National Sword of the Lord Conference is just 3 weeks away!

Join us for the 2016 National Sword of the Lord Conference!

All Sessions Are Free

No Registration Fees

Practical Workshops

Nursery Provided

Tuesday Workshops Include:

• Bus Ministry - Jeff Fugate
• Reaching Adults - Norris Belcher
• Soul Winning - Ray Shutt
• Home and Family - Jim Townsley
• School of the Prophets - Dr. Shelton Smith
• Ladies Seminar - Betty Smith and Janet Walsh
• Music Seminar - Sterling Walsh

Wednesdays in the Word - 1 John 3:1-10

1 John 3:1-10

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.

Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

Wednesdays in the Word - 1 John 2:18-29

1 John 2:18-29

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.

They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.

I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.

Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: [but] he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.

Let that therefore abide in you which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life.

These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

In Daddy's Steps

I watched him playing around my door. 

My neighbor's little boy of four.

I wondered why a child would choose

To wear his dad's old worn-out shoes.

I saw him try with all his might

To make the laces snug and tight.

I smiled to see him walk, and then

He'd only step right out again.

I heard him say, his voice so glad,

"I want to be just like my dad."

I hope his dad his steps would choose

Safe for his son to wear his shoes.

And then a shout and cry of joy,

A "Hello Dad" and a "Hi-yu, boy!"

They walked along in measured stride

Each face aglow with love and pride.

"What have you done today, my lad?"
"I tried to wear your old shoes, Dad.

They're big, but when I am a man

I'll wear your shoes, I know I can."

They stopped and stood there hand in hand.

He saw his son's tracks in the sand.

His words—a prayer—came back to me,

"Lord, let my steps lead him to Thee."

—selected from the Sword Scrapbook II by Viola Walden

A Father's ABC's

Always trust your children to God's care
Bring them to church
Challenge them to high goals
Delight in their achievements
Exalt the Lord in their presence
Frown on evil
Give them love
Hear their problems
Ignore not their childish fears
Joyfully accept their apologies
Keep their confidence
Live a good example before them
Make them your friends
Never ignore their endless questions
Open your heart to their love
Pray for them by name
Quicken your interest in their spirituality
Remember their needs
Show them the way of salvation
Teach them to work
Understand they are still young
Verify your statements
Wean them from bad company
Xpect them to obey
Yearn for God's best for them
Zealously guide them in Bible truth

Wednesdays in the Word - 1 John 2:1-17

1 John 2:1-17

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not is him.

But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 

Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.

He that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in him.

But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walked in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.

I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake.

I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.

I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one.

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Wednesdays in the Word - 1 John 1

1 John 1

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.

(For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

The Wordless Sermon

A member of a church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him on a very chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire.

Guessing the reason for the visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a big chair near the fireplace, and waited.

The pastor said absolutely nothing. In grave silence, he contemplated the play of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, he took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember, and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this. As the one lone ember's flame diminished, there was a momentary glow, and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and "dead as a doornail."

Not a word had been spoken.

Just before the pastor was ready to leave, he picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire, and immediately it began to glow once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the pastor reached the door, his host said, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday."