Starting October 15 KBC will meet every Friday between 6-8 for some singing, shouting, playing, crafting and learning. Parents can drop their children off a little before 6 and pick them up at 8. For more information call the church at 860-496-8022.
Every Wednesday night at 7:00 we gather to share each other’s burdens and pray for each other. We want to pray for you too! Your heart will be encouraged as we sing, share, pray, then have our hearts stirred by the Bible teaching. Will we see you @ prayer meeting?
Wounded: Handle With Care
Pastor Don Carpenter / General
Matthew 12:20
Richard L. Dunagin of Denton, Texas, writing in Leadership Journal, said that his children won four free goldfish at the school carnival, necessitating a Saturday morning family outing to find an aquarium. The first several they found were too expensive, but then he spotted a used one right in the middle of the aisle: A discarded ten-gallon tank complete with gravel and filter. It was five dollars.
“Of course, it was nasty dirty, but the savings made the two hours of cleanup a breeze. Those four new fish looked great in their new home, at least for the first day. But by Sunday one had died. Too bad, but three remained. Monday morning revealed a second casualty, and by Monday night a third goldfish had gone belly up.
“We called in an expert, a member of our church who had a 30-gallon tank. It didn’t take him long to discover the problem: I had washed the tank with soap, an absolute no-no. My uninformed efforts had destroyed the very lives I was trying to protect.
“Sometimes in our zeal to clean up our own lives or the lives of others, we unfortunately use “killer soaps”—condemnation, criticism, nagging, fits of temper. We think we’re doing right, but our harsh, self-righteous treatment is more than they can bear.”
It is a wonderful thing to be a blood-bought, born again Christian. There is nothing that the devil can do that will erase salvation! But… there are many Christians who feel that they are no longer useful to our Savior. We have been led to believe that God has sees our failure and has put us on the shelf, never to be used for his glory. It is a horrible feeling to believe that God has discarded you!
Our passage this evening is a quotation from Isaiah 42:1-4. The prophet is explaining how the messiah will be recognized. One distinct characteristic is that he will not get rid of the weak and broken. This morning let us meditate on this truth: Where there is life, there is hope… and we are not dead yet!
The Great Physician Will Not Break the Bruised
Matthew 12:20 KJV
A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
A. Small stick with a crack or weak spot- not a mighty oak tree.
1. Not much good for building
2. Still had life in it
B. Bruised= an outward sigh of an inward hurt
1. Personal failure
2. The failure and hurt of others toward you
C. This bruise captivates the soul- Jesus sets you free!
Luke 4:18 KJV
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
D. David’s soul was bruised after his sin
1. Guilt
Psalm 51:5 KJV
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me.
Psalm 51:7 KJV
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
2. Lost joy
Psalm 51:12 KJV
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with thy free spirit.
3. Broken heart
Psalm 51:17 KJV
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: A broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
E. God heals the bruised heart
1. God is greater than your heart
1 John 3:20 KJV
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
2. God heals the broken heart
Psalm 147:3 KJV
He healeth the broken in heart, And bindeth up their wounds.
Hearts are flowers; they remain open to the softly falling dew, but shut up in the violent downpour of rain.—Jean Paul Richter
The Great Physician Will Fan The Flicker of Life
Matthew 12:20 KJV
A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
A. The picture
1. A little light
2. A little heat
3. A lot of irritating smoke.
B. Peter
1. Proclaimed his loyalty to Christ
Matthew 26:33–35 KJV
Peter answered and said unto him, Though all men shall be offended because of thee, yet will I never be offended.
Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice.
Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.
2. Peter denied Christ and wept bitterly
Matthew 26:73–75 KJV
And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee.
Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew.
And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.
3. Peter was greatly used after he was filled with the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:41 KJV
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Jesus will bring judgment to victory
Matthew 12:20 KJV
A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory.
A. Victory over emotions
1 John 3:20 KJV
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
2 Corinthians 10:4–5 KJV
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
B. Victory over the flesh
Romans 6:6–11 KJV
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C. Victory over guilt
Romans 8:1 KJV
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:31 KJV
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:33 KJV
Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
D. Victory over death
1 Corinthians 15:55–57 KJV
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jerry Bridges suggests these five strategies for obeying the biblical injunctions about gentleness:
• Actively seek to make others feel at ease. Be sensitive to other’s opinions and ideas, welcoming opinion.
• Show respect for the personal dignity of the other person. When you need to change a wrong opinion, do so with persuasion and kindness rather than domination or intimidation.
• Avoid blunt speech and abrupt manner. Be sensitive to how others react to your words, considering how they may feel. When it is necessary to wound, also include encouragement.
• Don’t be threatened by opposition; gently instruct, asking God to dissolve the opposition.
• Do not belittle or degrade or gossip about a brother who has fallen—instead grieve and pray for his repentance.
Robert J. Morgan, Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations, and Quotes, electronic ed. (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2000), 339.
What was cast away because of external circumstances had great value inside. Jesus not only sees our warn exterior, but also sees who we are and who we can become in Him. There is still life, there is still hope. Let us learn from our Great Physician. When we come upon the wounded, handle with care.
Exported from Logos Bible Software, 6:01 PM October 12, 2021.
The world is a confusing, crazy and cold place right now. Come warm up with us. We are a warm, friendly and safe place to sing, worship, and encourage each other. We have saved a place for you and your family. Can you join us this Sunday Morning at 11:00?
Light Logic
Pastor Don Carpenter
2021 Bible Reading Challenge
I remember reading a sermon illustration given by the powerful proclaimer, Rev. Dr. A. W. Mays of Austin, Texas.
He told us of an incident that took place in his hometown of Austin concerning a streetlight. In Austin there was a high crime area, and the residents of the community petitioned the city of Austin to put up streetlights in this crime area. Dr. Mays stated that once the lights were up crime subsided for a while. But someone took a rock or something and knocked out the streetlights and crime in that area resumed. This took place over and over again… The lesson is that the only thing that will penetrate darkness is the presence of light.
___
We have finally turned the corner in our 2021 Bible Reading Challenge and are in the New Testament. This evening’s text is part of the famous Sermon on the Mount. Jesus is teaching us that believers are to be salt and light, making a difference in this wicked and dark world.
The message contained in our verses this evening is not only that we should be light contrasting our actions from those of the unregenerate masses, but also it is a message of how we can best use the light we have as Born Again believers. Tonight let us closely examine our Savior’s teaching and discover some powerful Light Logic.
You Are The Light
Matthew 5:14 (KJV)
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
As salt makes a difference in people’s food, so light makes a difference in their surroundings.
Jesus is the Light
John 1:4–6 KJV
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
John 1:9 KJV
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
You Were Full of Darkness
Proverbs 4:19 KJV
The way of the wicked is as darkness: They know not at what they stumble.
Ephesians 5:8 KJV
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
You Have Christ in You
Romans 8:9 KJV
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
You Now Are THE Light of the World
Matthew 5:14 KJV
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
You say, “Now, wait a minute, pastor. You may be the light, but I’m not the light. I’m excused.” Oh, no. My dear friend, you are the light of the world. And, what happens, so many times, is that our members don’t understand that.
• It’s like a general who calls his army together, and he lectures to them on the principles of war and tells them all about warfare. And then, he sends them off to eat a chicken dinner while he puts his rifle on his shoulder and goes off to war.•
1 Adrian Rogers, “Bright Lights in a Dark World,” in Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust, 2017), Mt 5:14–16.
A Gathering Of Lights Cannot Be Hidden!
Matthew 5:14 (KJV)
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
The More Folks That Get Saved, The More Light that Shines
Daniel 12:3 KJV
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
Church is the Gathering of Individual Lights to Make a Bright Display.
Do Not Cover, But Display Your Light
Matthew 5:15 KJV
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
A light is ?rst and foremost something which is meant to be seen. The houses in Palestine were very dark, with only one little circular window perhaps not more than eighteen inches across. The lamp was like a sauce-boat ?lled with oil with the wick ?oating in it. It was not so easy to rekindle a lamp in the days before matches existed. Normally the lamp stood on the lamp stand, which would be no more than a roughly shaped branch of wood; but when people went out, for safety’s sake, they took the lamp from its stand and put it under an earthen bushel measure, so that it might burn without risk until they came back. The primary duty of the light of the lamp was to be seen.
So, Christianity is something which is meant to be seen. As someone has well said, ‘There can be no such thing as secret discipleship, for either the secrecy destroys the discipleship, or the discipleship destroys the secrecy.’ Our Christianity should be perfectly visible to everyone.
Further, this Christianity should be visible not only within the Church. A Christianity whose effects stop at the church door is not much use to anyone. It should be even more visible in the ordinary activities of the world. Our Christianity should be visible in the way we treat a shop assistant across the counter, in the way we order a meal in a restaurant, in the way we treat our employees or serve our employer, in the way we play a game or drive or park a car, in the daily language we use, in the daily literature we read. As Christians, we should be just as much a Christian in the factory, the workshop, the shipyard, the mine, the schoolroom, the surgery, the kitchen, the golf course and the playing ?eld as we are in church. Jesus did not say: ‘You are the light of the Church’; he said: ‘You are the light of the world’—and in our lives in the world our Christianity should be evident to all.1
1 William Barclay, The Gospel of Matthew, Third Ed., The New Daily Study Bible (Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press, 2001), 142–143.
WHO TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS?
“Why would anyone try to hide a light?” Jesus asked. Unfortunately many Christians do just that. We hide our light by
• being quiet when we should speak
• going along with the crowd
• denying the truth
• letting sin dim our witness for Christ
• not explaining the truth to others
• ignoring the needs of others
Be a beacon of truth—don’t shut off your light from the rest of the world.
1 Bruce B. Barton, Matthew, Life Application Bible Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 1996), 85.
God has called us to shine.… Let no man or woman say that they cannot shine because they have not so much influence as some others may have. What God wants you to do is to use the influence you have.… Remember, a small light will do a good deal when it is in a very dark place. Put one little tallow candle in the middle of a large hall, and it will give a good deal of light.
Dwight L. Moody*1
1 Elliot Ritzema and Elizabeth Vince, eds., 300 Quotations for Preachers from the Modern Church, Pastorum Series (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2013).
Shine Your Light
Matthew 5:16 (KJV)
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Before Men- not for men’s approval
Matthew 6:2 KJV
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
Through Your Good Works
1 Corinthians 10:31 KJV
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Get Glory For The Father
Romans 8:15 KJV
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
At the end of the 2012 baseball season, many people expected the San Francisco Giants to put outfielder Melky Cabrera, who had been suspended for using a banned substance, on their postseason roster to help them make a run at a world championship. The team decided character was as important as production, and left Cabrera off the roster; they won the World Series anyway. In 2014 the Giants won another championship, and Bobby Evans, one of the men who makes key decisions for the club, says his goal is the same as it was in 2012: to honor Christ in all he does.
Evans has been with the Giants since 2006, and though his title has changed, his job includes negotiating player contracts, helping to acquire free agents, and signing minor league talent. Evans says there can be pressure to be dishonest in some situations, but he wants to be known for being truthful. He said, “You want your life to point people to Christ. It starts for me with my own relationship with Christ. That’s going to direct and dictate what influence I have for Christ in my family, in my marriage, and in the workplace.”
—Jim L. Wilson and Jim Sandell
Exported from Logos Bible Software, 12:34 PM October 6, 2021.
Starting October 15 KBC will meet every Friday between 6-8 for some singing, shouting, playing, crafting and learning. Parents can drop their children off a little before 6 and pick them up at 8. For information call the church at 860-496-8022.
Psalm 122:1 (KJV): I was glad when they said unto me,
Let us go into the house of the Lord.
Join the excitement!
Sunday School 9:45 / Worship 11:00 / Bible Study 6:30 PM