¹⁹ “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, ²⁰ but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. Matthew 6:19–20 (ESV)

• This command of Jesus provides his disciples, his fully devoted followers, with a profound that matters for all eternity, with drastically outcomes!

²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, ²³ but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! ²⁴ “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Matthew 6:21–24 (ESV)

• Jesus connects what we choose to with the attitudes of our heart and as evidence of our with God.

“We are mastered by our appetites. God has given us our appetites; hunger, thirst, and sex are God-created. But the moment that a man is dominated by them, or mastered by them, he is a slave to them.” D. Martyn Lloyd Jones

¹⁷ As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. ¹⁸ They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, ¹⁹ thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life. 1 Timothy 6:17–19 (ESV)

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Matthew 6:25 (ESV)

anxious: 1: characterized by extreme uneasiness of mind or brooding fear about some contingency: worried (Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary)

μεριμνάω [merimnao /mer·im·nah·o/] v. 1 to be anxious. 1a to be troubled with cares. 2 to care for, look out for (a thing). (Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon)

³⁸ Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38–42 (ESV)

• Again, this command of Jesus provides us with a choice to make. Is what we are worrying about really it?

²⁶ Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷ And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁸ And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹ yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰ But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Matthew 6:26–30 (ESV)

• We are more by our Heavenly Father than all creation and He is over the details of our life.

³¹ Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Matthew 10:31 (ESV)

²⁵ And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁶ If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Luke 12:25–26 (ESV)

⁴ Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” Isaiah 35:4 (ESV)

• Even the limited time we have in life is an to demonstrate God’s extraordinary grace.

¹⁹ When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. ²⁰ For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Matthew 10:19–20 (ESV), see also 1 Corinthians 7:32-35

³¹ Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³ But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:31–33 (ESV)

³¹ What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:31–32 (ESV)

• Obedience to the command of Jesus demonstrates our distinct faith in the of God as we , or value, His glory over our own needs.

⁶ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ⁷ casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6–7 (ESV)

³⁴ “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:25–34 (ESV)

• This command of Jesus emphasizes our dependence on Him regardless of the circumstances of other days.

⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6–7 (ESV)

 

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.
(Matthew 6:1, ESV)

⁵ “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. ⁶ But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
⁷ “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. ⁸ Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
(Matthew 6:5-7, ESV)

1. God is the audience when I pray. Focus on , not , not .

2. Because God is in secret, and He knows what I need, the reward of private prayer is not , but a .

The Lord’s Prayer

⁹ Pray then like this:

3. Jesus did not give us the Lord’s Prayer to teach us a , but .

9 Pray then like this: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.	that Almighty God allows me to call Him Father. Acknowledge and affirm His .
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.	Surrender to His will.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,	Ask for my needs.
12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.	Confess my sins, and commit to be a .
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.	Ask for help in my with temptation.

WHAT TO DO WHEN MY PRAYERS ARE NOT ANSWERED

… a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
¹⁰ For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities…
(2 Corinthians 12:7-10, ESV)

The purpose of pain is to deliver me from –.

The purpose of pain is to lead me back to .

The purpose of prayer is not results, but a relationship.

The purpose of prayer is .

 

Sermon on the Mount Introduction
“Probably the greatest tragedy of the church throughout its long and chequered history has been its constant tendency to conform to the prevailing culture instead of developing a Christian counter-culture.” (John Stott, 1978)

5 Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. ² And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: (Matthew 5:1-2, ESV)

The Disciple’s Character

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
⁵ “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
⁶ “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
⁷ “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
⁸ “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
⁹ “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
¹⁰ “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
¹¹ “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹² Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (Matthew 5:3-12, ESV)

• A Disciple of Jesus acknowledges his spiritual .
• A Disciple of Jesus grieves over .
• A Disciple of Jesus is and .
• A Disciple of Jesus yearns for .
• A Disciple of Jesus extends .
• A Disciple of Jesus acts with pure and intentions.
• A Disciple of Jesus lives with and promotes .
• A Disciple of Jesus persecution.

In other words, a disciple of Jesus is free from:

• Pride (Blessed are the poor in spirit…)
• Spiritual (Blessed are those who mourn…)
• Overly aggressive or behaviors (Blessed are the meek…)
• The love and power of (Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness…)
• Revenge (Blessed are the merciful…)
• Selfish (Blessed are the pure in heart…)
• Causing strife (Blessed are the peacemakers…)
• The fear of (Blessed are those who are persecuted…)

The Disciple’s Influence

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.

• The character of your will draw others to Christ.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13-16, ESV)

• The intentionality of your will draw others to Christ.

Joshua 23 (ESV)
23 A long time afterward, when the Lord had given rest to Israel from all their surrounding enemies, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years, ² Joshua summoned all Israel, its elders and heads, its judges and officers, and said to them, “I am now old and well advanced in years.

1. We should all acknowledge our and the it necessitates.

³ And you have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is the Lord your God who has fought for you. ⁴ Behold, I have allotted to you as an inheritance for your tribes those nations that remain, along with all the nations that I have already cut off, from the Jordan to the Great Sea in the west. ⁵ The Lord your God will push them back before you and drive them out of your sight. And you shall possess their land, just as the Lord your God promised you.

2. We should all that the Lord has done already and be reminded of the work that to be done.

⁶ Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left, ⁷ that you may not mix with these nations remaining among you or make mention of the names of their gods or swear by them or serve them or bow down to them, ⁸ but you shall cling to the Lord your God just as you have done to this day. ⁹ For the Lord has driven out before you great and strong nations. And as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day. ¹⁰ One man of you puts to flight a thousand, since it is the Lord your God who fights for you, just as he promised you. ¹¹ Be very careful, therefore, to love the Lord your God. ¹² For if you turn back and cling to the remnant of these nations remaining among you and make marriages with them, so that you associate with them and they with you, ¹³ know for certain that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you, but they shall be a snare and a trap for you, a whip on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good ground that the Lord your God has given you.

3. We should renew our commitment . . .

• to God’s word,
• to not bowing before the of our age,
• to living lives, and
• to honoring God with our .

¹⁴ “And now I am about to go the way of all the earth, and you know in your hearts and souls, all of you, that not one word has failed of all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one of them has failed. ¹⁵ But just as all the good things that the Lord your God promised concerning you have been fulfilled for you, so the Lord will bring upon you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land that the Lord your God has given you, ¹⁶ if you transgress the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you.”

4. We should reaffirm the principle: things come to those who honor God, things come to those who dishonor God.

Joshua 24 (ESV)
24 Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel. And they presented themselves before God. ² And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘Long ago, your fathers lived beyond the Euphrates, Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor; and they served other gods. ³ Then I took your father Abraham from beyond the River and led him through all the land of Canaan, and made his offspring many. I gave him Isaac. ⁴ And to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. And I gave Esau the hill country of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. ⁵ And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt with what I did in the midst of it, and afterward I brought you out.
⁶ “ ‘Then I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea. And the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. ⁷ And when they cried to the Lord, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians and made the sea come upon them and cover them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt. And you lived in the wilderness a long time. ⁸ Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan. They fought with you, and I gave them into your hand, and you took possession of their land, and I destroyed them before you. ⁹ Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. And he sent and invited Balaam the son of Beor to curse you, ¹⁰ but I would not listen to Balaam. Indeed, he blessed you. So I delivered you out of his hand. ¹¹ And you went over the Jordan and came to Jericho, and the leaders of Jericho fought against you, and also the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. And I gave them into your hand. ¹² And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out before you, the two kings of the Amorites; it was not by your sword or by your bow. ¹³ I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant.’
¹⁴ “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. ¹⁵ And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

5. A season of succession is a time for : will you the Lord?

²⁵ So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and put in place statutes and rules for them at Shechem. ²⁶ And Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God. And he took a large stone and set it up there under the terebinth that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. ²⁷ And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord that he spoke to us. Therefore it shall be a witness against you, lest you deal falsely with your God.” ²⁸ So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.
²⁹ After these things Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being 110 years old. ³⁰ And they buried him in his own inheritance at Timnath-serah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, north of the mountain of Gaash.
³¹ Israel served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua and had known all the work that the Lord did for Israel.

6. By God’s grace, the of a courageous, godly, long-term leader, like Joshua, can extend beyond his lifetime to generations to come.

 

Psalm 78, ESV
¹ Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
    incline your ears to the words of my mouth!
² I will open my mouth in a parable;
    I will utter dark sayings from of old,
³ things that we have heard and known,
    that our fathers have told us.
⁴ We will not hide them from their children,
    but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
    and the wonders that he has done.

1. The purpose of parenting is to .

• Share with your kids what are learning.
• Ask your kids about what are learning.
• Have regular family .
  
• Read age-appropriate Bible story books.
  (Read-Aloud Bible Stories; The Jesus Storybook Bible)
• Read Bible stories and have your kids act them out.
• Let your kids read from a Bible story book
  (The Biggest Story Bible Storybook)
• Read a story/passage together and discuss it.
• Have your kids read a story/passage on their own and later discuss it as a family.

2. Ingleside is a multi-generational church with a generation orientation.

• Remain to our church reaching the next generation.
• in a Next Generation ministry.
  • Email Wil Fason, our Next Generation Team Leader, at wfason@ingleside.org.

⁵ He established a testimony in Jacob
    and appointed a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
    to teach to their children,
⁶ that the next generation might know them,
    the children yet unborn,
and arise and tell them to their children,
⁷  so that they should set their hope in God
and not forget the works of God,
    but keep his commandments;

• We should teach the next generation the . (v5)
• Our vision goes the next generation and includes countless generations. (v6)
• We want the next generation to in the Lord. (v7)
• We want the next generation to the Lord. (v7)

⁸ and that they should not be like their fathers,
    a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not steadfast,
    whose spirit was not faithful to God.

• Teach the next generation about God’s – He does not tolerate sin.
• Teach the next generation about God’s – He will forgive sin.
  

At Ingleside and beyond, we want to see a generation that is
, obedient, steadfast, and to God.

Chapters in the Life of Moses

1. 3 months – age 40: Pharaoh’s household
2. Age 40 – 80: Exiled in
3. Age 80 – 120:  Leading God’s people from Egypt through the wilderness to the edge of the Promised Land

Numbers 27:12-23 (ESV)

¹² The Lord said to Moses, “Go up into this mountain of Abarim and see the land that I have given to the people of Israel. ¹³ When you have seen it, you also shall be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was, ¹⁴ because you rebelled against my word in the wilderness of Zin when the congregation quarreled, failing to uphold me as holy at the waters before their eyes.” (These are the waters of Meribah of Kadesh in the wilderness of Zin.)

1. Every leader is an leader.

2. to God always has consequences.

¹⁵ Moses spoke to the Lord, saying, ¹⁶ “Let the Lord, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation ¹⁷ who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep that have no shepherd.”

3. matters – it’s not good  for the flock to be without a .

4. Succession planning is a  and biblical thing to do.

“Succession” is “the intentional transfer of power, leadership, and authority from one primary leader to another” (Dave Travis, cited in Next: Pastoral Succession that Works, p. 20).

¹⁸ So the Lord said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. ¹⁹ Make him stand before Eleazar the priest and all the congregation, and you shall commission him in their sight. ²⁰ You shall invest him with some of your authority, that all the congregation of the people of Israel may obey. ²¹ And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall inquire for him by the judgment of the Urim before the Lord. At his word they shall go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the people of Israel with him, the whole congregation.” ²² And Moses did as the Lord commanded him. He took Joshua and made him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, ²³ and he laid his hands on him and commissioned him as the Lord directed through Moses.

5. It’s best when the chooses the successor.

6. It’s often best when there is some in the tenures of the old leader and the new leader.

7. It’s often best when the old leader and the new leader can  both participate in a public .

⁷ Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the Lord has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. ⁸ It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:7-8, ESV)

Deuteronomy 34:1-12 (ESV)

Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho. And the Lord showed him all the land, Gilead as far as Dan, ² all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the western sea, ³ the Negeb, and the Plain, that is, the Valley of Jericho the city of palm trees, as far as Zoar. ⁴ And the Lord said to him, “This is the land of which I swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, ‘I will give it to your offspring.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you shall not go over there.”

8. It’s good to remember that the is larger than any single leader or single generation.

⁵ So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord, ⁶ and he buried him in the valley in the land of Moab opposite Beth-peor; but no one knows the place of his burial to this day. ⁷ Moses was 120 years old when he died. His eye was undimmed, and his vigor unabated.

9. For the succession to be successful, it’s almost always best for the old leader to actually —at least for a season.

Thom Rainer, “Seven Thoughts about Retiring Pastors Who Stay at Their Churches,” (www.churchanswers.com) writes:

1. Because the church needs to allow the new pastor to develop an identity as the shepherd/leader, it is advisable for the retiring pastor to take an extended break from the church. I typically advise retired pastors to take at least a year off from attending the church where they retired. This will give new pastors time to establish their leadership and personal approach to ministry.
2. The longer the tenure of the retired pastor, the longer the break should be from the church. While I recommend a break of at least one year for all retired pastors, that break should be longer for those who had long tenure at the church. I define long tenure as more than seven years.

⁸ And the people of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days. Then the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.

10. Because leaving loving relationships almost always involves  a sense of , it’s normal, biblical, and  healthy to acknowledge and express our .

⁹ And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses. ¹⁰ And there has not arisen a prophet since in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, ¹¹ none like him for all the signs and the wonders that the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt, to Pharaoh and to all his servants and to all his land, ¹² and for all the mighty power and all the great deeds of terror that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

Joshua 1:1, 8-9 (ESV)

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, ² “Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, into the land that I am giving to them, to the people of Israel. . . . ⁸ This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. ⁹ Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

11. As the new chapter begins, God expects the new leader to be  strong, courageous, and committed to God’s .

12. As the new chapter begins, we should expect the new leader, like Joshua, to lead in ways to reach new generations and to take new ground. (cf. Joshua 3)

105 Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
²  Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
³  Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
⁴  Seek the Lord and his strength;
seek his presence continually!
⁵  Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
⁶  O offspring of Abraham, his servant,
children of Jacob, his chosen ones! (Psalm 105:1-6, ESV)

Psalm 77
¹¹  I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
   yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
¹²  I will ponder all your work,
   and meditate on your mighty deeds. (Psalm 77:11-12, ESV)

1. Remembering energizes our .

2. Remembering fuels our .

3. Remembering promotes .

4. Remembering encourages .

5. Remembering inspires .

6. Remembering rekindles and sustains .

7. Remembering gives depth to our .

Deuteronomy 6
¹⁰ “And when the Lord your God brings you into the land that he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give you—with great and good cities that you did not build, ¹¹ and houses full of all good things that you did not fill, and cisterns that you did not dig, and vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant—and when you eat and are full, ¹² then take care lest you forget the Lord, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ¹³ It is the Lord your God you shall fear. Him you shall serve and by his name you shall swear. ¹⁴ You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are around you— ¹⁵ for the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God—lest the anger of the Lord your God be kindled against you, and he destroy you from off the face of the earth. . . .
²⁰ “When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?’ ²¹ then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh’s slaves in Egypt. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. ²² And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes. ²³ And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers. ²⁴ And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. ²⁵ And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.’ (Deuteronomy 6:10-15, 20-25, ESV)

“Do this in remembrance of me.”
—Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:24b, ESV)

A Timeline of God’s Faithfulness

Thursday, October 4, 1951- Sixteen people meet at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Ralph Newton, Sr., at 3360 Ridge Avenue

Thursday, October 11, 1951- Twenty-nine people meet at the home of Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Rader

Sunday, November 11, 1951- First Sunday service held at the Ingleside Community Clubhouse; 136 were present.

Sunday, December 23, 1951- CHARTER DAY—Ingleside Baptist Church officially constituted with 203 Charter Members. During its formative period, Ingleside is led by its first pastor, Dr. J. Ellis Sammons.

June 1952- Rev. James W. Windham becomes Ingleside’s second pastor. His ministry concluded in August 1954.

June 7, 1953- Dedication of Sanctuary (Chapel)

May 1955- Dr. Alvin H. Brackett, Jr. begins a ministry at Ingleside that spans more than two decades, ending in 1978.

January 17, 1960- Dedication of Educational Building

September 1964- Church membership reaches 1,000

July 1979- Dr. Robert G. Johns is the fourth pastor. His ministry concluded in April 1988.

Fall 1981- Sanctuary seating expanded into wings of Chapel

September 4, 1989- Dr. Timothy A. McCoy becomes fifth pastor.

June 5, 1994- Dedication of Preschool & Children’s Building and Family Life Center

1995- First international volunteer mission trip (Peru)

1996- Church-wide “Experiencing God” study

September 1996- Total membership grows beyond 2,000

1997-   Renovation of the Sanctuary; 3 services begun

July 26, 1998-  New Constitution and Bylaws adopted

1999-2000- Church purchases shopping center, office park, and adjacent 12 acres

November 12, 2000- $8.2 million pledged for new worship center

August 17, 2002- Saturday night service is launched

November 16, 2003- $7.8 million pledged to complete the project

March 28, 2004- Dedication of New Worship Center

November 2005- Total membership surpasses 3,000

August 20, 2006- Dedication of New Preschool & Children’s Building—kids worship begins

November 6, 2011- Sermon broadcast on WMAZ-TV begins

April 2012- Total membership grows to 4,000

September 13, 2015- Contemporary service launched – four services each Sunday morning

August 2019- Total membership reaches 5,000

March 15, 2020-  Livestream begun as COVID pandemic strikes

March 10, 2024- Dr. Justin Nalls elected sixth pastor, to begin on July 1

 

Psalm 141, ESV
¹ O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me!
    Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
² Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
    and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

• God, be to me.

³ Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
    keep watch over the door of my lips!
⁴ Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
    to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who work iniquity,
    and let me not eat of their delicacies!

• God, guard my (v3).

“How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness.” (James 3:5b-6a, ESV)

“A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.” (Proverbs 29:11, ESV)

• God, guard my (v4).

¹⁸ But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. ¹⁹ For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” (Matthew 15:18-19, ESV) 

• God, guard my (v4).
  
• God, keep me in Christ (v4).
  

“Come, everyone who thirsts,
    come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
    come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
    without money and without price.
² Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
    and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
    and delight yourselves in rich food. (Isaiah 55:1-2, ESV)

⁵ Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
    let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
    let my head not refuse it.
Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
⁶ When their judges are thrown over the cliff,
    then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
⁷ As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
    so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

• God, keep me to helpful feedback.

⁸ But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord;
    in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
⁹ Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me
    and from the snares of evildoers!
¹⁰ Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
    while I pass by safely.

• God, keep me focused on .

God, as you get me it, help me to honor you it.

Psalm 135, ESV
¹ Praise the Lord!
Praise the name of the Lord,
    give praise, O servants of the Lord,
² who stand in the house of the Lord,
    in the courts of the house of our God!
³ Praise the Lord, for the Lord is good;
    sing to his name, for it is pleasant!
⁴ For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself,
    Israel as his own possession.

• We are to praise the Lord.
• We praise the Lord because he is  and has us for himself.

⁵ For I know that the Lord is great,
    and that our Lord is above all gods.
⁶ Whatever the Lord pleases, he does,
    in heaven and on earth,
    in the seas and all deeps.
⁷ He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
    who makes lightnings for the rain
    and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

• We praise the Lord because he does whatever him.
  

 

⁸ He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
    both of man and of beast;
⁹ who in your midst, O Egypt,
    sent signs and wonders
    against Pharaoh and all his servants;
¹⁰ who struck down many nations
    and killed mighty kings,
¹¹ Sihon, king of the Amorites,
    and Og, king of Bashan,
    and all the kingdoms of Canaan,
¹² and gave their land as a heritage,
    a heritage to his people Israel.

• We praise the Lord because he is our .

 

¹³ Your name, O Lord, endures forever,
    your renown, O Lord, throughout all ages.
¹⁴ For the Lord will vindicate his people
    and have compassion on his servants.
¹⁵ The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
    the work of human hands.
¹⁶ They have mouths, but do not speak;
    they have eyes, but do not see;
¹⁷ they have ears, but do not hear,
    nor is there any breath in their mouths.
¹⁸ Those who make them become like them,
    so do all who trust in them.

• We praise the Lord because he is a true, God.

¹⁹ O house of Israel, bless the Lord!
    O house of Aaron, bless the Lord!
²⁰ O house of Levi, bless the Lord!
    You who fear the Lord, bless the Lord!
²¹ Blessed be the Lord from Zion,
    he who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the Lord!

• We praise the Lord because he chooses to be us.
  

³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.” (Revelation 21:3, ESV)

Proverbs 1:7-8 (ESV)
⁷  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
⁸  Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
1. A father and mother – in a healthy marriage in a God-honoring home – are the  teachers of “the fear of the Lord.”

 

Proverbs 2:16-19 (ESV)
¹⁶  So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman,
from the adulteress with her smooth words,
¹⁷  who forsakes the companion of her youth
and forgets the covenant of her God;
¹⁸  for her house sinks down to death,
and her paths to the departed;
¹⁹  none who go to her come back,
nor do they regain the paths of life. (ESV)
2. Warning: some women and their promises to God and to their husbands – they do not “fear the Lord.”

Proverbs 9:10, 13-18 (ESV)
¹⁰  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
¹³  The woman Folly is loud;
she is seductive and knows nothing.
¹⁴  She sits at the door of her house;
she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,
¹⁵  calling to those who pass by,
who are going straight on their way,
¹⁶  “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
And to him who lacks sense she says,
¹⁷  “Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
¹⁸  But he does not know that the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
3. Warning: some women are – they do not “fear the Lord.”

Proverbs 31:10-31 (ESV)
¹⁰  An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
¹¹  The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
¹²  She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
1. “A woman who fears the Lord” is of great to her husband.

¹³  She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
¹⁴  She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
¹⁵  She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
¹⁶  She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷  She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
¹⁸  She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹  She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
2. “A woman who fears the Lord” is not ; she is .

²⁰  She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
3. “A woman who fears the Lord” is to those in need.

²¹  She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
²²  She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³  Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴  She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
²⁵  Strength and dignity are her clothing,
and she laughs at the time to come.
4. “A woman who fears the Lord”  well and is not of what is to come.

 

²⁶  She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
5. “A woman who fears the Lord” is a and  teacher.

²⁷  She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
6. “A woman who fears the Lord” is in looking after her household.

 

²⁸  Her children rise up and call her blessed;
her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹  “Many women have done excellently,
but you surpass them all.”
³⁰  Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
³¹  Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.
7. “A woman who fears the Lord” should be and by her husband and children.

“Honor your father and your mother,
that your days may be long in the land
that the Lord your God is giving you.”
(Exodus 20:12, ESV; cf. Ephesians 6:2-3)