Poplar Springs Missionary Baptist Church Annual Men’s Day Celebration

Theme: “Unified Brethren That have Taken The Step Of Faith”

Sunday - March 27, 2011

Written by: Mary Sexton

The guest lecturer for the Men’s Day Sunday Church School was Rev. Levi Perrin who spoke on the lesson “This is My Beloved” in which he retold the story of Jesus’ transfiguration, reiterated that Jesus is truly the son of God and gave explanations on how we can worship Jesus as God’s son.

WORSHIP -

The Men’s Day All Male Choir led devotion with songs of praise and worship. Deacon Ted McNeil brought greetings to the congregation and the call to worship was given by Deacon Joe Price while the Responsive Reading was led by Bro. Eddie Phillips and the invocation was done by Bro. B. Wayne Brady. Deacon James Gardner introduced the speaker of the hour, Rev. Sam Cureton of the Reedy River Baptist Church.

Rev. Cure ton’s text was taken from Psalms 46:1-10 and his topic was “When Trouble Comes”. Rev. Cureton began his sermon by stating to the congregation that it was not a matter of “if”, but “when” trouble comes. He asked the congregation if there had ever been a safe place, a safe Harbor in a world such as ours? He reminded us that as Christians God is our refuge, a safe place when trouble comes and that as Christians we should know this and expect it from God who is our savior and our hiding place. He is our safety net in a time of need. Rev. Cureton also asked the congregation to consider that when you send your child to school - will there be a safe environment for them when they are away from the safety of their home? He goes on to say that there is no safe place other than under God’s power. Sometimes we may look strong on the outside, but God has to give us strength on the inside. But the most important thing to remember is to depend on God who is there for us in times of fear, in times of trouble, and in times of turmoil. When our lives are falling apart, God gives us refuge, when our jobs are lost, when our homes are in foreclosure, when our children have gone astray, when we think that we can’t handle one more trial, God is there to bring us back to Him, to be our refuge in a time of storms, to be our mainstay when life has turned our world upside down. When life as we know it is crumbling, God is our refuge, a very present help in a time of sorrow, in a time of grief and despair. God is our safe haven because He makes Himself available and accessible to us. He lets us know that if we just trust in Him, everything will be all right!

“I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust.” (Psalm 91:2) KJNIV

Rev. Cureton stated that nothing and no one can compare to the goodness of God! We need to put God first in everything we do. We need to keep God in our minds to be in perfect peace. He asked the men in the congregation to go out into their communities and teach the young men about Gods’ love. Teach them that calling on God is the only way to handle your trouble when it comes. Rev. Cureton told the congregation that sometimes we sit back and let others pull us into their troubles when we have troubles of our own. But he said that when we step out of our troubles to help someone else, OUR troubles become very small and insignificant. He said to the congregation to be still and let God work. We need to pray and trust in His holy name and teach our children to go out and act like Christians. But we have to be an example for them. His Word says that we all have sinned and fallen short of His glory, but God has forgiven us and delivered us so many times that they can not be counted. He truly is our refuge. He promised that He would be there for us if we would just follow him! Rev. Cureton then asked the congregation “How are you going to handle trouble when it comes?” His answer was “When trouble shows up, tell trouble about God, tell trouble about a God who shows up and changes your life for the better and gives you a reason to go on from day to day. Tell trouble about a God who is able to do all things, except fail!” Steal away to your secret closet and call on Him. Call on the God who said that He would never leave you nor forsake you. Trust in Him who sent His son who came, bled and died on an old rugged cross. Who in three days arose with all power and made a way for us to have eternal life. And you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, are the only ones who can claim eternal life by confessing Jesus Christ to be your Lord and savior. Some of us have the personality trait of wanting things NOW! But we must be still, praise God and look to the hills for help from the Lord. Know that nothing is too hard for God. Worship Him, trust in Him and praise him! And he will deliver you out of your trouble!

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving us for an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4: 17) KJNIV

At the end of the worship service, Bro. Darric Sewell and Bro. Otis Driver presented gifts to the young members of the Man UP Mentoring Program. This program has proven to be beneficial to the young men of the church and surrounding community who is learning how to be a Christian man in this world that we have created for them. Kudos to the mentors of this ministry!! May God continue to show you the way!

“Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you clothe yourselves with humility toward one another because ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble’.” 1 Peter 5:5 (KJNIV)

Our prayers and thanks to Rev. Cureton and all participants in the Men’s Day worship service.