Mt Paran Missionary Baptist Church - Eastdale

09/13/2026

Pastor Ron’s Sermon Today: How Grateful Are You To Be Forgiven?
Scripture: Luke 7: 36 - 48

How grateful are you and to what extent?
Have you shown your gratefulness and gratitude for God’s mercy?
What does gratefulness look like to you ?
How deep is your gratitude?

The sinful woman being forgiven of her sins heard Jesus was in the house of Simon the Pharisee.
Despite her reputation, she entered Simon’s house and cried deeply at Jesus’ feet wetting his feet with her tears. She then wiped Jesus’ feet with her hair and repeatedly kissed His feet pouring expensive perfume on them.
This sinful woman’s actions were an open expression of overwhelming gratitude because she understood how much she had been forgiven.
The woman did not merely say she was grateful—her actions showed it.

Simon found fault in what the woman did because of her sinful past.
Yet, Simon not acknowledging his own sins, did not offer Jesus the same customary greeting. Simon criticized Jesus also saying He was not a prophet by allowing her to perform such acts as if she was without sin.

None of us has the right to look down on another person because we have all sinned, we all have flaws, and we all need God’s forgiveness.
We all have sinned and fallen short …. No one is beyond sin, not one!

But what is the value of our forgiveness?
How grateful are you as a Christian to be given a clean slate, a clear conscience and a new being over and over again.
With that much forgiveness, we should yield that much love!! Because forgiveness came at a tremendous cost. Jesus suffered and ultimately died so that we could be forgiven, restored, reconciled, redeemed, and given another chance.

If we are truly grateful, that gratitude should lead to love, devotion, surrender, sacrifice, obedience and service. It should affect what we give up, what we walk away from, how we use our time and resources, and where Jesus actually ranks among the priorities of our lives.

Gratefulness gives way to service, devotion, compassion, praise and sacrifice!
We should ask ourselves….. What have I sacrificed? What have I surrendered? What have I changed? What have I given to God? Where does Jesus truly rank in my life?

When you truly understand how much God has forgiven you, gratitude should not simply be something you feel or say - it should be something people can see in the way you live.

09/06/2026

Visiting Pastor Frank Jones’ Sermon: Your Comfort Zone
Scripture: Matthew 14:22 - 29

Being in your comfort zone is being in God’s territory!
God is Omnipresent - everything that existent is within God’s oversight.
God is there before our troubles start
God is there before the storm brews
God is there before the tears fall
Whenever there is a problem, a struggle or a need, you are in the comfort zone of God.
Your comfort zone should be where you spend your time with God.
You must be alert, walk by faith, never doubt and keep your mind steadfast on Jesus.
Stay in the “Good Hands” of God.
Keep trusting in the Word of God.
Our comfort, protection and help comes from the Lord.
During our Christian journey there will be waves of struggles, heart aches, pain and disappointment but we must be obedient to God. Putting your trust and faith in God keeps us within the comfort zone.
Keeping God’s commandments keeps us within the comfort zone.
Psalm 121:1–2 “ I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth".

09/06/2026

August Health Observation: Alzheimer’s Disease

Important Facts: As we work to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s disease, it is important to understand its growing impact on our communities and families. According to the Alzheimer's Association's 2026 Facts and Figures Report, an estimated 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia, and that number could grow to 13.8 million by 2060without major medical breakthroughs. Alzheimer's remains the sixth leading cause of death in the United States. [pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov], [alz.org]

Life impact: Alzheimer's is a progressive brain disorder that destroys memory and thinking, being the 6th leading cause of death in the US. Of the top 10 leading causes of death, it is the only disease without a cure, prevention, or slowing treatment.

Prevalence: Two-thirds of those living with Alzheimer's are women, who are also more likely to develop Alzheimer than breast cancer. Alzheimer's shares risk factors with cardiovascular disease, like high blood pressure, stroke, and high cholesterol.
�Signs and Symptoms: Common early symptoms include forgetting recent information, events or dates, misplacing items, poor judgment affecting safety, difficulty planning or solving problems, difficulty following familiar recipes and instructions or trouble completing familiar tasks. Other warning signs are repetitively asking the same questions, restating the same thing over and over not realizing it has been stated before and trouble finding the right words to say.

Early Detection: Earlier detection is becoming possible through blood tests. One of the most significant advances in 2026 is the growing use of FDA-cleared blood biomarker tests that can help identify Alzheimer's-related changes in the brain. These tests are making it easier for physicians to detect Alzheimer's disease earlier and guide patients toward appropriate treatment and specialist care.

Treatment: Although there is no cure, there are new treatments offering hope. There are new FDA-approved medications that can slow the progression of the disease in some individuals who are in the early stages. These treatments do not reverse the disease, but they may help slow cognitive decline for eligible patients.

Action: If you or someone you know are experiencing any symptoms or have any other co-conditions, we recommend taking steps to schedule an appointment to discuss proactive care and take control of your health.

Research is advancing rapidly. Scientists are exploring many new approaches to Alzheimer's treatment that include therapies that target inflammation, immune system responses, body proteins, and other brain pathways. Researchers are also studying MRI patterns of the brain and other biomarkers that may help predict how quickly the disease progresses.

The 2026 Walk to End Alzheimer's in Chattanooga TN is scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026, at Erlanger Park (2658 Pipe Way, Chattanooga, TN 37408)
The fundraising goal for Chattanooga is $125,000.
Event Schedule:
* 8:00 AM – Registration Opens
* 9:00 AM – Promise Flower Ceremony
* Walk to Follow

Awareness Color: Purple

Alzheimer's Association national site – get information on Alzheimer's disease and dementia symptoms, causes, treatment and care. Join the fight to end ALZ.

08/30/2026

Visiting Pastor James Westmoreland’s Sermon: Self Control, Self Discipline
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:1-5

Examples from our past can be warnings for our future. We don’t live in the past, but we can certainly learn from it.
If we profess Christ, we must live for Christ. Our lives should reflect the Christ we say we believe in.

Sometimes God has to correct us and remind us that His Word is serious.
Could it be that we are where we are in life today because of a lack of self-discipline?
One of the hardest things we face is self-discipline.

We should ask ourselves:
* Is God waiting on some of us to die out before He takes us where He wants us to be in life?
* What areas of our lives are we struggling to surrender to God?
Paul’s letter was a warning and a reminder.
Paul wrote his letters to bring discipline and correction to the people. He wanted them to see the truth for themselves. His writing served as a reminder of who God is and how seriously we should take God’s Word.
God’s people had experienced His faithfulness, yet they still struggled with disobedience and rebellion.

Don’t Take God’s Grace for Granted.
We know that God is faithful and just to forgive us but we should not use God’s forgiveness as permission to continue doing whatever we want. Instead, shouldn’t we desire to live in a way that doesn’t continually require us to ask for forgiveness?

God Gives Us Direction and Hope. God never leaves us without direction or hope. He gives us what we need to develop and maintain:
* Self-control
* Self-discipline
* Steadfastness
* Obedience

What if God allowed us to die while we were in the midst of our sins. What if we didn’t have another opportunity to confess our sins before God called us to glory? What if we died before we had the opportunity to make things right with God?
This should motivate us to take our walk with Christ seriously right now.

We must keep our minds steadfast on Jesus so we are not We must not rebellious or disobedient.
We must ask ourselves:
* Do we love like we should?
* Do we pray like we should?
* Do we forgive like we should?
* Do we serve like we should?
* Do we live like Christ?
* Are we doing the things that represent Christ?
Our profession of faith should be reflected in our behavior, choices, discipline, obedience, love, prayer, and daily walk with Christ.

08/24/2026

Pastor Ron’s Sermon Today: The Grace Of A Clean Slate
Scripture: 1 John 1:9

The Grace of a clean slate is like cleaning the blackboard …. erasing the chalkboard clean
A clean slate is …. a reset, a u-turn and an about face.

We all have sinned and come short. We must own up to our deceitful ways.
Confession is good for the soul and a path to cleanliness ….

Admitting wrongdoing is a way to display accountability and ownership ……
We must say …. God, I was wrong, God, I am sorry, God, I did it !!
If we confess God hears us and comes near us.

When God forgives; He forgets and our sins no longer affect us.
A clean slate is an opportunity to start all over again clean ~ A guilty verdict acquitted !!

A clean slate does not mean you are innocent- a clean slate is forgiveness based on grace!
Grace is a Devine Pardon from God !!! God gives the order to execute a pardon without punishment.

When we sin, we lessen our love for God and we interrupt our relationship with God.
God despises sin … sin is a separation from God
God can not bless sin.
To pursue sin is to turn away from God! God can not fellowship with sinners or sinfulness.
Sin is a felony against God’s rules but God is faithful and just to forgive us if we confess them!
We must give our sinful lives a cleansing !!! We must confess to be cleansed !!!

Through God’s amazing and abundant grace our brokenness can be mended!!
Because of God’s amazing and abundant grace, mercy and deliverance is available!!
God forgives us of our sin and then cleans us from all unrighteousness!! God can present us faultless before the throne!!

Jude 1:24-25
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,"
“To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever.
Amen

08/18/2026

What an amazing day !!! Thank you to all the players, their parents and guest for attending !!

08/17/2026

Pastor Ron’s prayer over the young men of the Howard High School Hustlin Tigers
Protecting The Den By Putting God First !!!

08/17/2026

Mt Paran Missionary Baptist Church recognized the young men and their parents of the Howard High School Hustlin Tigers Football Team today for our Youth Day Program!
Prayers for the coaching staff and the players to have a remarkably safe, fun and successful football 🏈 season !!
“Protecting The Den” By Putting God First !!!

08/17/2026

Pastor Ron’s Sermon Today: Take God At His Word
Scripture: Isaiah 55:6-11

We are encouraged to seek the Lord in a covenant relationship.
An invitation to a covenant relationship that promises satisfaction, comfort, provision and everlasting reward to all that live a life to the will of God …. Where your souls will live in abundance!!
Seek Him while He can be found !

This is an urgent appeal to seek God’s and live in His peace.
God’s Word is reliable and gives everlasting life.
The difference between God’s Word and the world’s word is there is truth, reliability, peace, comfort, joy, restoration, understanding and love!
God’s Words are spoken for our understanding and hope. When God speaks things shift and evolve ~ what is spoken by God becomes so!
God always fulfills His promise!
If God said it … you better believe it, accept it and be obedient to it !!!
In God’s Word — weeping, adversity, pain, hurt, problems, enemies, trials, troubles and hardships are all resolved by His Will …. It is all settled when God speaks over it!
Put your faith and hope in God’s Word …. Stand on God’s Word!!
If God speaks for us nothing is impossible!
When God speaks over your life, nothing is impossible … God will keep you in perfect peace!
Continue to trust in the assurance of God !
Amen

08/10/2026

Pastor Ron’s Sermon Today: Bearing Fruit
Scripture: John 15:1-8

And you shall know them by their fruit —
Are you bearing any fruit?
Do we display the traits of Jesus Christ?

Jesus is the true vine!
For in the vine … is our fulfillment, growth, nourishment, development, hope, joy, anchor, beginning, end and eternal life!!!!
Jesus is the true vine!

Bearing fruit is essential to the work of the church
Bearing fruit is crucial to building up the kingdom of God here on earth
As Christians we do not judge ~ BUT ~ we should inspect the fruit that we bear !!! Is our fruit the right fruit
As Christians, we exist to bear fruit … and we must bear much fruit

Have you lost your connection to the true vine …. are you still bearing the right kind of fruit?
Check your connection ….. because when there is no connection, there is no power !

No Connection means …. No power, growth, action, morale, integrity, service, sacrifice, enthusiasm, strength, love, faith, relationship, purpose, goodness, compassion, vision, impact, grace, mercy, concerns, interest…. No Connection = No Results

Jesus’ relationship with us should be an association and connection of biblical fruit…
We should mirror the life of Christ
Our lives should exemplify the character of Christ
We should yield our lives to bring forth the type of fruit that would encourage others to want to live for Christ
Cultivate hope, love, faith, grace, mercy and the forgiven that Jesus extended to us !!

We must serve, mentor, heal and glorify God
We must stay connected to the power source

Mahatma Gandhi is widely quoted as saying, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” ….. Gandhi saw that many Christians failed in the fruit they beared

Jesus prune and cultivate us that we can better serve to You …. Jesus let our fruit glorify the kingdom of God
Amen