Pleasant Valley Baptist Church

Pleasant Valley Baptist Church We are a body of believers who profess Christ and strive to do His will by reaching, teaching, and s Sunday School: 10:00 a.m. Worship Service: 11:00 a.m.

We are a body of believers who profess Christ and strive to do His will by reaching, teaching, and sharing His love. County Road 301 Jonesboro, TX 76538

06/14/2026

Psalm 20 again opened our worship, followed by hymns Rescue the perishing, Send the light, Jesus shall reign, and Jesus saves. In our prayer time we mourn with the Hensil, Hill, Gripp, and Kroese families. Martha's knee is still painful, Jack is having a procedure, Ruth is doing well, Chelsea had complications after having her baby, Martha M isn't well, we are thankful that a peace deal may be signed today, and we ask for revival in our nation. The sermon was from Luke 14 and the cost of following Jesus. In 1954, Coach Bear Bryant took his Texas Aggie football team to Junction for preseason practice. He didn't allow ice, water, towels, or even oranges on the field. Some players had to be carried off at the end of practice. One player lost 20 pounds in one day. In only 9 days, 76 players had quit. The NCAA later banned this type of practice, Bryant was lucky no one died. The 39 players who finished the practice counted the cost of what it would take to make the football team. Jesus today asks us the same question, have we counted the cost of being a disciple? The first cost is to hate our family. That seems harsh and contradictory, aren't we supposed to love and respect our family? The word used that we translate as hate isn't an emotional word, it is used to prioritize things. If I have 2 vehicles, the one I like better is loved, and the other is hated. To hate something is to put it in second or third place in your affections. We are to value and esteem our family, but Jesus has to come first and have our deepest love. The second cost is to carry our cross. Each of us have a different cross to bear. This is not the normal bad things all humans experience, this is being singled out, ridiculed, or persecuted for our faith in Jesus. A cross carrying disciple is the only true kind of disciple there is. If we aren't willing to die for Jesus, how can we live for Him? The third cost of discipleship is being willing to sacrifice our goods and possessions if asked. Jesus calls us to be willing to surrender everything we have for Him, just as He gave everything He had for us. If we want eternal life with Jesus then we have to start by living our lives the way He lived His life. We need to understand the terms and conditions of discipleship. Are we willing to follow Jesus on His terms? Have we taken the time to count the cost?
Sunday school at 10, worship at 11. We enjoy having guests.

06/07/2026

Psalm 19 began our worship time, then we sang hymns How great Thou art and Breathe on me breath of God. In our congregational prayer we are thankful for the rain, John is struggling, Naomi has 2 weeks left of treatment, for all the VBS and Bible camps going on, for peace, and for our nation. The sermon was from Luke 14. This was a continuation of last week. Jesus is still at the home of a Pharisee having a meal. Last week He told us where to sit, in places of humility. This week He tells us who to invite to our social events. Jesus used a parable and explained to his listeners about the great feast to come in heaven. In the parable, servants were sent to invite guests, who said they would attend. When the day of the party arrived, some made silly excuses, about buying fields, oxen, and getting married. These were excuses, and they were incredibly rude. In some societies honor killings would avenge these slights. The host decided to invite the homeless, the lame, and the disabled. There was still room, so servants were sent to round up strangers outside the city and compel them to attend. The Old Testament prophets were the first servant, they invited Israel to God's party. Jesus was the second servant, He proclaimed the time was now. Israel rejected Him, so gentiles were then invited, which is us. The good news of the gospel is for all nations and peoples, the promise to Abraham is being fulfilled. If you listen closely, you might hear Jesus talking to you. He is inviting you to His party, will you accept or reject Him?
Sunday school at 10, worship at 11 this week. Happy Flag Day everyone!

06/01/2026

School is out, summer is here, church remains a good place to be each and every week. Psalm 18 once again opened our service, then we sang hymns To God be the glory, Praise to the Lord, Come thou fount, and O worship the king. Lots of prayer requests this week. Linda and Debby are doing well, Sandra, Jim, Betty Helen, and Jean are all in the hospital, Sam saw his cardiologist, John sees his new doctor tomorrow. We also prayed for families having strife, for the lost, for the families of Kelly Selbey and Francis Dahl, for Dexter and family, for peace on earth, for our military, for our leaders, and for our nation. The sermon was from Luke 14, when Jesus visited a Pharisee for lunch. A good policy to live by is being humble. Jesus first healed a man and then told a parable about seating places at a banquet. Most people want the best seats available. The devil saw God on His throne and decided he wanted that seat. He got many angels to rebel with him and was thrown out of heaven. Wanting to have a better seat due to pride is not a new sin, it is the oldest. When Jesus accepted a lunch invitation, the Pharisee also brought in a sick man, he had edema, or swelling. Jesus healed him and sent him home to avoid the Pharisees. Jesus asked if healing on the sabbath was ok. The Pharisees were silent. Jesus then asked if they would help their son or ox if it got in trouble on the sabbath. Again the answer was silence. Jesus knew the real reasons for the sabbath, to rest, to worship, and to show mercy to others. Today, Sunday has become a day to do what we want instead of what God wants. After healing the sick man, Jesus addressed the crowd, He said we should avoid the head table, the front row seats, or anyplace that draws attention. It is better to be in a cheap seat and be invited to move up than vice versa. As believers, we should seek the lowest place until God invites us to a higher place. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, while the humble will be exalted. The Pharisees didn't realize that they would get what God thought they deserved, not what they thought. St. Augustine said there are humble religious and proud religious people. The proud should not promise themselves the kingdom of God. As far as Jesus is concerned, the lowest place is the best seat in the house. Jesus left the glory of heaven and came to earth where He was despised, rejected, and finally crucified, showing us what humility looks like. As you go on this week, live for Jesus, live like Jesus, and love like Jesus. Be humble and content with what God has given you, and don't be like the Pharisees who were always wanting the best seats.
Sunday school at 10, worship at 11 this week.

05/24/2026

Hope everyone had a good Memorial Day weekend and that we remember those who gave their lives to protect our freedoms. We also worship the One who gave His life to protect our soul. Psalm 18 began our service, then we sang O Jesus I have promised and Take my life. After our congregational prayer, we looked at Luke 13 , where some Pharisees warned Jesus that Herod was after Him. Isaiah called Jesus the man of sorrows. Sorrow is a big part of life here on earth, we all experience it. Jesus did too. Often we can use sorrow as a motivator to do something helpful for others, that is how MADD got started. Why would the Pharisees warn Jesus about Herod? The leaders knew that when Herod killed John the Baptist that John became a martyr, they didn't want that to happen again. They wanted to get Jesus in Jerusalem and deal with Him themselves. By calling Herod a fox, it was an insult by Jesus. A fox is a small, sneaky animal, it doesn't harm people. Jesus told Herod that He still had work to do, He was on His way to Jerusalem. Jesus had to go there to finish His mission. Just like many of the prophets were killed there, so the same would happen to Jesus. In the text, we see the emotions of Jesus, He did know sorrow. He knew that one day the people would cheer Him and just a few days later call for His death. Part of the mission of the church is to reach out to sinners and call them to repent and follow Jesus. Just as Jesus had sorrow for Jerusalem 2000 years ago, He still has sorrow for those who don't follow Him today. May it never be said of you that your heard heart was a reason why Jesus is called the man of sorrows.
Normal Sunday next week. Sunday school at 10 and worship at 11.

05/18/2026

Baccalaureate Sunday, graduation on Friday, summer is almost here! Psalm 18 opened our service, then we sang Rejoice the Lord is king and When morning gilds the skies. In our group prayer we prayed for John, who was hospitalized for 2 days, Justin got a new job, Sue is adjusting after losing her husband, Debbie had her hip surgery, Linda is home, Marilyn& Jessia, Naomi & family, Krystal and family in losing her dad, for safe travels, peace, for our nation, and for our leaders. The sermon was from Luke 13. The price is right was a popular gameshow for many years, contestants would try to win prizes and make it to the final. In the final, they each had a bunch of prizes behind a door. The prizes were different, usually one was better. In the US today, we have over 1000 religions. Some claim each is a door that leads to heaven. Jesus taught that He is the only door to heaven, all others were false. In addition, His door is hard to get to, narrow, and could be closed by the master. All doors and all religions aren't the same, they don't have the same destinations, only Jesus can get us to heaven. We tell others the Bible is true because we love them and want them to be saved. Jesus said following Him would be tough, we would be despised and persecuted. Since the door is narrow, few people will be allowed in. Many people who never entered are going to be surprised when they are not allowed in. They may think completing a checklist, going to church a few times, and a check in the offering plate will please God, but He wants more. We have the entire Bible, we know the rest of the story, we will have no excuses for not following Jesus while we had chance after chance. On one side of the door will be darkness, anger, weeping, and gnashing of teeth. On the other will be joy, light, life, saints, and Jesus. People from all nations will be in heaven. Christianity is the world's most exclusive religion, we believe only Jesus can save us. It is also very inclusive, people of all colors, from all nations, and many languages will all be there. Our past doesn't matter, our sins will be forgiven, and we can walk the streets of gold. Will you be one of those who is in the dark, weeping and gnashing teeth, or will you find delight and rest with Jesus when you open the correct door?
No Sunday school next week, worship at 11.

05/11/2026

Happy Mother's Day to all the moms, aunts, grandmas, and Christian women who have raised or influenced others in a positive way. Proverbs 31 opened our service, then we sang hymns The solid rock, It is well, and Tis so sweet. In our prayer time we remembered Debbie who is having hip surgery, Linda had a heart attack, For the Sandoval family in the loss of a father, Jack & Sandra are both having tests this week, Darryl is having a procedure, for Jessica and her family, Rachel has kidney issues, Jim & Pat, Autumn, Naomi, and for Than & Andrea. We are thankful to worship a God who hears and answers prayers. The sermon was from Luke 13, the parables of the mustard seed and the yeast. In 1806, a group of college students met for prayer. A rain storm forced them to find cover behind a large haypile. While praying, they felt the call to start a mission to India. The movement began the first foreign missions by US churches and sent Lottie Moon and Adoniram Judson among others. The mustard seed was tiny, the smallest seed planted in Israel. When grown, the mustard can be 15 feet tall and provide shelter for birds. Just like a seed has life in it, so does the church. Just like seeds often grow out of sight, so does the church. Within 300 years, Christianity went from 2 dozen believers to being the main religion in the Roman Empire. Yeast is different, it works inside a lump of dough and causes changes. The church also grows inside each believer, our spiritual growth should continue every day we live. Being stagnant isn't what God wants, we should be in love with Him and get closer each day. Like a small seed or a tiny prayer group, humble beginnings can grow into immense things we never imagined. These parables show us 2 ways the church grows, in numbers and in piety. We may have times of little growth or stagnation, but God might be using those times to help us in other ways. Kingdom work often starts small and humbly, then grows due to the power of God. Don't get discouraged, allow the power of God to overcome obstacles and make His kingdom grow. Trust in God and remember that great things can come from humble beginnings.
Regular schedule next week, Sunday school at 10 and worship at 11.

05/04/2026

May started off with some lovely weather, plus we had some nice rains this week. God is good! Psalm 17 began our service, then we sang hymns Near to the heart, Our God, The one foundation, and Rock of ages. We had a guest, it was good to have her. In our prayer time we offered special prayers for Lisa for guidance, Naomi is in a new program, strength for Dexter, Lisa with Lupus, Jessica's family, for our nation, peace, and for the safety of our military. The sermon was from Luke and was about normal things in an abnormal world. The Webster definition of normal includes conforming to a pattern, not deviating from a norm or rule, the statistical average, and being free from physical or mental impairment. God created a perfect world, but then sin entered and changed everything. In many places, people with disabilities are seen as being judged for a bad action or being demon possessed. In our text, Jesus was teaching in a synagogue and saw a woman all hunched over. He called to her and healed her, saying that satan had bound the woman in this position. Despite her disability, this woman knew that worship was the proper place to be, and on that day, she was healed because of her faith. Just like that woman couldn't straighten her back on her own, so we can't bear the burden of sins we carry on our backs. Jesus saw the woman, He had compassion and then healed her. After 18 years, her back pain was gone. Her first response was to praise God. Jesus sees us and knows what our needs are, and He is willing to heal us. No matter what sins weigh us down, we can be forgiven. We live in an abnormal world where disabilities are normal. As had happened so many times, there was a critic in the crowd, the synagogue ruler. He was upset that Jesus healed on the Sabbath. He didn't love his neighbors and opposed God's mercy. Jesus called the man a hypocrite since he thought it was ok to help animals on the sabbath but not people. The ruler was more concerned about his rules than the well-being of a fellow human. Believers are called to treat others as Jesus treated us. We should be observant of those around us who might need a helping hand, a smile, or a kind word. The sabbath is a day to worship, to sing, pray, to do good, and even to heal. One day all of us who have any sort of disability will be healed when we enter heaven. For all the saints, that will be the new normal.
Regular schedule next week, Sunday school at 10 and worship at 11. Happy Mother's Day to all the moms!

04/27/2026

Guests are always welcome, and we had 2 today for whom we are thankful. Psalm 17 began our worship, then we sang hymns Count your blessings, Glory hallelujah, Glorious things of thee are spoken, and I heard the bells. In our congregational prayer we mourn with the Ramsey family, we ask for healing for Harry, Rachel, Carol, Jaime, and Naomi in all their ailments. Collen & Toni got married this week, we pray for God's blessing on them. We ask for safe travels, for the safety and health of our leaders, and that our military be kept safe until the wars are over. The sermon was from Luke 13, about repenting. Jesus talked about 2 well-known examples of his time in which a tragedy befell a group of people. Some Galileans were massacred by the Romans and a group of 18 men was killed when a tower fell down. People then assumed these men had done something wrong and were being punished. Many today have the same view, that God provides instant punishment for some people, that disasters happen to bad people. 9-11 was a punishment for NYC, Katrina was punishment for New Orleans, etc. Why does it seem that the wicked seem to prosper while the innocent suffer? Jesus taught on this and other questions in the text. The question isn't why bad things happen to good people, it is why do good things happen to bad people? In God's sight, we are all sinners, we are all bad. Out of love, God provided a way for us to be saved, by the death of His son, Jesus. It is important that we use our time now to repent, before it is too late. To think that misfortune is caused by misdeeds is wrong, it assumes that our time on earth is our time of reward. Justice for many is delayed until the day of judgment. Since we can't pay our debt, we need Jesus, and the first step after accepting Him is repentance. To repent means to confess our sins, to admit to them and be honest about them. It also means being contrite, that we feel sorrow and shame for offending a pure and holy God. Last, repenting means we change and try to live better lives. Unless we have all 3 parts, our repentance isn't genuine. Jesus also taught about a fig tree that was barren. The owner wanted to cut it down, but the manager wanted to give the tree one more chance. The tree is Israel, God planted them in the promised land but they failed to bear fruit. Today, the tree is also the church, and Jesus is the manager. Jesus wants to give us extra attention, He is asking the Father to be a little more patient. For many in the crowd, they were running out of chances to repent. Soon after Easter, the Romans sacked Jerusalem and killed many. We know that death awaits us all, but we still have time to repent and prepare. Unless we repent, we will perish. Don't be like the barren tree, produce fruit now while you have a chance, and remember, today is the day to repent.
Sunday school at 10, worship is at 11. All guests are welcome.

04/20/2026

It was a good day to take bluebonnet pictures outside the church, thank you Lord for the beautiful flowers you created. Psalm 16 began our service, then we sang together the songs He leadeth me, Great is thy faithfulness, Guide me, and Like a river glorious. Lots of prayer requests. We are thankful for the rain, Martha's good procedure, and that Sharon & Wallace are improving. Dexter had a good week, Sam Foote has a heart issue, Jessie has shingles, Danny is home, Debby is having knee surgery, and Jaime Sandoval had a heart procedure. Autumn, Lisa, Mark & Kristin all need guidance, Amanda & Rachel had a good week, and Vicky is having side effects from her meds. The sermon came from Luke 12, in which Jesus warned His listeners to beware of the fires of hell. Wildfires in the US are a big problem. An average year has 70,000. Fires cause about $500 billion a year in damages. The top states are California, Oregon, Colorado, and Texas. The US spends about $3.5 billion fighting fires per year and has 28,000 firefighters. The good news is that 97% of fires are extinguished before they burn 10 acres. All throughout the Bible we see mentions of fire. God used fire to lead the people and to punish disobedience. Fire, if controlled, is a good thing, like in a grill or cutting torch. The fire Jesus mentions has 2 purposes, to punish the wicked and to purify the saints and make them holy. Jesus had to undergo a baptism of fire that would take place on the cross. Jesus suffered and died for us, so we could be saved. Jesus said repeatedly that He came to cause division, even in families. We can have peace with God, but not always with our neighbors, coworkers, and even family. Most people 2000 years ago were blind when it came to spiritual forecasting. They had the Messiah among them and failed to recognize Him. The wise should have connected the dots, but they failed. Luke is our investigative reporter, the purpose of his book was to prove that Jesus was the messiah. The leaders should have known Jesus by the coming of John the Baptist, plus in the miracles and healings Jesus did. We are blessed in that we have the entire Bible, we know the story and how it ends. Ignorance is one excuse we will not be able to use on our day of judgment. If you haven't come to Jesus yet, what are you waiting for? None of us is promised tomorrow, don't delay making Jesus your master. God loves you so much that He sent His own son to die for you. If you believe that, then you won't have to worry about your soul as you stand watch on your own spiritual fire watch.
Normal schedule. Sunday school at 10 and worship at 11.

04/13/2026

April showers seem to be bringing more April flowers, praise God for the beauty of the earth! Psalm 15 began our worship, followed by hymns Hail the day, Fairest Lord Jesus, Breathe on me, and Glorify thy name. In our prayer time we mourn with the Courtney family in the loss of 2 babies, Dexter is back in rehab, Danny is at home, Jessie and Marilyn still have shingles, Julie has some health issues, Martha has a procedure on Friday, we ask for peace soon in the Middle East and Ukraine, safety for our servicemen and women, and for revival in our nation. The sermon was from Luke 12 and was about being prepared. Be prepared was the motto for the Boy Scouts. Boys could learn lots of useful skills that could help them in the future and be good for society. We make preparations for retirement, security, and safety. We prepare our vehicles to keep them running. 56% of churches have some sort of armed protection due to the increase in church shootings. It is even more important to be prepared spiritually, since we don't know when Jesus will return. Jesus taught 3 parables in this passage, the first was about a master being gone and the faithful servants who were prepared for his return. The master was so pleased that he honored the servants. What a beautiful picture of our master, Jesus, coming to earth to serve us and redeem us. In the second parable, a thief has robbed a house. The owner didn't stop him because he was unaware of the thief. This parable teaches that we risk losing more than silver or gold, we risk losing our soul if we aren't prepared for the second coming of Jesus. The third parable was about a master who left for a long trip. The servant he left in charge began to abuse his position and the other servants. Jesus wanted the 12 to know that He would soon depart and they would have to shepherd the church. After them, the task has gone to pastors, deacons, elders, and other kingdom workers. Sadly, church leaders sometimes act like the wicked servant and act inappropriately, resulting in arrest and shame. Way too many people are apathetic and are not sure of the truth of Jesus coming back, they are not using their time wisely. Do we really believe Jesus is coming back? Are we being good stewards of what God has given us? Would I be ashamed of my actions if Jesus returned right now? Jesus calls us to be the best servants we can be, and to be more like Jesus every day. The more God has given you, the more He will expect from you. When Jesus does return, will you be found wanting, or will you be found prepared?
Regular schedule this week, Sunday school at 10, worship at 11.

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County Road 301
Jonesboro, TX
76538

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