Greater Mt. Olive MB Church

09/04/2026

DON’T JUST LOOK FOR THE CRACK IN THE WALL

It is natural for us to quickly notice what is wrong—what somebody did wrong, what we do not have, or what did not work out. We can walk into a beautiful room and immediately notice the crack in the wall.

We can do people the same way.

A person may do nine things right, and we find the one thing they did wrong. God may bless us in twenty different ways, but we focus on the one thing we do not have.

But the renewed mind has to learn another way.

Hunt for something to thank God for.

Look for something good.

Look for something God has provided.

Look for something somebody did right.

Look for evidence of God’s mercy.

Look for a reason to rejoice.

That does not mean pretending the crack is not there. It means refusing to let the crack become all you can see.

“This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.” — Psalm 118:24

Notice the words:

“WE WILL.”

That is a decision.

I am going to rejoice on purpose.

I am going to be thankful on purpose.

I am going to look for God’s goodness on purpose.

I am going to appreciate people on purpose.

I am going to find something worth praising God for on purpose.

Philippians 4:8 tells us to think on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and worthy of praise.

We must deliberately direct our minds toward what is good.

The crack may be there—but I am not spending my whole day staring at the crack.

Pastor Dr. Christopher Jones.

09/03/2026

Sunday School Summary.
Title: Joshua Leads Courageously
Lesson date: September 6, 2026.

09/02/2026

DON’T PUT EVERYBODY IN THE SAME BOX

Different Methods, Same Mission

The Command and the Method

We must separate the biblical command from the particular method we use to carry it out.

Jesus commanded His church to make disciples and proclaim the Gospel. That command is not optional. But the Bible does not say that every Christian or every church must fulfill the Great Commission through the exact same method.

Door-to-door evangelism can be good. Passing out Gospel tracts can be good. Personal witnessing can be good. Relationship evangelism can be good.

The problem comes when we take our particular method and make it God’s universal command for everybody else.

God Uses Different Methods

One Christian may knock on doors. Praise God—let that person knock on doors.

Another may distribute Gospel tracts. Let that person faithfully distribute them.

Another may build relationships with family members, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and others God has placed in their life and patiently point them toward Christ.

Another may evangelize through preaching, teaching, personal testimony, hospital ministry, prison ministry, outreach, or one-on-one conversations that God opens.

“There are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.” — 1 Corinthians 12:6

Don’t Turn Your Method Into God’s Law

There is nothing wrong with saying, “God has blessed our church through door-to-door evangelism.”

But that is different from saying, “If your church is not doing door-to-door evangelism, you are disobeying God.”

The first statement is a testimony. The second statement requires biblical authority.

We should be careful about putting people in a box and saying, “If you’re not doing it the way I’m doing it, you’re not doing it right.”

We can be faithful to the same Lord while using different biblical methods.

Look Where God Is Working

Acts 8 gives us a beautiful example. The Spirit told Philip:

“Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.” — Acts 8:29

God was already working in the Ethiopian eu**ch. He was reading Scripture and seeking understanding. Philip recognized where God was working and joined Him there.

Philip started where the man was and eventually preached Jesus to him.

That is Spirit-led evangelism: pray, watch, listen, recognize where God is working, and be ready to obey when He opens the door.

Start With the People God Has Placed Around You

Jesus told the delivered man:

“Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee.” — Mark 5:19

Andrew went and found his brother Simon. Philip found Nathanael. The Samaritan woman went back to the people of her city.

Sometimes our greatest mission field is already around us—our children, grandchildren, spouses, relatives, friends, neighbors, and coworkers.

We should not walk past the people God has already placed in our lives just because somebody has convinced us that evangelism only counts when we knock on a stranger’s door.

Different Methods—Same Mission

We should support one another instead of condemning one another over methods that Scripture allows.

If you knock on doors, do it for the glory of God.

If you pass out tracts, do it for the glory of God.

If you practice relationship evangelism, do it faithfully for the glory of God.

If God opens a conversation with a stranger, obey Him.

If God opens a conversation with your own son, daughter, brother, sister, neighbor, or coworker, obey Him.

The Great Commission is mandatory. One particular method is not.

We do not have to put everybody in the same box. We can have different methods while serving the same Christ, preaching the same Gospel, and carrying out the same mission.

Pastor Dr. Christopher Jones

09/02/2026

08/29/2026

WE HAVE TO TRUST GOD’S WISDOM

Some people’s lives are shortened because of sinful choices and their consequences.

Yet another person may live in sin, reject God, and still live to be 90 years old or older.

Then there are faithful people—even innocent children—whose lives may be very short.

From where we stand, that can be difficult to understand. Sometimes it may not even seem fair.

But we have to remember: God sees what we cannot see, knows what we cannot know, and understands what we cannot understand.

The length of a person’s life is not necessarily proof of God’s approval or disapproval.

So when I cannot understand God’s ways, I have to trust God’s character.

The Bible says:

“He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment…just and right is he.” — Deuteronomy 32:4

God is just.
God is right.
God is faithful.
God does not make mistakes.

I may not always understand what God is doing, but I can trust who God is.

His wisdom is infinite, His judgment is perfect, and He will always do what is right.

08/29/2026

MY TIMES ARE IN GOD’S HANDS

God ultimately determines the number of my days. Whether He gives me many years or few, I can trust His infinite wisdom.

I may not understand everything He allows. Some things may hurt deeply. Some things may never make complete sense to me on this side.

But God sees what I cannot see.
God knows what I do not know.
And God is carrying out a plan bigger than what I can presently understand.

Romans 8:28 teaches me that everything that happens is not necessarily good, but God is able to work all things together for good according to His purpose.

So my prayer is not simply, “Lord, give me a long life.”

My prayer is:

“Lord, whatever number of days You give me, fulfill Your purpose in me. Keep making me more like Jesus. Use me to help somebody else. And when my work here is finished, let me be able to say that I finished what You gave me to do.”

Long or short, my times are in His hands—and I trust the hands that hold my times.

“My times are in thy hand.” — Psalm 31:15

08/27/2026

YOUR PRAISE COULD HELP BRING YOU OUT

Don’t underestimate the power of praising God in the middle of your trouble.

In 2 Chronicles 20, the trouble wasn’t over when Judah started praising. The enemy was still there. The danger was still real.

But the Bible says:

“And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments…” — 2 Chronicles 20:22

Notice those words:

“WHEN THEY BEGAN TO…PRAISE.”

Something started happening when they started praising!

God stepped into a battle they couldn’t win by themselves.

So don’t wait until you come out to praise Him. Praise Him while you’re in it.

Praise Him while you’re waiting.
Praise Him while you’re hurting.
Praise Him while the bills are due.
Praise Him while you don’t know what to do.
Praise Him while the enemy still seems to have you surrounded.

Your praise may not always change your situation immediately, but never underestimate what God can do while you are praising Him.

Sometimes the praise you think you’ll give God after you come out is the very praise God wants from you while you’re going through.

Praise Him in it—and trust God to bring you through it!

08/27/2026

Sometimes it seems like the life of a Christian is one big battle.

You come out of one thing, and here comes something else.
One problem gets settled, and another one shows up.
Sometimes you get tired and wonder, “Lord, when is this going to end?”

But God told His people:

“The battle is not yours, but God’s.” — 2 Chronicles 20:15

That doesn’t mean we sit down and do nothing. Keep doing the best you can. Keep praying. Keep trusting. Keep obeying God. Keep moving forward.

But while you’re doing all you can do, don’t forget to give God His praise.

Don’t let the battle take your praise.
Don’t let the bills take your praise.
Don’t let sickness take your praise.
Don’t let trouble in your family take your praise.
Don’t let disappointment take your praise.

You were created to give God glory and praise.

God said:

“This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.” — Isaiah 43:21

So while you’re waiting on God to fight the battle, give Him what belongs to Him—YOUR PRAISE!

Praise Him for what He has already done.
Praise Him for who He is.

And remember: your situation may change, but your God does not change.

He is still your Help.
He is still your Strength.
He is still your Deliverer.
He is still your Salvation.
He is still your great I AM.

The battle belongs to the Lord—but the praise belongs to God!

08/27/2026

DON’T LET YOUR PRESENT SITUATION STOP YOUR PRAISE

Don’t let what you’re going through right now stop you from praising God.

If you can’t see anything happening right now, look back at what He has already done. Think about the doors He opened, the prayers He answered, the dangers He brought you through, the times He provided, and the grace that has kept you.

Praise Him for what He has already done.

But don’t stop there.

Praise Him for WHO HE IS.

He is the Way.
He is the Truth.
He is the Life.
He is my Salvation.
He is my Deliverer.
He is my Help.
He is my Hope.
He is my great “I AM.”

So even when my situation hasn’t changed, my God hasn’t changed.

And if He doesn’t do anything else, He has already done enough to deserve my praise!

“Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.” — Psalm 150:2