Rural Retreat Baptist Church

06/07/2026

Wonderful time at our annual picnic at the Lake! Amazing food, fellowship, and worship!

Photo Credit: Rachel Boyer

06/07/2026

This morning, before we consider the music, the sermon, the schedule, or the responsibilities of the day, let us consider Christ.

He is worthy.

Worthy of our worship, worthy of our attention, worthy of our affection, and worthy of our obedience.

The church gathers today not because we have everything figured out, but because He is worthy. We come carrying burdens, questions, disappointments, and battles, yet we come because there is no one like Jesus.

The angels never tire of declaring His worth. The redeemed in Heaven never cease to praise His name. Why should we be silent on earth?

Perhaps your week has been difficult. Perhaps your heart is weary. Perhaps you feel distant, discouraged, or distracted. Yet Christ remains the same. His worth has not diminished because our circumstances have changed.

Today, gather with God’s people. Lift your eyes above the troubles of the week and behold the Lamb. The One who loved you, redeemed you, sustains you, and intercedes for you is worthy of your worship.

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power…” (Revelation 4:11)

I’ll see you at church.

Love & Prayers,
Pastor Jacob

06/06/2026

Latest devotion from Pastor Jacob

Resentment is rarely born in a moment.

06/05/2026

We are so proud of our students at Ambassador Academy! We are thankful for each of you and all of your accomplishments this year!

Be praying for students, their families, and staff as they travel home tonight!

06/04/2026

This Sunday, June 7th!

06/04/2026

🛠️ Men’s Service Day – Saturday at 8:00 AM

We’ll be working outdoors doing brush clearing, trimming, and general cleanup.

Please bring:
• Chainsaws
• Weedeaters (especially those equipped with cutting blades, if available)

Please wear:
• Long pants
• Work gloves
• Sturdy boots or work shoes
• Clothing suitable for outdoor work

Bring a willing spirit and be ready to serve alongside your brothers in Christ. We look forward to a productive morning together!

Meet at Church or Ms Tibbs.

06/01/2026

06/01/2026

The Courage to Walk Back Through the Door

There is something strangely difficult about returning.

Not just to church, but to any place where you once belonged.

The longer you’re away, the harder it becomes.

At first you miss a Sunday because you’re tired.

Then life gets busy.

Then something hurts.

Then disappointment settles in.

Then weeks become months.

And eventually a person can begin to feel like an outsider to a place that once felt like home.

I’ve watched it happen more times than I can count.

The tragedy is that most people do not leave church because they stopped loving God. Most leave because life became heavy.

Some are carrying grief.

Some are exhausted.

Some are disappointed.

Some are ashamed.

Some simply drifted.

And after enough time passes, they begin believing the lie that returning will be harder than staying away.

But I don’t believe that’s how the Lord sees it.

When I read Scripture, I find a God continually calling people back to Himself.

Adam heard His voice in the garden.

Jacob found Him at Bethel.

Peter found restoration beside a fire.

Thomas found grace among the assembled disciples.

And over and over God seems to ask the same question:

“Will you come back to Me?”

I wonder how many people will sit at home this Sunday wanting to be in church.

Not angry.

Not rebellious.

Not hostile toward God.

Just uncertain how to take the first step.

Perhaps they worry what others will think.

Perhaps they feel embarrassed.

Perhaps they think they have been gone too long.

But can I offer a simple thought?

Most of the people in that church building are carrying burdens of their own.

They are not gathering because life is perfect.

They are gathering because life isn’t.

The church was never intended to be a museum for those who have everything together.

It is a refuge for weary travelers.

A hospital for wounded souls.

A gathering place for pilgrims making their way through a broken world east of Eden.

The reality is that all of us need what happens when God’s people gather.

We need the songs.

We need the fellowship.

We need the prayers.

We need the preaching of God’s Word.

We need the reminders that God is still on His throne and that we are not walking this road alone.

And if you’ve been away for a while, let me encourage you:

Don’t wait until everything is fixed.

Don’t wait until your questions are answered.

Don’t wait until the grief subsides.

Don’t wait until you feel worthy.

If we waited for perfect conditions before drawing near to God, none of us would ever come.

Just come.

Walk through the door.

Take your seat.

Open your Bible.

Sing if you can.

Listen if that’s all you have strength to do.

But come.

You may find that the place you’ve been avoiding is the very place God has prepared to help you heal.

And if you’re worried about whether anyone notices, I suspect more people have missed you than you realize.

But even if nobody else did, the Lord did.

The Shepherd always knows when one of His sheep has wandered from the fold.

And the beautiful thing about our Shepherd is that He never stops calling.

Perhaps this Sunday is not about obligation.

Perhaps it is not about guilt.

Perhaps it is simply about coming home.

And sometimes the greatest act of faith is not climbing a mountain, conquering a giant, or understanding a mystery.

Sometimes it is simply finding the courage to walk back through the door.

Love & Prayers,
Pastor Jacob

05/31/2026

We are happy to welcome Sister Sally into the church family!

05/31/2026

Called Together to Worship

Text: “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another…” — Hebrews 10:25 (KJV)

In an age of endless distractions, digital connections, and busy schedules, it is easy to underestimate the importance of gathering together with God’s people. Yet from the earliest days of the church, believers assembled regularly for worship, prayer, fellowship, instruction, and encouragement. The gathering of the church was never treated as an optional addition to the Christian life—it was part of the Christian life.

When we gather in person, we are reminded that we belong to something greater than ourselves. We hear voices lifted together in praise. We sit under the preaching of God’s Word. We bear one another’s burdens, celebrate one another’s victories, and strengthen one another’s faith. The Lord often uses the gathered church to provide exactly the encouragement, conviction, comfort, or direction that a believer needs.

Corporate worship also declares something profound to the world around us. Every time believers gather, they testify that Christ is worthy of their time, attention, affection, and devotion. We are not merely attending a service; we are presenting ourselves before our King alongside our spiritual family.

If you are weary, come and worship. If you are burdened, come and worship. If you are rejoicing, come and worship. The church is not a gathering of perfect people but of redeemed people who need Christ and one another.

Today, answer the call to worship. Gather with God’s people. Open your heart to His Word. Lift your voice in praise. Encourage a fellow believer. The Lord has designed His church to be a place where faith is strengthened, hope is renewed, and Christ is exalted.

Love and prayers,
Pastor Jacob