Open your Present

A few years back at a family Christmas get-together, the house was filled with presents and persons. I am sure you know something of this kind of gathering. It consisted of two grandparents, a couple of great grandparents, several children, a few in-laws, a bunch of grandkids, a trio of pets and some assorted family friends. When the time came the kids began the opening their presents, followed by the adults. Finally, there remained one nicely wrapped box. It had no tag or name listed. It remained unopened until we could figure out what to do with it.

Salvation is also a gift: "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 6:23). It cannot be purchased or earned through our good deeds; it only can be accepted on the basis of faith. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). Faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ is the only way to open the gift of God.

What of the unopened gift? Finally someone was selected to open it and it was directed to the right recipient. Perhaps this Christmas there is still one gift you have not opened. God is waiting to give you the gift of salvation.

What does it mean?

Think of the last nativity scene you saw. What if you had no knowledge of the Christmas story and your assignment was to deduce the story from that picture of the circumstances of Jesus birth? Would you conclude that the baby was of some importance since he is surrounded by crowd of shepherds, farm animals and middle-eastern nobles bearing gifts? But if is He has such notoriety why a bed of hay, and why a barnyard maternity ward? I think for the uniformed it would not really make sense. The nativity set would generate more questions than answers.

It is only with the backdrop of the Bibles account does it all make sense. In its pages you learn of the Fathers love, the Sons obedience, the angels worship, Marys wonder, Josephs faith, the shepards diligence, the wisemens persistence and the worlds Savior. I am looking forward to spending the next trio of Sundays to take us all back to the manger and lets be amazed again at what we find.

Treasure Hunting

So have you started your Christmas shopping yet? Friday was the largest shopping day of the year for retailers and has earned the title “Black Friday.” The police department in Philadelphia is credited with coining the term due to the heavy traffic jams in the city on this busy shopping day. For online retailers, the Monday after Thanksgiving is known as “Cyber Monday” and is usually the peak of their virtual traffic. So what drives all of this frantic activity? It is the desire to obtain the perfect gifts for family and friends, and to do so at a bargain!

Sometimes we miss some special gifts tucked into God’s Word. They are hidden to us because the culture of the Bible is foreign to us and the original languages of the Bible are quite different than English. It takes a little extra effort to find treasures that are perfect for our lives. Tonight we will continue our treasure hunt as we seek to find some hidden treasures from God’s Word. We will step deep into that which is beneath the surface to find nuggets of truth. So join us tonight at six; it will be more fun than Christmas shopping!

Living out of a suitcase

For most of the week just past I have been staying in a hotel and I have been living out of a suitcase. I am glad to being back in Charleston, in my own home, sleeping in my own bed, and today to be back with you. But there is something one can learn from living out of a suitcase. I am (for a brief time anyway) able to live quite well with only a limited amount of stuff, and even at that I usually pack more stuff than I really need. But maybe I am not the only one who is a little “over packed.”

In 1 Peter 2:11 the apostle Peter appealed for believers to live a life of purity because believers are “Pilgrims” or travelers in this world. In essence, this side of heaven, we are all “living out of a suitcase.” Our real home is with our Lord --our present location is only temporary. But during this trip we often overload ourselves with baggage we were never meant to carry. Our God really wants us to travel light by casting our burdens of worry and care on him (1 Peter 5:7). As we look at another portion of God’s Word that provides for us some amazing reasons to trust God, I hope you will leave with a little less baggage today. It is my prayer that God will cause you to trust Him more today. Will join me in praying that God will help us all do a little unpacking?

Additional Helps for Fathers

Here are the books I mentioned in my Father's Day sermon. Any or all would be a blessing to you and your family.

Flag Day

June 14 is Flag Day, while not an official Federal Holiday it does commemorate the day in 1777 that congress adopted the United States Flag. In 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation that officially established June 14 as Flag Day and in August 1949, National Flag Day was established by an Act of Congress. The week of June 14 is designated as "National Flag Week." During National Flag Week, the president typically issues a proclamation urging U.S. citizens to fly the American flag for the duration of that week. I never tire of seeing the Stars and Stripes flying and so appreciate all that our Flag represents of our great nation.

Psalm 60:4 tells us that God has given us a Banner (flag) of truth. It is our allegiance to the truth that should be on public display before an often skeptical world. You have taken one step today to let your banner fly, you have come to hear God’s Word proclaimed, and for that I thank you. We must also live out God’s truth the other six days of the week.

So get your flags flying.

Jesse Waggoner

Feeling Small

When we express size we often use comparisons to do so. Expressions such as "big as a whale", "small as an ant", or "the size of a breadbox" all communicate size. But if we can make it a little more personal, what comparisons do we use to determine our size? If you have stared at an amoeba through a microscope you no doubt felt quite huge; while peering into the Grand Canyon or viewing the ocean will make you feel quite small. Such experiences tend to put us back into our place.

The Psalmist David describes such an experience in Psalm 8. The thing that made him feel small was considering the extent of God's creation. He wrote: "When I consider the heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained: What is man, that Thou are mindful of him?"

When was the last time you felt small in the presence of God? Perhaps this summer would be a great time to seek out some place to experience the awesomeness of God's creation. So pack your lunch and your Bible and head out to be impressed with who God is and what He has done. Seek to reach that point of feeling small, and while you are in that reduced condition, offer words of praise for His immeasurable grace.

Jesse Waggoner

Rewards

Webster says that a reward is something given in return for good or for service or merit. In our lives we are motivated by rewards. The most obvious is the paycheck we receive for work. There are three major kinds of employee payment. The first is a salary. This is a fixed payment at regular intervals for work performed. The second is hourly, whereby a person is paid a fixed rate per hour worked. A third is piece work where payment is made strictly on the basis of production.

In I Corinthians 3:8-9 God tells us that -"every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are laborers together with God:" It seems as if God's rewards are most like piece work. I This labor is not to get us to heaven but is the product of a life transformed by God's grace as one labors because he is on his way to heaven ( see Ephesians 2:8-10).

It is worth thinking about what rewards may await us at God's throne. All of us who are part of God's family are to be involved in the service of our Lord. Remember His Word to us --"And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. 22:12

Jesse Waggoner

The Easter Sermon of John Chrysostom Pastor of Constantinople (~400 AD)

Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!
Is there anyone who is a grateful servant?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!
If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour,
let him with gratitude join in the Feast!
And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.

For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.
To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.
He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.
The deed He honors and the intention He commends.

Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!
First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!

You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!
Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.
Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.

He destroyed Hades when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.
Isaiah foretold this when he said,
"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."

Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.
Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting?
O Hades, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!
Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!

Praying for those in Authority

We are commanded in 1 Tim. 2:2 to pray for those in authority. We usually apply this to include praying for our elected leaders. I would assume that most of us likely spend more time complaining about our leaders than we spend actually praying for them.

I have been reminded in the last few weeks of this need. A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet and share my best wishes with Governor Manchin and Wednesday I had the privilege of praying for the opening of the State Senate session. I had the opportunity to visit with several of our legislators and support staff and was reminded that these are not just folks whose names and pictures appear in the newspaper or on TV; these are real people with real needs and real problems and are in need of real prayer. It is our job to come through with the real prayer!

So let’s devote some time to pray for our leaders- national, state and local. God will be pleased.


Jesse Waggoner

The Washington Generals

If I were to ask you, what is your favorite basketball team, I am sure of one team you would not pick. That would be the Washington Generals. They were in town playing at the Charleston Civic Center last Tuesday to add to their impressive string of losses to the Harlem Globetrotters. Since their founding in 1952, the Washington Generals have lost to the Globetrotters in excess of 13,000 times! I don’t want to spoil anyone’s fun, but just perhaps the odds of winning are stacked against the Generals. After all, does anyone pay to see the clown princes of basketball lose? No, the losing falls to the Washington Generals.

Let me let you in on a secret: the game of life is stacked in our favor. How do I know? Romans 8:31 states: “If God be for us, who can be against us?” With God in the picture we will win- game over. How can we lose or be defeated if God is on our side?

Let that truth encourage you even in your darkest hour. It may be late in the game, the clock is ticking and we appear to be behind, but remember the game is stacked in our favor- God is on your side.


Jesse Waggoner

Spring is almost here!

I am so ready for Spring! I think maybe the groundhog got it wrong about how much more bad weather we would have. But now it is March and we only have 19 more days until it is officially Spring. If you want the exact info: spring begins March 20, 2009, at precisely 7:44 A.M. EDT the Sun will cross directly over the Earth's equator. This moment is known as the vernal equinox in the Northern Hemisphere. For the Southern Hemisphere, this is the moment of the autumnal equinox. But whatever you call it, I am looking for my time outside to increase, the grass to grow and my heating bill to go down.

I think what makes me look forward to this most is I want some change! The same is true for my life it too is in need of some change. The same Person who changes winter to spring is the same Person who wants to change you and me. As things change around us be encouraged that as surely as the world turns and seasons change, God will remain faithful to the task of changing us. He has not given up on us, and He is not finished with us, something better is coming.

“being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;” (Philippians 1:6)

Jesse Waggoner

The Price of the Message

Question: What costs $250,000 to make, $3,000,000 to distribute, and is obsolete in 30 seconds? Answer: A commercial on this year’s Superbowl broadcast. Even at those prices, advertisers are lining up to promote their goods and services to an estimated audience of 90 to 148 million. In their attempt to sell everything from hamburgers to beer they are literally willing to spare no expense to get the message out.

Question: What costs the life of God’s Son and lasts for eternity? You know the answer. Perhaps this would be a good time to evaluate how much we invest in distributing the message of God’s love to a lost and dying world. Are we willing to spare no expense sharing the Gospel? There are multiple ways we can invest; we can give our gifts to support the work of our church and missions around the world. We can invest our time and energy in the work of our church and invest our passion in witnessing for Christ among our circle of friends and acquaintances.

So as you watch the game, and regardless of whether you watch the commercials or use the time for a snack run, remember the message of Jesus is worth all we can give it..

Jesse Waggoner

Gone Fishing!

Growing up in the hills of West Virginia, fishing was just part of life. As boys we fished in creeks, rivers, lakes, and ponds. We would dig up worms in the backyard garden, net minnows or catch assorted other critters for bait. Fishing was big stuff. I must admit fishing is an infrequent activity of my adult life; perhaps this is due to the pace of my life or my lack of patience, but I am safe in the knowledge that there are enough fishermen in the Bible Center family to keep the fish population of West Virginia streams in check.

Several of those closest to Jesus were professional fishermen before He changed them into "fishers of men," and by means of their example we are all to do some fishing among the people we know. Sometimes I feel I am not much better at fishing for men than I am fishing for fish. When it comes to fishing, I need help. The fishermen's encounter with Jesus in Luke 5 will provide us all with that help. I invite you to learn God's plan for fishing and together, to go fishing with me. In so doing we will be blessed, God will be glorified and we don't even have to mess with any squirmy worms.


Jesse Waggoner

On Tuesday, the 44th President of the United States will take the oath of office. As has been the custom for nearly every president, he will place his hand on a Bible as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court administers the constitutionally prescribed oath. The particular Bible to be used is one used by Abraham Lincoln on the occasion of his first inaugural in 1861. It is a King James Bible printed in 1853 and is kept by the Library of Congress. There is no requirement that a Bible be used by a president; in fact, the words "so help me God" are not in the Constitution, but have been customarily spoken by presidents throughout the years.

Question: Why would one take an oath with a hand upon a Bible? The symbolism is quite clear: a person making a solemn and sacred promise would naturally reach out to something that was likewise sacred. We who embrace the gospel of Christ affirm the sacred nature of the Scriptures. The Bible is God's authoritative Word delivered to us.

So what can we learn from this little civics lesson? How about this: In our times of decision, change, or transition, let's reach out to the sacred book that God has given us. In it we will find God's direction, comfort and contentment for our lives. We have the opportunity to access the teaching of God's Word both this morning and this Sunday. Thank you for being a part of a special time in the sacred Book.

Jesse Waggoner

When confronted with Jesus...

1. Mary – Marveled
2. Joseph - believed
3. Angels – praised
4. Shepherds - announced
5. Star – pointed the way
6. wise men – worshiped
7. Herod – threatened

8. John – Baptized
9. Devil – tempted
10. Andrew - followed
11. Matthew – sold out

12. Demons – trembled
13. Pharisees – tested
14. Sadducees – mocked
15. Winds – obeyed
16. Fig tree – withered
17. Diseases – yielded
18. Home town – rejected
19. Nicodemus – questioned
20. Rich Young ruler – grieved
21. Many – were healed
22. Multitudes - were fed
23. Lazarus – came forth
24. Mary – sat
25. Martha - served

26. Judas – betrayed
27. John - loved
28. disciples - fled

29. Sanhedrin – tried
30. Peter – denied
31. Pilate – acquitted
32. Mrs. Pilate – was troubled
33. Herod – was Amused
34. Pilate Condemned

35. High Priest – called him a blasphemer
36. Crowds – cried crucify Him
37. Sanhedrin – condemned Him
38. Soldiers - mocked
39. The nails – pierced Him
40. Cross – held Him
41. Centurion – eulogized Him
42. Joseph of Arimathia – buried him
43. God – raised
44. Women – praised
45. Discipled – were amazed
46. Thomas – doubted

47. Paul – persecuted
48. Peter – proclaimed
49. Paul – preached
50. John - prophesied

51. You - ??????????

Jesse Waggoner

The Kneel Down

At the end of WVU's bowl win this year, quarterback Pat White stated that the kneel down is the best play in college football (watch video below). It means that the game is won and the celebration is about to begin. This reminded me that the kneel down is a great play in our spiritual journey.

At the start of this new year, it is a good time to recommit and resubmit to our God. A good time to kneel down before Him and reconfirm your followership and His leadership. It is a perfect opportunity to humble yourself and tell Him of your love and refocus your life on Him. Why not find some time today and kneel down before our Lord?

if you get these by e-mail use this link to view video



Jesse Waggoner