Church guide

This Week’s Message: Fasting that Honors God This Sunday we will be taking a look at Isaiah 58, a classic Old Testament passage that deals with fasting. We will note how it is possible to take a God-given concept and twist it for our own purposes. Then we will get a glimpse into God’s deeper purposes. Please come and join us this Sunday at 10:50 a.m.

This Week’s Message: Fasting & Spiritual Hunger This Sunday we will be returning to our study of fasting. Our purpose is to better understand Jesus’ instructions about fasting in Matthew 6:16-18. We will begin by looking at some of the dangers of fasting. Then we will deal with the question, “If fasting can be spiritually dangerous, then why fast?” You are welcome to join us this Sunday at 10:50 a.m.

This week we’re going to think about the local church. What is the church? What is it’s purpose? If it has a purpose, how is that purpose accomplished? Come join us as we think about what God has given us in His Word about the local church.

This Week’s Message: More Blessed to Give We will have a guest speaker this Sunday—Jake Turnbull. Jake will be sharing from Acts 20:17-38, which records Paul’s farewell address to the elders of the church at Ephesus. Paul gives us words of Jesus that are not recorded in any of the four gospel accounts: “It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35). Please join us at 10:50 a.m. this Sunday morning.

This Week’s Message: Light in the Darkness This Sunday we will take a little detour, as we consider “Light in the Darkness.” Our focal passages will be Isaiah 9:1-2 and Matthew 4:13-17, as we see how Jesus’ residence in Capernaum was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. We will conclude by making application of biblical truth to our current situation. How brightly is our light shining in the darkness? Please join us this Sunday at 10:50 a.m.

This Week’s Message: Is Fasting Christian? Last Sunday we come to Matthew 6:16, “When you fast…” Those are the words of Jesus. Most of us know little about fasting. However, Jesus begins His teaching on fasting exactly as He began His teaching concerning prayer: “When you pray…” (Matthew 6:5). Is fasting something that God would expect from Christians? Have 20 centuries changed the role of fasting? Or is it possible that fasting was an Old Testament thing, but does not pertain to New Testament believers? This is the issue we will be exploring this Sunday, as we focus on the teachings of Jesus from Matthew 9:14-17. You are welcome to join us this Sunday at 10:50 a.m.

This Week’s Message: What About Fasting? As we continue through the Sermon on the Mount, this Sunday we come to Matthew 6:16, “When you fast…” Yes, just as Jesus gave instructions about giving to the needy and prayer, He also gave instructions about fasting. That is rather foreign to many in our day. Before we look at Jesus’ instructions, we must determine whether fasting is something that is intended for 21st century Christians. So before we study Matthew 6:16-18, we are going to take some time to look at the issue of fasting. We will begin this week by exploring what the Old Testament says about fasting. You are welcome to join us this Sunday at 10:50 a.m.

This Week’s Message: What About Our Needs? Last Sunday we began to look at the Model Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13, focusing on the first three petitions and their emphasis on the glory of God. Before we approach God with our own concerns, Jesus taught us to focus on God’s concerns. But what about our needs? Is God concerned with our needs? Indeed, He is, but in the proper order. This Sunday we will be looking at the last three petitions of the prayer… … Give us this day our daily bread. … Forgive us our debts, as we have forgiven our debtors. … Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. You are invited to join us at 10:50 a.m.

This Week’s Message: The Model Prayer & the Glory of God This week we will be looking at the first part of the Model Prayer (commonly referred to as “The Lord’s Prayer”), as found in Matthew 6:9-13. Though this prayer is often recited with little or no thought, it is indeed rich and full of meaning. This Sunday we are going to focus on the invocation (Our Father in heaven) and the first three petitions: “Hallowed by your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Why are these three requests placed first in the prayer? Is it just coincidence? Did Jesus have a purpose in ordering the prayer as He did? If so, what purpose? Surely we are to understand that the focus of our praying is to be the glory of His name and the coming of His kingdom. Please join us this Sunday at 10:50 for worship, fellowship, and seeking the Lord in His Word.

Message This Week: When You Pray In Matthew 6:1 Jesus warns His hearers not to do righteous deeds in order to gain the applause of others. After the general warning, He then gives three examples of how this principle is to be applied. The first is found in verses 2-4, where Jesus talks about giving to the needy. This Sunday we will be looking at Jesus’ warning not to pray in order to impress others. The hypocrites (primarily the Pharisees) were guilty of that very thing. Our tendency is to think that we certainly aren’t in danger of praying like that. If we are thinking like that, we are blind. This Sunday we will be looking at Jesus’ teaching on prayer in Matthew 6:5-8. We welcome you to join us at 10:50 a.m.

This Week’s Message: “Our Father” Yes, this Sunday is Father’s Day. It just so happens that we are approaching Matthew 6:9, which records these words of Jesus: “Pray then like this: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.’” This Sunday we will focus on what it took for any human being to be able to call God “Father.” You are welcome to come and join us at 10:50 a.m.

This Week with La Luz Bible Church This Sunday we will NOT be meeting in La Luz. Why not? We are having our Annual Church Retreat in the mountains. We would love to have you join us at Upper Fir Campground, just a couple of miles out of Cloudcroft. You are welcome to camp with us (tents, campers, RVs), come up for the fellowship, and/or attend the daily services. The schedule of services is as follows… Thursday... 6:00 p.m. Friday…... 6:00 p.m. Saturday... 2:00 & 5:00 p.m. Sunday….11:00 a.m. Directions… Go straight through Cloudcroft on 82 toward Mayhill A mile or two out of Cloudcroft, go left on Highway 244 Drive about 1/2 mile and Fir Campground will be on the right If gate is closed, open it and close it back Drive through Lower Fir (on left) and proceed up the hill

This Week’s Message: Who Is Your Audience? Listen to Isaiah 54:6, “We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” Some translations read, “And all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags.” How can it be that a righteous deed can be impure? One word points to the answer to that question—motive. God cares about our motives. That truth stands behind the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:1, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.” Martin Lloyd-Jones summed that verse up succinctly: “There is no reward from God for those who seek it from men.” We will be exploring that truth this Sunday, along with what Jesus said about the danger of giving to the needy in order to gain the praise of others (Matthew 6:2-4). You are invited to join us this Sunday at 10:50 a.m.

This Week’s Message: Does God Love Everyone? If you are looking for a more provocative title, try “Does God Hate Sinners”? Last week we considered Jesus’ command, “Love your enemies” (Matt. 5:43-48). In that context, Jesus pointed to His heavenly Father as the example of loving enemies, since the Father makes His sun to shine on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the just and the unjust. Most people would say, “Jesus made it clear that God loves all people.” While that statement is true, it still leaves us with questions. Does God love all people the same? Does God really love ALL people, even the Hitlers of the world? What do we do with the passages that say God hates sinners? This Sunday we will explore those questions, as we expand on Matthew 5:43-48. Please join us at 10:50 a.m., as we worship the Lord, fellowship together, and study His Word.

This Sunday’s Message: Love Your Enemies This week we will be back in the Sermon on the Mount, specifically Matthew 5:43-48, where Jesus’ central command is: “Love your enemies.” But what does that mean? Is it wrong to have enemies? Is it really possible to love them, or is this just religious talk that is above us? Does God love His enemies? When Jesus was on the earth, did He demonstrate love for His enemies? We will explore all of these questions, as well as how the command “Love your enemies” relates to “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (verse 48). We invite you to join us this Sunday at 10:50 a.m.

This Week’s Message: Mothers and More In observance of Mother’s Day, we will look at three of the Bible’s godly mothers. The character of these three mothers are seen in their sons. You might guess that two of them are Hannah and Mary, but who might the third be? (Hint: mentioned only once in the Bible). Then we will take a quick glance at a more contemporary mother. Praise God for our mothers and all women of faith. Nevertheless, there is something greater than a mother’s love. What is it? And what kind of relationships are the fruit of it? Please join us this Sunday at 10:50 a.m.

This Week’s Message: Blessing the Oppressed How often do we get the idea that we don’t know of any truly needy people? That is true only if we close our eyes to the ever-shrinking world around us. This Sunday we will give emphasis to the ministry Compassion International, which gives spiritual and educational opportunities to children who might otherwise not have them. Then we will be looking at the timeless truths of Isaiah 58. We invite you to join us at 10:50 this Sunday morning.

This Week’s Message: Don’t Resist Evil Who hasn’t heard the words: “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”? Those words are rooted deep in the Old Testament of the Bible. The intent was to limit revenge in favor of justice. Jesus referred to those words, but then added: “But I say to you, ‘Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well… Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.’” What did Jesus mean? Are we to take these words literally? Just what did He have in mind? We will seek to answer those questions this Sunday, as we think about the theme: “Don’t Resist Evil.” Please join us at 10:50 a.m., as we worship the Lord and explore His Word.

Resurrection Sunday 7:00 – Resurrection Sunrise Service (Outdoors) [Note the time correction. The service is at 7:00, not 7:30] Followed by Breakfast 10:50 – Regular Morning Service We invite you to join us this Sunday, as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. If you need more information, please call 575-437-8688.

This Week’s Message: Jesus Death Was Motivated By His Love As we approach Resurrection Sunday, most of us tend to think even more than usual about the death of our Lord Jesus. So why did Jesus die? There are many biblical answers to that question, but this Sunday we want to focus on just one. Jesus’ death was motivated by love. Yes, the Father so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, but let us not forget that Jesus also loved so much that He laid down His life. Please join us this Sunday at 10:50 a.m., as we explore this blessed truth.