonomous. The pastor is the leader of a biblical, New Testament Baptist church.

That said, a Baptist church is not a cult. People in these churches have minds of their own, so one of these days, you might mess with the wrong person. Harassing people you don’t know can be dangerous. Verity’s members probably don’t take kindly to a bunch of filthy faggots and bull-dykes stalking them week after week and photographing their children. More dangerous than pissing off some veteran with PTSD or tangling with someone in a prominent family, is inviting the wrath of God himself.

“It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31

You say in your comments that you aren’t a homosexual. If that’s the case, perhaps you have not yet been turned over to a reprobate mind and can still get saved. After all, Saul, who later became Paul, persecuted the church before his conversion. If that is the case, I pray that you will get saved before it is eternally too late.

“And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” Acts 7:58-60

Somehow, I doubt that you are the next Apostle Paul, but if it is still possible for you to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, then let not this sin be laid to your charge. Maybe, since you keep listening to Pastor Jimenez’ sermons, something will sink in.

Whether you have a change of heart, encounter legal problems or drop dead, there are a lot of Christians praying that you will be stopped. I wouldn’t want to be in your shoes right now.

Sincerely,
Fundamental Baptists across America

Here is a sermon on imprecatory prayer