Alan

Brethren, If the moderators do not mind, the information on this thread,"The Beginning of the New Testament Church," is the foundation for, "The Local Church" study. So, I would like for this thread to be considered the foundation, and continued on, "The Local Church" study. Here is the link to, "The Local Church" thread: Alan

I just wanted to let the moderators know that we appreciate their work, both publicly and privately, in moderating OnLineBaptist. Thank you very much. May God bless you. Alan

I appreciate the quotation from Matthew 13:4-42. The parable on the Tares is an important subject in this day and age. God bless!

Daniel, Thank you for your comments. So often we let the affairs of this life hinder our walk with the Lord. As your comments were a blessing to me I am sure they are a blessing to the other brethren. Alan

Hmmm??? Has Matt, our illustrious, and benevolent, Big Stick Welder, joined the ranks of the Linux community? Is the penguin explaining the virtues of Linux? Or, is our penguin proclaiming he won the prize for being the last one, or should I say, penguin, to post in this thread? Or, is our talkative penguin expounding on global warming and is a spokesman (or I should be more politically correct and say 'spokesperson'), for Al gore? Does anybody here on OnLineBaptist know the penguin language? Or, can lip read?

Dave has brought out a valid point that should be addressed and not ignored in this discussion.

Welcome! Thank you for your testimony. Looking forward to some fine discussions and fellowship.

Welcome! Thank you for your testimony. I also appreciate the testimony of how your father decided to become an independent Baptist through research in the scriptures. Looking forward to having some fine fellowship and discussions. If you feel like telling us where you are moving to, and maybe the story on the word, 'Propovednik,' that would be interesting to us. Either way, God bless you and your family.

Welcome to OnlineBaptist! 😀

As we go through the life of Joseph in these devotions, I would like to express to all of you that God was with Joseph in all of the extreme trials that he went through. Joseph, as with all of God's saints, and the favoured nation of Israel, are led through the trials of life in order to know God, His will, and experience the work of God through our lives for our good and the good of others; Romans 8:28 As we can see in the life of Joseph, and his love for God, and his trust in God, God has been with Joseph and God will work out all things for his good.The Chinese have a saying, a proverb, that may be a blessing to you as it has been to me. 「天理昭彰」Translated into English, it says that, "The law of heaven always prevails." The will of God will be performed in the life of Joseph as, "... the LORD was with Joseph." May God richly bless all of you

Brethren, I am in the process of preparing the next lesson on the local church. After looking at the command of Paul the Apostle in 1 Timothy 3:15, we have already looked at the local church in the book of Acts, Ephesians, parts of Matthew, Third John, and lastly Galatians. In my next lesson I am preparing to look at the local church in the book of Philippians. Before I continue, if there are any questions, comments, or discussions, that pertain to any of the previous lessons, please bring them up. God bless you all. Alan

I enjoyed the video concerning Fanny Crosby and her heart-warming songs. As I watched, a verse came to my mind, "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh." Hebrews 11:4. Though dead, Abel, Fanny Crosby, and the multitude of righteous people throughout the ages, famous and not famous, are a living witness to all. God uses the righteous acts, the faith, the gifts and talents, of the righteous long past their departure from this life as a witness of the saving grace of salvation, and the other righteous acts of God, and His son the Lord Jesus, to all who will listen.

Thank you for your devotions on Proverbs.

In times of my doubt, fears and anxieties, I have found this verse in Isaiah helps strengthen my heart, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3 I do hope that the thoughts of Isaiah will help you; and all of us. Alan