Mountain Springs Baptist Church

09/06/2026

SUN PM - 09/06/26

09/06/2026

09/06/2026

SUN AM --09/06/26

09/06/2026

Praise in the Prison
Sunday, September 6, 2026
by Dr. Paul Chappell

Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee: Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the LORD of hosts, is his name, Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:
Jeremiah 32:17-19

One of the most beautiful declarations of God’s glory and power is found in this prayer from the prophet Jeremiah. He declares with confidence that the great Creator God is able to do anything. This powerful statement of faith has resonated for centuries. It has been the text of many sermons and these verses were turned into a song many of us sang growing up. However, it is important to note what was going on when Jeremiah offered up this prayer, because it makes these words even more dramatic and meaningful.

The evil king Zedekiah had arrested Jeremiah and placed him in prison because the prophet continually warned the people of God’s coming judgment. At the same time, the armies of Babylon had laid siege to Jerusalem and were surrounding the city. Jeremiah was not praising God and declaring His power in a time when things were going well, but rather in a time when everything was falling apart. Both his personal condition and his nation’s future were in grave jeopardy, but even in those conditions Jeremiah knew that God was in control.

The struggles and trials of our lives do not mean that God is no longer able to defend and deliver His children. They are not evidence that He has abandoned or forgotten us, or that He no longer cares about us. They are simply part of the process of purifying us to make us more like Jesus. “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

Today's Growth Principle
Our circumstances do not dictate our joy or define God's goodness or care for us.

09/05/2026

The aged Apostle Paul, moved by the Holy Spirit, wrote his epistle to young Timothy to offer timeless guidance on how to build effective churches by building effective believers. Throughout this letter, Paul navigates a variety of practical subjects, addressing individual believers, complex church challenges, and matters of deep social importance.

This Sunday morning, the scripture turns our attention toward the sensitive topic of money, issuing a solemn warning that the love of wealth can lead to spiritual disaster. It is vital for us to recognize that wealth itself is neither moral nor immoral; money is inherently neutral. Yet, the Bible provides strict directions concerning the very real dangers of greed. How we handle our finances serves as a direct testimony of our spirituality and a clear manifestation of our hearts.

Paul begins this teaching by emphasizing a profound truth: “godliness with contentment is great gain.” To truly understand this, we must look at what it means to be content. The classic definition of contentment is a resting or satisfaction of the mind without disquiet—a peaceful acquiescence to our circumstances. In the original Greek text, the word used is autarkeia. This term denotes a deep, inner sufficiency. It is a settled state of mind that rests securely in God’s providence rather than fluctuating with changing circumstances. Join us as we observe this enlightening passage of God's Word. Sunday Morning at 11:00 am

09/05/2026

Don't Copy the World
Saturday, September 5, 2026
by Dr. Paul Chappell

When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
Deuteronomy 18:9-12

When God gave instructions to the people of Israel regarding how they were to live once they reached the Promised Land, He gave them a strong warning. They would be surrounded by pagan nations whose beliefs and practices were an abomination to Him. The Israelites were not to imitate them or adopt their ways. Yet despite God’s warning, that is exactly what eventually happened. Over time, they forsook God and embraced the sinful practices of the nations around them. Their departure became so great that God said through Ezekiel, “As I live, saith the Lord GOD, S***m thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters” (Ezekiel 16:48).

It is a sobering thing for God’s people to become indistinguishable from a culture that rejects Him. Yet that danger has existed in every generation. When the Bible warns us about the world, it is warning us against the values, desires, attitudes, and practices of a fallen world system that is opposed to God and His truth.

Our greatest concern should not simply be how sinful the culture around us becomes, but whether its thinking is beginning to shape us. Little by little, practices we once recognized as wrong can begin to seem normal, and convictions rooted in God’s Word can begin to weaken. God has called us to live by His truth rather than allowing the values of the world around us to determine what we accept.

Today's Growth Principle
We must continually measure our beliefs and choices by the unchanging standard of His Word.

09/04/2026

One Good Attitude Can Change Everything
September 04, 2026
Dr. John Adams

You may never know the full impact of your faithfulness. That is one of the most humbling and exciting truths about living for God in the everyday moments of life. A young sailor simply showed up to work with a cheerful attitude and a love for the Lord. He was not preaching sermons or handing out tracts. He was just doing his job with joy. When his supervisor finally asked him why he always had such a good attitude, the young man gave a simple answer. He loved the Lord. That answer planted a seed that eventually led to a man's salvation, a church being planted, and nearly twenty more churches growing from that one. All of it started with one believer who decided to honor God at work. You do not know who is watching you. You do not know what questions are forming in the minds of your coworkers or your boss. But God does. And He is more than capable of using your consistent, faithful, joyful obedience to do something far beyond what you could ask or imagine. Be encouraged today. Your ordinary faithfulness is never ordinary in God's hands.

Bible Verse
"And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ." - Colossians 3:23-24 (KJV)

Reflection Question
Is there someone in your workplace right now who might be watching your attitude and quietly wondering what makes you different?

Quote
"Son, I gotta ask you, why do you always have such a good attitude? He smiled and said, it's because I love the Lord, Chief."

Prayer
Lord, help me to be faithful in the small, unseen moments of my workday. Use my attitude and my actions to draw others closer to You, even when I am unaware of it. Amen.

09/04/2026

What you do at work matters to God. Your performance, your attitude, your integrity—it all reflects on the Almighty. Most of us never think about this connection, but the Bible is clear: believers are called to work with excellence and the right attitude. Let your job become your ministry.