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Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl approached him and said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean too.” But he denied it in front of everyone: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” When he had gone out to the gateway, another woman saw him and told those who were there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene!” And again he denied it with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” After a little while those standing there approached and said to Peter, “You really are one of them, since even your accent gives you away.” Then he started to curse and to swear with an oath, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed, 75 and Peter remembered the words Jesus had spoken, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Matthew 26:69-75

Have you ever had someone mistreat you at church? More than likely, they didn’t intend it as you took it. Now think about Jesus. Every one of his disciples scattered, except John. The thousands he fed, the hundreds perhaps who followed him regionally, the 12 disciples. Only John remained at the cross. 8% of Jesus’ closest friends remained true to him and didn’t stab him in the back. And look at Judas, again, 1/12 (8.33%) of Jesus’ best and brightest followers who lived with him day-in and day-out for over three-years not only abandoned Jesus but did his best to take him down. Even Peter, he denied Jesus 3 times. We should not be surprised when someone blows-up and lashes out against the church, in fact we should expect it at least 8% of the time. We should not act as though we expect everyone to remain true and never “backslide,” 90%+ of Jesus’ followers did, and he’s perfect. It’s human nature. We all have this in us. When you find yourself drifting, falling away, stop! Take a lesson from Peter. Go out and weep bitterly and then come back. Without Peter’s repentance there would have been no Pentecost sermon. It’s not what you’ve done that defines you, it’s what you will do next that matters most!

Reading Plan for 2021; livestreams: Shiloh.TV
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“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you? “And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:37-40

When we help the church, we are serving Jesus. It’s that simple. When we neglect the church, we are neglecting Jesus, that too is a simple idea. The hard part is when we look at our own lives. How much of myself do I give to help the fellow believers of my church? Do I support the ministry with my time by attending? Do I serve in roles that help the work of reaching people, teaching people, and serving people to be accomplished? Do I commit my resources to fund the ministry of my church? Do I pray for my church? When someone is hurting at my church, do I help? It’s very easy for church to become a place you go to, or watch online, but church is much more than that.

Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Matthew 25:45-46

Choose wisely while we can.

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

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master has put in charge of his household, to give them food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom the master finds doing his job when he comes.

Matthew 24

When is Jesus coming back? Did you know he is? Well, we don’t know when, but we know he is coming, and it’s closer today than it was yesterday. What do you want to be found doing when he gets back? Do that today.

Reading Plan for 2021; livestreams: Shiloh.TV
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“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay a tenth of mint, dill, and cumin, and yet you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy, and faithfulness. These things should have been done without neglecting the others.”

Matthew 23

I often hear “the tithe is an Old Testament principle we are not bound by today.” True enough, we’re not “bound” by it… but what does that mean? Is it still a good standard? Is it affirmed in the New Testament? What did Jesus say about it? Did Jesus lessen the standards? See the Sermon On The Mount regarding adultery and murder, Jesus made them a matter of the heart. In other words, you can pay your ten percent tithe and still miss the New Testament standard because you don’t give from your heart. When Jesus address the Pharisees he doesn’t say “just focus on the more important things and forget the old standard” not at all. In fact, he said they should not neglect to pay the tithe. We should take that to heart. It is far more important to give from our hearts as an act of worship, but to not give is to miss the point altogether. Don’t neglect to be faithful to give and to give with a grateful heart of worship.

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