Grays Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church
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Grays Chapel AME Church
Gray's Chapel AME Church has been a part of the Adairsville community since 1898. Throughout its history, it has sought to minister to people of all races about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Members are encouraged not to just say that they are a Christian, but let the love of God show through their actions, words, and deeds.
LIST OF ACTIVE MINISTRIES:
Covered With Christ - Homeless mission ministry.
Helping Hands - Ministry to those in need.
Spirit of Youth - Young people ministry.
Iron Sharpening Iron Men's Ministry
Blanket Ministry - Free blankets to elderly and infirmed.
Couples Ministry
Choirs - Precious Angels, Youth, Voices of Grays Chapel, Voices of Unity, Men's Chorus
Sons of Allen - Boys and Mens Ministry
Usher Minstry
SERMON: THE FAMILY IN HEAVEN
Scripture: Matthew 22:23-33
Supporting Scriptures:
- Who is my mother and who are my brothers? Matthew 12:46-50
- Innocent children who die go to heaven. 2 Samuel 12:19-23
- Husband and wife in heaven - Matthew 22: 23-33
I. OUR EARTHLY FAMILY
A. Adults on Earth -
Greetings in the mighty name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. One day, we are going to have a great family reunion. Adults are the vehicles for creating a family. Their power to do so was ordained by God. God told Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28 where He said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and rule over it". Gen. 2:24 therefore affirms, "For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. The marriage union is a holy vow and a sacred vow made before God. God will hold adults responsible for how they handle these unions. Adults are not only responsible for the stability of their marriages but also for the stability, safety, and security of their families. Blood is thicker that than water.
B. Children on Earth - Matthew 18: 10-14 and 19:13-15
Children are a blessing to their parents and grandparents. The bible says in Psalms 127:3 - "Behold, children are a gift of the Lord. The fruit of the womb is a reward. 4 - Like arrows in the hands of a warrior, so are the children of ones youth. Blessed is the man who quiver is full of them." You do not mishandle a gift or mistreat it, but hold it in high esteem. So parents should hold their children in high esteem, for they are their blessing.
C. Youth on Earth - As a teenager, Jesus submitted himself to the authority of His parents.
Children are a blessing in their early years, and they are still a blessing in their teenage years. Daughters become old enough where they can cook and help out around the house. Sons become old enough where they can mow the lawn and make repairs around the house. But they cannot do any of these things if parents do not train them and show them how to do it. The bible says in Proverbs 22:6 - Train up our children in the way he/she should go, when they are old, they will not depart from it. The number one problem with America today is that too few people are training their children on how to live, and almost all people are busy chasing after money. God gave parents, not the daycare center or grade school, the responsibility for training their children.
D. The Family On Earth
Whole families can perish if the leaders of the family disobey God. This has been evident down through the ages, like the families at Korah, Dathan, and Abiram who perished in Numbers 16:24-33. It is still evident today, like the family of the woman who was alegedly driving drunk and high in New York, who perished in a fiery head-on collision with 8 other family members. Did the children riding in that van deserve to die at this time? Probably not, but because of the disobedience of their parents, they all perished. Listen to the story in the Book of Numbers.
Num. 16: 23 - Then the Lord spoke to Moses saying,
24 - Speak to the congregation saying, "Get back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.
25 - Then Moses arose and went to Dathan and Abiram with the elders of Israel following him.
26 - And he spoke to the congregation saying, "Depart now from the tents of these wicked men and touch nothing that belongs to them, lest you be swept away in all their sin".
27 - So they got back from around the dwellings of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, and Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the doorway of their tents, along with their wives and their little ones.
28 - And Moses said, "By this you shall know that the Lord has sent me to do all these deeds; for this is not my doing.
29 - If these men die the death of all men, or if they suffer the fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me.
30 - But if the Lord brings about an entirely new thing and the ground opens its mouth and swallow them up with all that is theirs, and the descend alive into Hell, then you will understand that these men have spurned the Lord.
31 - Then it came about as he finished speaking all these words, that the ground that was under them split open.
32 - And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up and their households, and all who belonged to Korah with their possessions.
33 - So they an all that belonged to them went down alive to Hell, and the earth closed over them and they perished form the midst of the assembly.
Adults, be careful how you lead your family, for your actions can not only send you to Hell, but everyone in the house with you can suffer loss.
II. OUR HEAVENLY FAMILY
A. Children in Heaven - Matthew 18: 1-6
Did you know that innocent children who die before they are of age to know right from wrong go to heaven. An illegitimate child was conceived by David and Beersheba, for Beersheba became pregnant before she married David and while she was another's man's wife. However, listen to what David says concerning this child in I Samuel 12:22-23 after he found out that the child had died.
2 Samuel 12:22 - And he said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept and said, who knows, perhaps the Lord may be gracious to me, that the child may live.
23 - But now that he has died, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? "I shall go to him, but he will not return to me". Meaning, when David dies, he is to go to heaven where this child is. When we all get to heaven, oh what a joyous time that will be. But in order to get to heaven, we must have that faith that Jesus talked about in Matthew 18.
Matt 18:1 - And Jesus called a child to Himself and set him before them.
3 0 And He, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.
4- Whoever humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 - And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me.
6 - But whoever causes one of these little ones who believes in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a heavy millstone be hung around his neck, and that he be drowned in the depths of the sea.
10 - See that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that their angels in heaven continually behold the face of My Father who is in heaven.
14 - Thus it IS NOT the will of your Father who is in heaven, that one off these little ones perish.
B. Youth in Heaven
Now teenagers, you are not innocent children any more. As a matter of fact, some of you claim to know more than your parents and teachers. How smart!! Well, God will hold you responsible for that smartness. Mommy and Daddy can pray for you, but you are of age where you know right from wrong. You have been taught the 10 Commandments. You know that you have to be baptized and born again before you can enter into heaven. Knowing all of this, you have few excuses for not following the ways Jesus Christ.
C. Adults in Heaven
Adults will also be changed in heaven. Wives, you will not have to put up with your husbands any more. Husbands, you will not have to put up with your wives anymore. Somebody shouted - "Praise the Lord!!. Seriously though, Jesus answered the Sadducees questions about their wives this way. There was a woman who had seven husbands and she outlived all of them. They asked, "In the resurrection, whose wife shall she be for they all had her?" Matthew 22:29 - Jesus answered and said to them, "You are mistaken not understanding the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 - For in the resurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels in heaven." This testimony will be confirmed in the movie, "The Lazarus Phenomenea", Wednesday night at Bible Study.
D. The Family In Heaven - Matthew 12: 46-50, Matthew 19:27-30 and 20: 17-28
The family in heaven will have no rank. Children, your parents will not be your father and your mother as they are here on earth. Jesus said this himself in Matthew 12.
Matthew 12:46 - While Jesus was still peaking, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside seeking t speak to Him.
47 - And someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You.
48 - But He answered the one who was telling Him and said, " Who is My mother and who are my brothers?"
49 - And stretching forth His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold, My mother and My brothers"
50 - For whoever does the will of My Father ho is in heaven, he is my brother, sister, and mother.
Down though the ages, people have said, I want to see my mother around the throne. Well guess what, you will not have a mother in heaven. I want to see my father in heaven. Sorry, but God is your Heavenly Father. In heaven, you will be like the angels, of brilliant appearance in white robes, and you shall never die.
III. JOINING THE HEAVENLY FAMILY
- God wants an OBEDIENT family. Obedience is better than sacrifice and weekly church attendance.
- God wants a LOVING Family. If I know all scripture and give my body up to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
- God wants a FORGIVING family. Matthew 6:14-15 - If you forgive men for their trespasses, your heavenly Father will forgive you of your trespasses. But, if you do forgive men, then your heavenly Father will not forgive you of your trespasses.
- John 3:17 It is not God's desire to see anyone perish, " For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through Him".
CALENDAR:
September 2, 2009 - Bible Study Book of Revelation Movie - "The Lazarus Phenomenea"
CHURCH LINKS:www.ame-church.com
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