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A good person produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil person produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.

Matthew 12:35

Who you are on the inside comes out. We can all fake it for a while, maybe even a year or two, but eventually, someone who has evil on the inside will produce evil. Pay attention to the fruit and it will tell you about their root. And what about us? When we have “bad habits” we’re trying to break, make sure you address the root of sin not just putting a bandaid on the symptoms. We need the Spirit to fill us and control our lives. We don’t primarily need behavioral improvement, we need changed hearts. Learn to give God control, He is meant to be our root. Then we will produce good fruit.

Reading Plan for 2021; livestreams: Shiloh.TV
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Shiloh Baptist Church: shilohgarner.org
3414 N. Shiloh Rd, Garner, NC 27529 

To what should I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to other children:

We played the flute for you,
but you didn’t dance;
we sang a lament,
but you didn’t mourn!

Matthew 11:16-17

I like westerns. I think of the bad-guy telling the mousy guy at the bar “dance” as he fires shots at his feet. That’s the same kind of image Jesus is painting here. They wanted Jesus to dance. They brought their demands of what they wanted their faith to be, and Jesus didn’t play along… he still doesn’t. We don’t get to choose the terms of our faith. We shouldn’t expect everything to be perfect, people to treat us just the right way, and everything to be “just so” or we’re leaving. It doesn’t work like that, we are servants, he’s the master. We aren’t the ones in charge, he is. Follow Jesus today, don’t ask others to dance for your amusement, don’t ask Jesus to perform for you. “I tried church/Jesus and it didn’t work” He works, it’s just he isn’t trying to fulfill our preferences.

Reading Plan for 2021; livestreams: Shiloh.TV
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Join us Sundays 9AM & 10:30AM & Wed 7PM

Shiloh Baptist Church: shilohgarner.org
3414 N. Shiloh Rd, Garner, NC 27529 

“The one who welcomes you welcomes me, and the one who welcomes me welcomes him who sent me… whoever gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

Matthew 10:40-42

Whatever you do for fellow believers, you are doing it to Jesus himself. When you serve the church, you are serving Christ. Care for His bride, His body, the Church. Jesus makes this point more than once: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40). It’s not about the act itself, big or small, but about to whom it’s directed. One can do all kinds of “good works” and work every day in “the community” to make things better, helping the homeless, serving at a soup kitchen, providing clothing or other services for the poor, but if you never serve the Church, they’re not doing it unto Christ. As important as those things are, serving the Church is especially important. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith.” (Galatians 6:10). Do good for all, while not neglecting the Church.

Reading Plan for 2021; livestreams: Shiloh.TV
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Join us Sundays 9AM & 10:30AM & Wed 7PM

Shiloh Baptist Church: shilohgarner.org
3414 N. Shiloh Rd, Garner, NC 27529 

Jesus continued going around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.”

Matthew 9:35-38

Jesus had a practice of doing three things. These three things are what we should be doing as well. These three things are the vision of our church, Shiloh Baptist Church: to Reach People, Teach People, and Serve People. He was preaching the good news, the gospel. He was teaching in their synagogues where people would listen, and he was serving people why healing their sicknesses. He felt compassion for them, he felt sorry for them because they were lost. There are always a ton of lost people, can’t you see them? They’re the ones with no hope. There are more lost folks than we can reach alone, pray for more people willing to join us in reaching people, teaching people, and serving people. Don’t be one of the hopeless lost, pray for the mission and ministry of Shiloh… and jump in!

Reading Plan for 2021; livestreams: Shiloh.TV
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Join us Sundays 9AM & 10:30AM & Wed 7PM

Shiloh Baptist Church: shilohgarner.org
3414 N. Shiloh Rd, Garner, NC 27529 

A scribe approached him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” …another of his disciples said, “first let me go bury my father.”

Matthew 8:19-21

If tomorrow is going to be your best day, you’ll never get there. Don’t pin your hopes on what you *will do* as soon as you finish whatever is more important right now. “Oh I want to be more faithful… it’s just really hard right now to find the time” That means you don’t really want to, or at least there’s something more important to you. The problem isn’t that thing has come up at this time, it’s that you think it’s more important. What do you skip, and what can you never miss? On what do you spend your discretionary income while leaving other obligations unfulfilled? We do what we want… don’t be one who *says* they follow Jesus but has a million reasons why this week is just too busy. Be a follower of Jesus.

Reading Plan for 2021; livestreams: Shiloh.TV
Follow us on FaceBook, Instagram, & Twitter

Join us Sundays 9AM & 10:30AM & Wed 7PM

Shiloh Baptist Church: shilohgarner.org
3414 N. Shiloh Rd, Garner, NC 27529