Whitley City United Methodist Church

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Whitley City United Methodist Church

Our mission is to make disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Won't you join us in our efforts to fulfill our mission?

Effective October 5, 2020, our church will suspend in-person worship services until further notice. This is in response to data and trends related to COVID-19 in the local area. We will be hosting virtual worship via Zoom and Facebook live each Sunday at 11:00 AM Eastern Time. We will also post prerecorded Bible Study and sermon videos on a regular basis. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, but we want to ensure that we keep our parishioners and community as safe as possible.

01/30/2026

Speaking of “Evil men…who have no compassion for the souls of their people,” this noted Puritan author goes on to say, “Such men do not feed the souls of their people with solid truths. When Christ sent out His apostles, He gave them their text and told them what they must preach: Preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand’ (Matthew 10:7). Martin Luther said about this text that the ministers of Christ must preach ‘things that pertain to the kingdom of God’—things such as pardon of sin, sanctification, and living by faith alone, as the church needs. Those men are unmerciful to souls who, instead of breaking the Bread of Life, fill their people’s heads with empty opinions and ideas—who entertain rather than touch the conscience, and who give precious souls music rather than food.”

The previous quotes are excerpts from a book entitled “The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12” written by Thomas Watson, a Puritan pastor and author. What I find fascinating about the above passages are that they are found in a book written in 1660, yet in many ways they very much describe the state of the church today. And you only have to do a basic search through social media for my point to be proven. The churches that get the most attention online are those that have the pastor with the charismatic stage presence, the modern-sounding music and singing, and the physical setting with an infrastructure and environment that is inviting and pleasing to the senses.

Those of us that serve congregations in traditional church settings have most likely heard the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) statements saying, “Maybe we should get away from the old hymns and try the more modern worship songs.” “Maybe we should get away from so much strict Bible teaching and start doing more talks that give us hope in these times.” “Maybe we should get away from what our church has always done and try something that’s not so traditional and boring.”

Many servants have heard those things, resisted those suggestions, and seen attendance and membership decline as a result. So why hold the line if the numbers are going down? Because we’re called to be faithful to the calling that we have received. In fulfilling the call to preach the Word, God’s servants are commanded to “Cry loudly, do not hold back; Raise your voice like a trumpet, And declare to My people their transgression And to the house of Jacob their sins.” (Isaiah 58:1, NASB) As ministers appointed to shepherd the flock of God, His Word reminds us that “I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me. 18 When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 19 Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself. 20 Again, when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I place an obstacle before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.” (Ezekiel 3:17-20)

Your blood God will require at my hand if I am not faithful in being diligent in accurately handling the Word of Truth. My goal is to pray, study, and prepare to exposit the Word of God in a clear and learned way, so as to be approved of God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed. If what I preach and teach is received by people is of secondary importance to my primary goal of being a servant, a watchman, a workman that is approved of God. As I strive to be a faithful bondservant to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, my objective is to be “a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:21)

To my fellow servants that preach and teach the counsel of the Word of God, be faithful to feed the flock of God that is appointed to you. Preach and teach the Word faithfully and effectively, lead by example, and serve willingly in preparing the flock to follow Christ. Do not grow weary in well-doing but be resolute to make your calling and election sure. Make it your ultimate goal to be found blameless when you stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Take care and be faithful in your service to the Lord!

10/24/2024

Good morning folks! The Apostle Paul counsels the church in 1 Corinthians 15:33 with the following: "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company corrupts good morals.'” Paul gives this admonition out of a concern for those worldly influences that were infiltrating the church and defiling it with vain and profane philosophies. This was a real threat that he and other church leaders took seriously, and it is a threat that continues to face the church today.

The word translated "deceived" comes from the Greek word planaō, which is defined as "being led away from the path of virtue, from the course leading to behavior reflecting righteousness and holiness." The word translated "bad" comes from the Greek word "kakos" and is used to describe that which is wicked and lacking in moral principles. The word translated "company" comes from the Greek word "homilia" and used to describe those people or entities with whom we are in communion with or associate with.

So what is Paul warning us about here? He is cautioning Christians be on guard against affiliating with anyone or anything that is evil at its core. Why should we abstain from aligning ourselves with such people, institutions, and the like? Because of the risk of being defiled by it. Paul says that associating with wicked people and entities can corrupt our good morals. The word translated "corrupt" comes from the Greek word "phtheirō" and is used to describe that which perverts or subverts when it comes in contact with "good morals." The word translated "good" comes from the Greek word "chrēstos" and is used in association with that which is virtuous, righteous and holy. The word translated "morals" comes from the Greek word "ēthos" and is used to describe that which demonstrates upright character.

So what is Paul warning us to avoid? He is warning Christians to avoid being in relationship with those iniquitous people, places, factions, and other things that have the potential to take us off the course that God is leading us on that seeks to foster righteousness and holiness in us. He is warning us to turn away from anyone or anything that attempts to undermine God's power and authority in our life. To be aligned or integrating with such people or institutions puts Christians at risk of having their faith defiled by the evil ways of Satan and this world.

For those that profess to be Christian and yet align with and support the Democratic Party, I strongly encourage you to take the Apostle Paul's counsel to heart. The "planks" of its platform that celebrate the murder of the unborn and seek to destroy the sanctity of the church, marriage, and family are incongruous with the commandments and precepts of the Bible. Paul told the Ephesian church "Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them" That's what the church is called to do, especially in the time in which we are living. Let us be found abstaining from evil and denouncing it boldly and without fear.

Take care and have a great day!

10/20/2024

Good morning folks! In response to the catastrophic outcomes of the recent hurricanes that have tragically impacted many people in parts of the southeastern United States, particularly in Western NC and Eastern TN, I have seen several posts on social media talking about how the government and other entities in this world have amassed the knowledge and technology to control the weather. When I have read these posts, I have wondered, "How would God respond to that?"

Fast forward to this morning and my reading of Job 38. Those familiar with this book are familiar with its theme and context, and the many assumptions, accusations, and complaints put forth by everyone involved. At this point in the book, it seems like God has heard enough. The writer presents God calling out Job in this way:

1 Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind and said, 2 “Who is this that darkens counsel By words without knowledge? 3 “Now gird up your loins like a man, And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!"

I don't know about you, but this would definitely get my attention. What I want us to consider with regard to this topic is what God says in verses 34 through 38:

34 “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, So that an abundance of water will cover you? 35 “Can you send forth lightnings that they may go And say to you, ‘Here we are’? 36 “Who has put wisdom in the innermost being Or given understanding to the mind? 37 “Who can count the clouds by wisdom, Or tip the water jars of the heavens, 38 When the dust hardens into a mass And the clods stick together?"

There are aspects of our world that God has allowed humanity to exercise certain levels of influence upon. However, there are certain aspects of this world that Scripture says are completely under God's purview. Let us not forget that the universe and everything in it is under God's authority and control, and we operate in it at God's discretion.

Let us also be careful not to bloviate and speculate to the point that we prompt God to say, "I've heard enough." The Bible reminds us that His chastisement is not a pleasant thing to experience. As for me, I chose to continue to believe that God is sovereign over all the universe and He allows us to operate in it according to His inclination.

Take care and have a great day!

10/19/2024

When the Apostle Peter wrote the letter we know as 1st Peter in the Bible, he wrote it to Christians living in a region of the Roman Empire that were going to face some significant challenges in what was then a very near future. Perhaps discerning what was happening in the culture in that day, he was undoubtedly prompted by the Holy Spirit to write to this group of Christians and do what he could to equip them to stand firm in God's grace as they faced escalating persecution and suffering. Given what is ahead in the coming weeks and months, I believe Christians in this country need to be preparing for very similar circumstances.

Knowing what was coming, Peter instructs these believers to "prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1:13, NASB) The word "prepare" comes from the Greek word anazōnnymi, which when translated literally means "to gird up." Metaphorically, it draws from the practice of the Orientals, who in order to be unimpeded in their movements were accustomed, when starting a journey or engaging in any work, to bind their long flowing garments closely around their bodies and fastened them with a leather belt. To be prepared in this sense was to be ready to respond with agility and strength to what was anticipated to happen. Given what we see happening in the world today and what the Bible tells us about signs of the last days, we need to be making ourselves ready to stand firm in God's grace in anticipation of escalating persecution coming against the people of God.

Peter tells the church to "prepare your minds for action," or gird up the faculties given by God to understand what is happening and know what to do in response. In a practical sense, we should be preparing to sustain ourselves physically for the long haul in case our ability to access what we need to live day to day is cut off. Spiritually, we need to "grow in grace and in our knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" so we will have the capacity to stand strong in our faith in Jesus Christ when our livelihoods and perhaps our lives are in peril.

Peter wrote this letter to Christians to instruct them to prepare for dark times that were coming. All of us know that the right time to prepare for something is before it happens. Again, the Bible tells us that dark times are ahead, and for many Christians living in other parts of the world those dark times are already a reality. In anticipation of intensified persecution and suffering coming our way, let us be following Peter's instruction and preparing our minds for action. May we be diligent in girding ourselves spiritually for the battles ahead, that we may be found standing firm in God's grace in the midst of and at the end of the fray.

Take care and have a blessed day!

10/18/2024

When I decide to post something, I try to focus on things that are meaningful. Most of the time, I try to focus on topics related to faith, politics, or culture and society. There are times that I post something in response to a story that hits home with me, and this is one of those posts.

I just saw a video from a soldier who was deployed to Afghanistan to assist with the withdrawal of our military from that country, a withdrawal that was a disaster carried out by our government. This soldier said that as everyone was being ordered to leave, they were ordered to leave behind large amounts of equipment assigned to them because of space and weight limitations on return flights. When this soldier and others voiced concerns about being held financially responsible for this equipment, they were told by their leadership not to worry, that everything would be okay.

Fast forward to very recently when this soldier said that he was by the government that he owed them approximately $1,000 for the equipment he failed to bring back from his deployment. This is outrageous. Our current administration and the bureaucrats ensconced in the federal government will casually give away billions of dollars to foreign governments and useless organizations, then turn around and tell our sons and daughters that are putting themselves in harm's way that they have to pay for equipment they were ordered to leave behind? That is utter crap. That is the lowest of all the low things that our government can do to those that serve our nation in a most honorable way.

To folks that I can think of right now--Sheila Gregory Morgan, Carla Privett, Crystal Vanover, and Brandon Stephens--that have children and other family members serving in the military, this should be another reminder of why it is important to vote for and elect people into key positions of government that love our country and respect our military servants. If you're thinking of voting for the empty pant suit crazed cackler that is wanting to be the next leader of our country, this is an example of the absence of morality and values that you are voting for. When you vote in the coming days or weeks, I hope this story informs your vote.

10/11/2024

I have a question for my Christian brothers and sisters that include in their prayers supplications for God's hand of blessing and protection upon America. What if, in response to your entreaty on behalf of our nation, God said the following to you:

"As for you, do not pray for this people, and do not lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me; for I do not hear you."

Some of you are thinking, "God would never do that to America," but I challenge you to consider the fact that if He was willing to disregard the prayers and supplications lifted up on behalf of His chosen people, the nation of Israel, He would most certainly do the same to our nation. I actually wonder if we as a nation have already gotten to this point.

The above quote is taken from Jeremiah 7:16, and it is a sober reminder that continual rejection of God and His counsel can result in Him turning a deaf ear to our pleas. If you read Jeremiah 7 in its full context, you find that the reason God said this to the prophet was the nation's willingness to embrace false religions and reject Him. So what should we learn from this? We need to know that we cannot consistently reject or minimalize or marginalize God and then expect Him to be there for us in our time of need. This is true for us individually and as a nation. If we hope to receive God's blessings and protection, we must be receptive and obedient to the counsel of His Word. We must pursue holiness and righteousness. We must strive for sanctification in Him and abstain from even the very appearance of evil.

The call to holiness that was boldly proclaimed from pulpits across America in prior generations is not an old fashioned idea that no longer has a place in our society. It is something that needs to be trumpeted by messengers of God now more than ever. I pray that we never get to a place where we sin against God to the point that He doesn't want to hear a prayer lifted up on our behalf. If that happens, crying out and saying "Lord help us" will not even help us.

10/10/2024

As I got up this morning, walked to my office, made a hot cup of coffee, and prepared myself to start my day, I began to reflect on how many of our neighbors across the US, particularly in parts of Eastern TN and Western NC, are struggling to survive in the midst of some very desperate conditions. I am deeply burdened for those folks, as I am sure many of you are, and I pray that God open up the infinite avenues of blessing that only He can provide to minister to their needs and help them overcome their circumstances.

The Apostle Paul instructs the church in Galatians 6:2 to " Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ." The term translated "bear" comes from the Greek word "bastazō", which means "to put upon oneself", and the term translated "burdens" comes from the Greek word "baros", which is used to describe the heaviness, or trouble that another is enduring. Paul equates our efforts to aid another in enduring hardships with fulfilling the Law of Christ.

The term translated "fulfill" comes from the Greek word anaplēroō and is used to describe a complete observance of the teachings of God's Word. Undoubtedly many of you have donated funds or other resources to help these folks. We perhaps know or at least know of some that are on the ground in these hard-hit areas who are trying help these folks in any way they can. I am sure all of us wish we could do more. While we may be limited in our ability to give money, provide other resources, or be present to help these distressed people in their situations, we are not limited in our ability to pray for these people. I understand that saying this can come across somewhat cliché-ish, but it is nonetheless a foundational teaching of God's Word. James 5:16 reminds us that the effective prayer of a righteous person can accomplish much. Your sincere prayers and supplications presented before God on behalf of our suffering neighbors can move the hand of God to bless these folks in miraculous ways. Let's commit to be prayer warriors and do our part to ease the hardships that our neighbors to the east are struggling under.

08/27/2024

Hello folks! Proverbs 22:8 warns us that "He who sows iniquity will reap vanity, And the rod of his fury will perish." It appears that the leadership and certain members of the United Methodist Church is experiencing the truths contained in this Scriptural axiom as it reaps the consequences of embracing the homosexual lifestyle and attempting to normalize it.

There are multiple indicators that all is not well in the UMC. Data and information on attendance and giving has been showing adverse trends for years and especially since 2022. In just the last two months, apportionments received into the UMC General Fund have dropped by approximately $5 million. Gone are the days that the UMC had one bishop assigned to one annual conference. Bishops that once were earning six-figure salaries and were expecting guaranteed pensions now have no place to serve and no certainty of financial support going forward.

It doesn't end there. A number of international Central Conferences that were censored and disrespected at the most recent General Conference have exited the UMC en masse, taking with them millions of members and the support that came with them. The Ivory Coast and Estonia were two entire conferences that have already departed the UMC, and other conferences are apparently pursing similar paths.

But now the consequences are becoming more personal. It was reported earlier this week that Rev. Eben Nhiwatiwa, Bishop of the Zimbabwe Central Conference, was recently arrested by the Nigerian Immigration Service and subsequently deported for allegedly attempting to "import values contrary to those held by the Nigerian culture." In Nigeria, as is the case in many African countries, it is illegal to practice homosexuality. Although he was not arrested, American UMC Bishop John Schol was also recently ushered out of the country by Nigerian officials when he tried to come in and "set things right." Regarding the arrest of Bishop Nhiwatiwa, there is now concern that the Nigerian government will begin targeting pastors of UMC churches for suspicion of embracing and promoting homosexuality, although it is believed that the vast majority of those clergy believe that the gay lifestyle is sinful. This could cause those pastors and churches to not only be targeted by the government but also by other groups intending to do harm against them.

The progressives in positions of power in the UMC are learning the truths of Proverbs 22:8 the hard way. The evil that they have sown by embracing homosexuality is bringing sorrow to many, and the "rod of their fury" or the authority they once had is indeed perishing, or coming to an end. Our prayer should be that they repent and turn back to Christ before it is too late.

Address

65 State Highway 1651
Whitley City, KY
42653

Telephone

+16063763929

Website

https://www.kyumc.org/churchdetail/769131

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