To illustrate some very profound and important truths, Jesus told about a man who prepared a great supper and invited a number of his friends to come and eat with him. However, instead of coming to the supper, those invited sent their excuses. So the man invited others who did come. The story ends with the host stating that none of these which were first invited shall taste of his supper.

The reason for having a supper is to satisfy our hunger. There is the hunger of our physical bodies which has the power to drive us beyond all reason—man can be changed into heartless beasts. 2 Kings 6:27-29 tells us of the siege of Samaria by Benhadad. Two mothers became so crazed with hunger that they made an agreement to kill and eat first the baby of one and then the other.

However, man’s hunger goes beyond the animal level. Man cooks his food. He wants it to be tasty and attractive. Just a shelter that keeps out the rain is enough for a dog or horse. But man is not satisfied with just a shelter.
Man hungers for beauty, for love, for feelings of importance, and security. Far more important than his animal appetite is the deep hunger of his heart. “Man shall not live by bread alone” (Deut. 8:3). “As the hart (deer) panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee O God” (Ps. 42:1). We hunger for God!

Jesus says finding God is like sitting down to a great supper. I’m glad He used the word supper. When I think of supper, I think of being hungry as a little boy and sitting down on the long bench eating crumbled corn bread in milk with beans.

When I think of supper I also think of fellowship. True fellowship with God is food for our souls. An invitation even to a great supper has no appeal to one who is not hungry. It does not interest those who have satisfied themselves with other things. If you do not want God and you do not feel the need of God then you are likely to make excuses instead of accepting God’s invitation.

In Jesus’ story there were others who did accept the invitation to the supper: the poor, the maimed, the halt, and the blind. These people had struck it hard and knew what it meant to be in need. When warm fellowship and food was offered they gladly came.

Jesus gives us an invitation, never a subpoena. We never accept His invitation until we have a reason. If you refuse God, He will wait and one day weariness may toss you to His breast again. Maybe one day you will realize the poverty in just possessing things. Maybe this life will grow dark. Then you will be ready for the Bread of Life and the Light of the World.

The conclusion of the story is, None of those men which were bidden shall taste my supper. If you still feel a hunger in your heart, be glad. Too many people can be satisfied with the things money can buy, getting drunk, and listening to filth. Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.

The Parable of the Great Supper - Luke 14:15-24

And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it; I pray thee have me excused: And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

We are so thankful for our pastor, Elmo Parker and his wife, Imogene. Bro. Parker preaches the Truth of the Word of God. May 21st they celebrated 51 years of marriage!
 

The Saving Power of Jesus Christ!

A Testimony of a Changed Life
The Saving Power of Jesus Christ!

A Testimony of a Changed Life:

Before I was saved I thought I was ok. I didn’t think much about life after death. I was just living for myself. I was always searching for satisfaction and never seemed to be able to find it. After my wife received Jesus as her Lord and Saviour, I saw an immediate change in her life. She invited me to church and I heard some Bible preaching that convicted my heart. I wanted to go forward but I let my pride keep me back. A couple of men came by the house to ask me about my salvation. They explained to me from the Bible how I could get saved. I was so convicted of my sin that I just couldn’t wait any longer to get saved. I received Jesus as my Saviour March 12, 1992. There is no one or no thing that can satisfy that void in your heart except Jesus! -Pete Williford Mill Spring, MO

Musing: A Method to Remembering
Associate Pastor, Scott Miller

Have you ever read your Bible, closed its pages and said to yourself, “Now what did I read?” (This is supposing that you were not reading lists of genealogies in the Book of Chronicles.) If you have ever felt that way, you are not alone or unspiritual; most Bible readers have felt that way—sometimes more than once! But that is not normal. God wants His children, regardless of age, IQ, or education to remember and practice His Word, not simply read it.

So, what is the solution to being able to remember what you have read? Muse. Simply put, we must ponder or meditate on the Scriptures we do read. While reading is exposure to the Scriptures, meditation is absorption of the Scriptures. Joshua was promised good success in his military conquest of Canaan if he would meditate day and night in the law—a time consuming matter for a military leader, wouldn’t you say? Yet for his effort the Bible records that “…he left nothing undone of all (emphasis mine) that the LORD had commanded Moses” (Joshua 11:15). Verse 23 of the same chapter says, “So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD had said unto Moses.” How was that possible to meditate on the Law day and night?

“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed” (James 1:25). Here is a promise given to you and me that mirrors the promise given to Joshua. The word looketh here literally means, “stooping down” to look. The idea is that of looking at something more closely. That is the idea of meditation; we examine, or ponder the Scripture in our minds more intently. When Peter and John raced to the empty tomb that resurrection day, John stooped down—the same word James uses in v. 25—he saw, and believed. (John 20:4-8) Peter saw what John did, but it was the one who stooped down thoughtfully, grasped what the empty grave clothes signified, that believed. James continues that if a person hears, but does not meditate on the perfect law of liberty he will become a forgetful hearer. A forgetful hearer points to one who is chronically forgetful, a person characterized by absentmindedness. So anyone who reads the Bible without meditation is characterized as absentminded. If a person cannot remember what he reads, he probably won’t experience or be changed by what He reads.
Something that God never has intended for His children. He wants us to be blessed in our doing of what he has written. When we put into practice the precepts and principles of the Word of God, we find that this is the way to true success, as Joshua would put it.

On most days, though, you probably feel as if you’re not able to give nearly enough time to the Word of God, much less introduce something else to your already busy schedule. So, assuming that you are already reading your Bible on a regular basis let me suggest a way by which you may meditate without necessarily increasing the overall time involved. For example, if you normally spend thirty minutes in the Scriptures, cut that time in half. Spend 15 minutes reading, and the other 15 meditating on what you have read. It is better to read less and to remember and practice more, than to read the Bible for thirty minutes and remember nothing. The goal is not only to simply get through a certain amount of chapters, but also to meet with God and hear from Him in order to obey. I have also found that when I read with the intent to share what I have read with others I am able to retain better what I read.

May God bless you as you muse upon His Word with the intent to remember and do it!

Vacation Bible School
July 31- August 2

The Lord Is My Shepherd
Is He Yours?

1. Realize God Loves You.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but
have everlasting life.” John 3:16

2. The Bible Says All Men Are Sinners.
“For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God.” Romans 3:23

3. Sin Must Be Paid For.
“For The wages of sin is death…”
Romans 6:23

4. Christ Paid For Our Sins.
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

5. We Must Personally Pray and Receive Christ By Faith
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. Romans 10:13
 

Youth Ministry Highlights: Summer Schedule

The youth of VBT meet every week on Sunday nights at 5:15 pm. Our pastor, Bro. Parker, has recently started a series of lessons on the “Victorious Christian Life”.

Activities for the teens are held twice a month. The youth recently completed a car wash raising funds toward summer camp. If you would like to attend any activity with the youth of have questions regarding upcoming events please contact:

Bro. Bones Smith
573-223-3223
or our church office.

The Junior Girls Class is co-taught by Kawanda Brinkley and Robin Raddatz. Kawanda has served for 20 years and Robin 8 years. Kawanda and Robin can relate to the girls due to their varied backgrounds.

Kawanda was raised in a Christian home by Leroy and Betty Foster. She did not receive the Lord until age 15.

On the other hand, Robin was raised a bus girl. As a result of Victory Baptist Bus Ministry, she was saved and baptized. In 1991, she was given the opportunity to live in the Christian home of Richard and Carla McAllister.

We enjoy this age because we can allow them to see Christ in our lives. They have been taught Bible stories in other classes and we have the opportunity to reinforce what they have heard. They are truly a blessing to us. It is exciting to see them participate and enjoy the class.

One area we encourage is scripture memory. If we can get them to memorize scripture it will help them in the future. We reward them so it will encourage them to want to learn additional scripture.

Please pray with us that we will let the Lord guide us and help us be the right example to them.



(left to right) Destiny Call, Esther Miller, Cora Brinkley, Hannah Smith, Jessica Bounds, Elizabeth Miller, Malarie McFadden, Ashley Singleton, and Haley Henson

Announcements

Fifth Sunday Sing
Sunday July 30
6:00pm