Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, 28158 IA-2, Bloomfield, IA (2026)

06/20/2026

IN THE WORD: Ephesians 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;)

We live in a day when the young people have become judges of their parents. They have been taught this in places that should above all have respect for the parents of the children they teach. We live in a society that seems to want to separate children and parents from each other, even claiming governmental ownership of the children. The results of this disrespect are obvious. Many of the young people are destroying themselves in the exercise of a so-called ‘freedom’ that is totally without wisdom or restraint. Deuteronomy 5:16 gives the import of the promise of which Paul speaks: Deuteronomy 5:16 Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. The present behavior being installed in the younger generation will bring an end to all freedom.
My father was born in 1918, which made him the right age to spend his teenage years in the Great Depression. He did not even get to finish grade school, but went about working at all kinds of manual labor jobs to make the money needed to sustain life. He met my mother in a small Missouri town where he went to work in the mines. They were married in 1938 and began to have a family. WW2 started, and in due time Dad was called up and joined the Navy, serving on a ship called an LST, or Landing Ship Tank, that delivered munitions and supplies to war zones.
He was discharged in October of 1945 and came back to tend to his growing family. Dad was a hard worker, often working two jobs. As a small boy, I only saw my father on Sundays. He was gone before I got up and didn’t get home until after I was in bed. Then, he would get up on Sunday morning and make pancakes so that we could have all we could eat. He was 45 years old before he got able to buy his own piece of land, a lifelong dream, and even that presented him with more years of hard work. Dad never assumed that life would be easy.
Isn’t it amazing that a generation that has never even attempted anything can sit in judgment on a generation that did so much? A generation that left them things that their fathers could not even dream of. I could tell so many stories about my father; his strength, his patience, his gentleness, his sense of humor. That was his generation. It is only the wannabe’s that can afford to be demanding, spoiled brats, all on somebody else’s dime. GROW UP!

ANNOUNCEMENTS: HAPPY FATHER’S DAY!
HAVE A BLESSED DAY.

06/20/2026

GOD AS A FATHER: Matthew 6:9-13

HE INITIATES:
**Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

HE CREATES:
**Genesis 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

HE PROPAGATES:
**Genesis 2:22 And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.
**Genesis 46:26 All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six; MAN BEGETS, WOMAN BEARS

HE PROVIDES:
**Matthew 6:26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

HE PROTECTS: John 10:29
**John 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

HE DISCIPLINES: Hebrews 12:7
**Hebrews 12:7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
1. By direction: Hebrews 12:5 And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
2. By correction: Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
3. For perfection: Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

HE LOVES:
**John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
**He shows his children that he loves their mother: Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

HE IS TO BE REVERENCED:
**Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
**Ephesians 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
And obeyed: **Ephesians 5:22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
**Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
**GOD IS A FATHER, AND THE PROTOTYPE OF ALL HE INTENDED FATHERS TO BE!

PLEASANT VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH

JUNE 21, 2026

06/13/2026

IN THE WORD: Luke 15:24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

I thought I needed to offer an explanation for the title of the message this morning; ‘After the Party’. It is the story of the younger son in Luke 15, who demands his inheritance and departs for the far country. He takes up with the wrong crowd and soon wastes it all with partying and prostitutes.
Very soon, hard times come. He is out of money and his so-called friends are nowhere to be found. He is reduced to desperate measures. He then comes to himself and begins to think of home. He is humbled, and is ready to go home and confess his foolishness. His father, whom he has dishonored, has never ceased to keep a watch for him, should he ever come back. Upon sighting him, he runs to him and smothers him in a tearful embrace. He reinstates him in the family, going beyond anything he had possessed before. They have a big party.
This story has thrilled many, and has brought many to see their need of Christ. The problem is that we have tended to stay at the party and have not dealt with the life that follows the party. How would this young man then live following his redemption?
We have left so many at the party, and then we wonder why we have so many unmotivated Christians. They live like the world because they have never renounced it. They have never felt their true poverty, or experienced the true riches. They have never run into the arms of a loving Father to shed the filth of their life, and to be renewed with a righteousness that is not rightfully theirs. Those who do will be different human beings.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: June 21; FATHER’S DAY!
DON’T FORGET DAD!

JUST AS I AM: Charlotte Elliot, 1835

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To Thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Just as I am, Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down;
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

06/13/2026

AFTER THE PARTY: Luke 15:11-24

BEFORE:
**He is self-centered; give me
**He is entitled; mine
**He is insolent; demands
**He is thoughtless; the far country, he abandons
**He is wasteful; riotous living
**He is ignorant; choosing his friends
**He is reckless; until it is all gone

IN THE FAR COUNTRY:
**He goes as a master; with his inheritance
**He becomes a victim; a famine
**He is destitute; no man gave to him
**He is humbled; he came to HIMSELF
**He thinks about home; enough, and to spare
**He is willing; I will go
**He is ready to confess; I have sinned
**He will swallow his pride: I am not worthy
**He is ready to change: “Make me”, instead of “Give me”

THE RETURN:
**He knows nowhere else to go
**He knows no one else who cares
**He will be willing to serve
**He will be subject to the will of another
**Home will be a different place for a different man.
**He is met by love that he once spurned and despised
AFTER THE PARTY:
**HE WILL GET TO KNOW HIS FATHER: He has lived with him all his life and doesn’t even know him.
**HE WILL GET TO KNOW HIMSELF: He will look at himself with new eyes.
**HE WILL GET TO KNOW GRACE: He will now know that he deserves nothing, and that he deserves everything that has happened..
**HE WILL GET TO KNOW LOVE: Others instead of entitlement.

APPLICATION:
**Forgiveness and the party are too often the focus of the message today, to the exclusion of what should follow the party.
**Reclaimed sinners become children ofGod indeed.
**Returned sinners show the love and grace of God
**The second inheritance
**The dark cloud of the past magnifies the bright light of the Son.
**An attitude of gratitude. He’s getting the party though he knows what he’s done and where he has been.
**He will live a different life

PLEASANT VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH

JUNE 14, 2026

06/06/2026

IN THE WORD: Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

It may be said that the whole of human history can be stated in the words of this verse. It is the story of what might have been and of what has been. We live in a world full of pain, sickness, and violence. In spite of all the proposed ameliorations, it continues to this day. Human nature cannot fix itself.
Our first parents were created and placed into a perfect world where none of these things existed. Through one forbidden act, they brought all of them into existence. By grace, we still retain some of the things which God created especially for us.
Our world is still a beautiful place. We still get to enjoy its precious gifts. In the midst of all of this, death stalks and strikes, either slowly or suddenly.
Some people try to blame all of this on God. They ask why He allows it. In the beginning, He could have simply destroyed two human beings and have begun again. Instead, He redeemed them and provided for the redemption of all repentant sinners.
Let us remember that the wisdom that created this world has provided a better way and a better place. We can truly say with Paul: Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;

ANNOUNCEMENTS: FATHER’S DAY, May 21

WHISPERING HOPE: Septimus Winner, 1868

Soft as the voice of an angel,
Breathing a lesson unheard,
Hope with a gentle persuasion
Whispers her comforting word:
Wait till the darkness is over,
Wait till the tempest is done,
Hope for the sunshine tomorrow,
After the shower is gone.

. If, in the dusk of the twilight,
Dim be the region afar,
Will not the deepening darkness
Brighten the glimmering star?
Then when the night is upon us,
Why should the heart sink away?
When the dark midnight is over,
Watch for the breaking of day.

Hope, as an anchor so steadfast,
Rends the dark veil for the soul,
Whither the Master has entered,
Robbing the grave of its goal;
Come then, oh, come, glad fruition,
Come to my sad, weary heart;
Come, O Thou blest hope of glory,
Never, oh, never depart.

Whispering hope, oh, how welcome thy voice,
Making my heart in its sorrow rejoice

06/06/2026

ADAM AND EVE: Genesis 3:1-24

PERFECTION:
1. Never experienced anything else
2. Adult, but able to disobey
3. Free will chose sin. It still does

TEMPTATION:
1.Not of themselves, at first; 1
2. Not of God: James 1:13-14 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: 14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
3. Must be resisted: 1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

GUILT:
1. Conscience awakened: 7
2. Fear instead of fellowship: 8
3. Blame shifting: 12-13
4. Conscience redeemed through confession and correction: 16-19

REDEMPTION: 21
1. By God: 21; Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
2. By grace: Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost..
3. Through blood: life literally taken; **Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.
**1 Peter 1:18-19 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

RESTORATION:
1. Through the covering of another; 24;
2. In the likeness of Christ: 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

HOPE:
1. Given life again: Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
2. Given hope: 1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

PLEASANT VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH

JUNE 7, 2026

05/30/2026

IN THE WORD: Luke 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all done .those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

In Luke 17:5 the disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith. In verse six, He spoke to them about the faith that can move mountains. It must have been very exciting to them. That kind of faith would soon grow meaningless if we could all go around commanding impossible things that would always immediately happen.
But, the next sentence goes the other direction. It speaks of servants that are working in the field, and then at evening are called on to wait on their master before they eat and drink. The word ‘duty’ never occurs to most Christians today. Duty is doing what you signed on to do, even if it is hard or at an inconvenient time. And, we did sign on.
He taught them to confess themselves as unprofitable if they were only doing their duty. Church is fun and uplifting, but it should also consist of service. Many churches sit still in the water because the members think worship is a one-way street. Jesus said of Himself: Mark 10:45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. How can we do less? Paul said to the Romans: Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. This is both expected, and acceptable to God.
Matthew 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Father’s Day, June 21

-GOD HAS A PLAN-

The Lord had a job for me,
But I had too much to do.
I said “You get somebody else,
Or wait ‘til I get through.”
I don’t know how the Lord came out–
No doubt He got along;
But I felt kinda sneakin’ like!
I knew I’d done God wrong.

“One day I needed the Lord–
Needed Him right away;
But He never answered me at all,
And I could hear Him say,
Down in my accusin’ heart;
“Child, I’ve got too much to do;
You get somebody else,
Or wait ‘til I get through.”

Now, when the Lord has a job for me,
I never try to shirk;
I drop what I have on hand
And do the Lord’s good work.
And my affairs can run along
Or wait ‘til I get through;
For nobody else can do the work
That God’s marked out for you.

—Paul Lawrence Dunbar

05/30/2026

CHOOSE YOU: Joshua 24:15

CHOOSE YOU:
1. Responsibility; Ecclesiastes 5:5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.
2. Liability; Joshua 24:20 If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.

THIS DAY:
1. Definitive beginning; beginning with purpose
2. Gun sight: important to sight straight. The further the distance, the more the variance.
3. Aim wrong, miss the target

WHOM:
1. We will answer because we serve a Person
2. There is no such thing as a vacuum; life is not meaningless.
3. Choices have consequences

WHETHER:
1. There are many choices
2. Whatever you do, or don’t do, you have made one

BUT:
1. It always comes to that: an act of our will with or against the options.
2. Not determined by what others will do
3. Regardless of what they will do

AS FOR ME:
1. Individual: 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
2. Not responsible for anybody else

MY HOUSE:
1. Influence now: Psalm 78:6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children:
2. Destiny: forever

WE WILL:
1. Commitment; continually renewed; John 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
2. Buttressed and maintained
3. Lots of little things

SERVE:
1. His will; Luke 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
2. Our actions; John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

THE LORD:
1. Even if others don’t

PLEASANT VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH

MAY 31, 2026

05/23/2026

THE SACRIFICES OF OTHERS: 1 Chronicles 11:15-19

DAVID’S REMINISCENCES ON THE DAYS OF HIS CHILDHOOD CAUSED HIM TO REFLECT ON THE SACRIFICES OF OTHERS.

THEIR CAUSE WAS NOT FOR MILITARY GLORY, BUT FOR A SAFE HOMELAND.

THE ONES WHO STAY HOME ARE WHAT THE SOLDIER FIGHTS FOR;

WITHOUT THE EVERYDAY SACRIFICES OF OTHERS, THE SOLDIER’S SACRIFICE WOULD BE MEANINGLESS.

SOLDIERS:
**Those who dedicate their lives to service in the defense of their homeland.
PARENTS:
**Those who stand between their children and God: Ephesians 6:1-3; Colossians 3:20
TEACHERS:
**Those who teach true knowledge and who encourage character and citizenship: Lo**ta Jones.
NEIGHBORS:
**People who dwell safely by one another, and who help one another: Romans 13:8-10.
LEADERS: Romans 13:4
**The function of government is to preserve and protect the things that matter.
**It is to allow the atmosphere where freedom can function and flourish.
**It is to suppress evil without interfering with freedom
PASTORS:
**To admonish and nurture: Titus 1:5-9
**To shepherd: 1 Peter 5:2-4
SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS:
**Dedicated people who bring the truth of God and life to others by word and example. Other people’s children
STRANGERS:
**In a society where all respect the rights of others; Romans 13:8-10
**Where people are helpers of those they may not even know: Luke 10:25-37
LAW ENFORCEMENT:
**Those who dwell among us to protect us, and who may even be called to put their life on the line.

A SAFE NATION:
Psalm 144:11-15 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:
12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:
13 That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:
14 That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.
15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
*****
Psalm 85:9-13 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land.
10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12 Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase.
13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.

PLEASANT VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH

MAY 24, 2026

05/23/2026

LIVING IN JEOPARDY: John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Anyone who does not believe in the sovereign grace of God has never contemplated the years they walked in unrealized sin, when the Lord allowed them to live and to sin before Him. We as people sin 24/7, living in lust and ingratitude. In constant jeopardy.
I was just such a person. I was 18 ½ years old, a senior in high school. I had almost never entered the doors of any church, and never understood anything I saw or heard. I had a foul mouth and a bad temper, growing up wild and rough.
The day was April 11, 1965. It was Easter Sunday. To me it was no different than any other day. At that time, I was dating a girl that I had grown fond of, and she invited me to church. They were having evangelistic services. I didn’t even know what that was.
I would never ever, ever, have gone to church that day except someone invited me that made me want to go. I got arrested by Jesus that night, like Paul on the road to Damascus.
I would never have found God if He had not preserved me and called me. I would not be here today if He had not loved me before I was even born. But today, by His grace; 1 Timothy 1:12-15 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry; 13 Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. 14 And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. 15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

BELIEVE THE BIBLE

There are some who believe the Bible;
And some who believe in part,
And some who trust with reservation,
And some with all their heart.
But I know that its every promise
Is firm and true always;
It is tried as the precious silver,
And it means just what it says.

It is strange that we trust each other,
And only doubt our Lord;
We will take the word of mortals,
And yet distrust His Word;
But, oh, what light and glory
Would shine o’er all our days
If we would always remember
That He means just what He says.

—Rev. A.B. Simpson, D. D.

Pleasant Valley Baptist Church

06/20/2026

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06/13/2026

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