Mountain Springs Baptist Church

06/02/2026

06/02/2026

Earnest Prayers
Tuesday, June 2, 2026
by Dr. Paul Chappell

Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
James 5:16-18

Though Elijah was a powerful and greatly used prophet of God, James reminds us that he was also human, facing the same pressures, temptations, and struggles that we face. The thing that set Elijah apart was a commitment to earnest, passionate, faithful, and repeated prayer. He was not attempting to do his work for God in his own strength, because he recognized that would not suffice. Instead he depended on the faithfulness of God to work in response to his fervent prayers.

R. A. Torrey wrote, “Those who would have us think that they have attained to some sublime height of faith and trust because they never know any agony of conflict or of prayer, have surely gotten beyond their Lord, and beyond the mightiest victors for God, both in effort and prayer, that the ages of Christian history have known. When we learn to come to God with an intensity of desire that wrings the soul, then shall we know a power in prayer that most of us do not know now.”

There are too many Christians today who do not take prayer as seriously as they should. Prayer is the tool that God has given us to tap into His unlimited resources, to see Him work, and to have our daily needs met. Those promises only work to the extent that we claim them in our prayers. Prayer is not a last resort but a first step. “Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not” (James 4:2).

Today's Growth Principle
A Christian who does not pray will be a Christian who misses out on what God can and would do.

06/01/2026

Knowing the Truth
Monday, June 1, 2026
by Dr. Paul Chappell

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1 John 4:1-3

There is an old Chinese story about a young man who wanted to become a sculptor. He arranged to study with a master carver who was widely respected both for the quality of his work and for his ability as a teacher. On the first day they met for lessons, the elderly teacher put a piece of jade into the young man's hand and instructed the student to hold it in a firm grasp. But rather than talking about carving stone, he instead spoke about philosophy, the weather, and other subjects that had nothing to do with sculpting. After an hour of that, he sent the young man home. Day after day the same thing happened. He would hand the young man a piece of jade and talk about anything else besides stones. The boy was becoming frustrated with the experience, but one day the old man put a piece of stone into his hand and the student immediately responded, “That’s not jade!” Over time, he had learned to recognize the real thing, and was immediately able to identify an imposter.

We live in a world in which lies are often held up as truth. We cannot just believe anything that we hear. We must be students of the Word of God so that we become familiar with the truth. This is the most effective way to identify error. If we compare what we hear to what God has said, we can spot the errors and efforts at deception. The Bible is not just to be heard at church but read and studied and meditated on every day of the week.

Today's Growth Principle
The Bible in our hearts and minds is a powerful defense against the deception of the enemy.

06/01/2026

Where are the dads? 🤔 This powerful message challenges fathers to step up and lead their homes with intentionality. Are you creating moments that spark meaningful conversations with your kids?

05/31/2026

SUN PM - 05/31/26

05/31/2026

SUN AM --05/31/26

05/31/2026

Saul and his sons died in battle against the Philistines, opening the door of opportunity for David to be declared king. The transition between King Saul and King David was not without challenges between the two kingdoms. Join us to learn more. 2:00 pm

05/31/2026

Giving Back
Sunday, May 31, 2026
by Dr. Paul Chappell

I believed, therefore have I spoken: I was greatly afflicted: I said in my haste, All men are liars. What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me? I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.
Psalm 116:10-14

Major Fred Hargesheimer was shot down over Papua New Guinea in 1943 during World War II. Despite the injuries he suffered before parachuting out of his falling plane, Hargesheimer evaded capture with the help of the inhabitants of the village of Ea Ea. For months, they risked their lives to protect him until he was finally taken off the island on a submarine. After the war, Hargesheimer returned to Minnesota, but he never forgot those who had protected him. In 1960, he returned to the village and helped build what became known as the Airmen’s Memorial School with funds he had raised in America. He continued giving back with additional trips and further buildings, including a library with donated books. He even lived in the village for four years. Hargesheimer spent the rest of his life giving back to those who had rescued him.

We have been rescued from a far greater threat than capture by enemy soldiers. We were facing eternal separation from God in Hell until Jesus stepped in and made the payment we owed. We do not earn either our salvation or extra merit with God for doing good works for Him. Yet in gratitude for salvation freely given through His grace, we should spend every day being grateful for what His sacrifice and live fully for Him. As Paul said, "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:14–15).

Today's Growth Principle
We display gratitude to God for His salvation when we invest our hearts and minds and resources in His kingdom.